SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE AND FUNCTION

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians (LVTs) in ensuring that quality veterinary care is delivered to all pets, is an advocate for pets, assists with the education of clients on pet health (as directed by the veterinarian) and helps to ensure a safe and effective hospital environment.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

 Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.

 Act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian and LVT, ensuring the best quality pet care while maximizing the veterinarian's and LVT’s productivity.

 Communicate with veterinarian, LVTs and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients.

 Feed, provide water and change bedding for all in-hospital patients.

 Walk or exercise patients when required.

 Clean and disinfect kennels, exam rooms, treatment areas, surgery suite, radiology, wards, laboratory areas, etc.

 Clean and sterilize all laboratory and surgical/dental equipment.

 Provide routine post-operative care, which does not require understanding of veterinary science or rendering of professional service, under the supervision of veterinarian or LVT (i.e., repositioning a pet in the kennel, adding a blanket, cleaning up any bodily fluids).

 Administer ORAL or TOPICAL medications as directed by veterinarian or LVT.

 Preparation of in-house fecal samples.

 Spin down urine, putting together and preparing a differential slide.

 Set up ear slides or skin scrapings that have been collected by veterinarian or LVT.

 Restrain pets for physical exams, sample collection, medical grooming, catheterization and cleaning.

 Provide grooming needs for healthy pets (external anal gland expression, pedicures, clean healthy ear canals, clip matted fur, remove ticks, and clean rectal area).

 Obtain pet’s rectal temperature, manual pulse (not using stethoscope) and respiratory rate.

 Discuss Optimum Wellness Plans with clients.

 Record veterinarian’s notes in PetWare.

 Support Client Service Coordinators (CSCs) by answering phones and making outgoing client calls.  Provide client education.

 Assist with emergency care, as directed by veterinarian.

 Mentor other PetCare Assistant, CSC and Veterinary Assistant paraprofessionals in the hospital.

 Other job duties as assigned that are allowable under the relevant state’s veterinary practice act.

THE FIVE PRINCIPLES

 Quality - The consumer is our boss, quality is our work and value for money is our goal.

 Responsibility - As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others.

 Mutuality - A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure.

 Efficiency - We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best.

 Freedom - We need freedom to shape our future; we need profit to remain free.

HIRING QUALIFICATIONS COMPETENCIES

 Action Oriented

 Customer Focus

 Listening

 Peer Relationships

 Personal Learning Functional  Effective communication

 Drive for results

 Functional Skills

 Priority Setting

CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE (CAN DO)

 Ability to multi-task- Manages multiple tasks at one time; quickly and accurately shifts attention among multiple tasks under distracting conditions without loss of accuracy or appearance of frustration.

 Communication skills - Reads, writes and speaks fluent English, using appropriate grammar, style and vocabulary. Correctly spells commonly used English words and job specific terms. Demonstrates exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.

 Organizational ability – Demonstrates a systematic approach in carrying out assignments. Is very orderly and excels at cutting through confusion and turning chaos into order.

 Problem solving skills - Demonstrates a strong ability to identify, analyze and solve problems. Translates problems into practical solutions.

 Client service skills - Consistently ensures the team provides the client with attentive, courteous and informative service. Gains and shows personal satisfaction from delivering great service.

 Intellectual ability - Accurately and consistently follows instructions delivered in an oral, written or diagram format. Can provide directions.

 Mathematical ability - Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide, and to compute rate, ratio and percent; ability to convert units of measurement.

 Computer skills - Comfortably and confidently uses a computer and specialized medical software, as well as Microsoft Outlook, Word and Excel.

ATTITUDES (WILL DO)

 Initiative – shows willingness and aptitude to take appropriate steps in finding solutions to problems; presents options and ideas to enhance current processes or procedures. Takes on additional responsibility when both big and small tasks need to be done.

 Integrity – Firmly adheres to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital, working solely within the limits of the relevant state’s practice act. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.

 Cooperativeness – Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly share relevant information with others.

 Flexibility – Is open to changing situations and opportunities and is willing to perform all tasks assigned.

 Independence – Able and willing to perform tasks and duties without supervision as appropriate.

 Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – Maintains a positive “can do” outlook, rebounds quickly from frustrations and unpleasantness, and maintains composure and friendly demeanor while dealing with stressful situations.

SPECIAL WORKING CONDITIONS

 Ability to work at a computer for long periods of time.

 Ability to be confident around pets (i.e., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, etc.)

 Client needs and work volume may often require more than 40 hours per week to complete essential duties of this job. This position requires special hours including working weekends and evenings

.  Must have mental processes for reasoning, remembering, mathematics and language ability (reading, writing, and speaking the English language) to perform the duties proficiently.

 The noise level in the work environment is moderately high.

 Requires sufficient ambulatory skills in order to perform duties while at hospital.

 Ability to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and climb as well as manipulate (lift, carry, move) up to 50 pounds.

 Requires good hand-eye coordination, arm-hand-finger dexterity with the ability to grasp, and visual acuity to use a keyboard and operate equipment.

 Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and ability to adjust focus.

 Associate is routinely exposed to a variety of pets that may bite or scratch, and on occasion, exposed to anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

EXPERIENCE, EDUCATION AND/OR TRAINING

 Certificate of completion from a NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program, or the equivalent combination of education, training and experience that provides the required knowledge, skills, and abilities. High School Diploma or equivalent preferred.

 Must be able to perform all required skills of NAVTA approved veterinary assistant programs at a level in which to aid in the efficiency of the practice.

 Must be at least 18 years old to perform duties involving radiography (x-ray) and exposure to radioactive substances.  One year related experience required with customer service preferred.