Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistant - Neurology

Columbia River Veterinary Specialists in Vancouver, Washington is an Emergency and Specialty Veterinary hospital in located just north of spectacular downtown Portland, Oregon and on the Northern bank of the Columbia River. We are a compassionate and enthusiastic group of professionals dedicated to a team approach to client and patient care. Our strength as a practice stems from our ability to collaborate and our devotion to the well-being of the animals in our care. We take time for every client who walks through our doors and care deeply for our patients. We are proud of the work we do and we are appreciated by our managers, co-workers and the community. For more information about our staff and clinic, please visit our website at www.ColumbiaRiverVet.com

We are looking for an experienced Veterinary Neurology Assistant to join our team. Veterinary assistants are the backbone of our hospital. This vital role is responsible for ensuring warm, friendly, compassionate care for our patients and clients. Our ideal candidates are those who are confident and comfortable relaying critical medical and financial information with empathy and grace. A love of teamwork and sense of personal integrity are a must. The ability to multitask, excellent communication skills, and comfort with basic office systems (computers, printers, multi-line phones) are also important for this role. Beyond professional qualifications, a good candidate for us is defined by cultural fit. We invite you to apply for this open position and an opportunity to visit and interview with us.

At Columbia River, we take the health and well-being of our employees seriously, offering flexible working conditions and encouraging a well-rounded work/life balance. We offer a great compensation package, including a competitive wages, health insurance, 401K, PTO, generous CE allowance, additional PTO for CE, and uniform allowance.

Position Overview:

The veterinary assistant provides support to the veterinarians and technicians in their daily tasks by cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising and grooming patients, preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining and handling patients, and clerical and administrative work. They deliver quality care for all patients and provide exceptional service.

• Triage patients, perform physical exams, treatments, and administer medication as directed by the Licensed Veterinary Technicians; maintain accurate medical records.
• Assist doctors and technicians with the administration of medications or with patient restraint.
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs.
• Operate and maintain hospital equipment including EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, anesthetic monitors and machines, etc.
• Fill prescriptions, calculate and administer medications, maintain proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
• Feed patients as prescribed by the attending doctor or as the client has requested; record appetites; recognize and report any unusual conditions or abnormal behaviors.
• Maintain the cleanliness of the hospital each day; clean equipment, kennels and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensure the safe use of chemicals; complete laundry.
• Other duties may be assigned if working in a specialty area (i.e., dentistry, surgery, emergency, radiology, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine, etc.)

Minimum Qualifications/Requirements:

• High school diploma, GED or equivalent combination of education, and/or experience.
• One or more years’ experience in veterinary environment performing above duties.
• Able to perform moderately physically demanding work, that requires a lot of lifting (up to 50 pounds), cleaning, and constant motion.
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors.
• Requires knowledge of hospital procedures, treatment protocols; computer systems; and terminology used in a veterinary hospital.
• Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays.