Veterinary Assistant

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SUMMARY OF JOB PURPOSE AND FUNCTIONS

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES AND TASKS

The Veterinary Assistant will:

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 veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarians and veterinary technicians productivity. Communicate with veterinarian, veterinary technicians and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients. Provide professional, efficient and exceptional service at all times. This includes performing or preparing procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance, completing preparatory work for other procedures, ensuring that clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitoring hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in the state practice acts. Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services and other issues. Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts. Ensure the safety of pets, clients and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms and labs. Assist with surgery as applicable. Utilize technical skills to the fullest, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties. Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital. Other job duties as assigned.

THE FIVE PRINCIPLES

The Five Principles of Mars, Inc. are:

• 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.

LEADERSHIP

The leadership competencies for this role are:

• Action Oriented
• Customer Focus
• Listening
• Peer Relationships
• Personal Learning

FUNCTIONAL

The functional competencies for this role are:

• Ensure medical quality
• Effective communication

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The position description for this role is:

• Drive for results
• Functional Skills
• Priority Setting

CAPABILITIES AND EXPERIENCE (CAN DO)

The capabilities and experience required for this role are:

• 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)

The attitudes required for this role are:

• 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. Exhibits honesty, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Cooperativeness - Willing to work with others, collaborating and compromising where necessary; promptly shares 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

The special working conditions for this role are:

• 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

The experience, education and/or training required for this role are:

• 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.

WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

Banfield Pet Hospital is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to diversity and inclusion. We are a drug-free and smoke-free workplace and prohibit discrimination based on age, color, race, religion, sex, disability, sexual orientation or national origin.

PAY RANGE

The pay range for this role is $15.19 - $19.41 Hourly. The pay range listed reflects a general hiring range for the area, with the specific rate determined based on the candidates experience, skill level, and education, and may vary depending on location or applicable minimum wage laws.

TOTAL REWARDS PACKAGE

Banfield Pet Hospital offers a comprehensive total rewards package, including:

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Generous Retirement Plans (401(k) and Roth)
• Best-in-Class Student Debt Relief Program (for Full-Time DVMs)
• Paid Time Off and Holidays
• Top-Tier Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources
• Associate Life Insurance (company-paid) & Supplemental Life Insurance
• Company-Paid Short- and Long-Term Disability
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA)
• Health Savings Account (HSA)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Continuing Education Allowance (for Eligible Positions)
• Back-Up Child and Elder Care & Family Support Resources
• Fertility and Family Building Support
• Digital Exercise Therapy
• Voluntary Protection Benefits
• Legal Plan
• Identity Protection
• Commuter Benefits
• Three Free Optimum Wellness Plans for Pets
• Exclusive Discounts