Kennel attendant

The NC State Veterinary Hospital (VH), established in 1983, is one of the highest rated veterinary academic medical centers in the country, serving communities throughout North Carolina as well as many other states.

The hospital staffs over twenty clinical services with board certified specialists that are nationally and even internationally renowned, ensuring the VH is on the cutting edge of veterinary medicine.

Patients benefit from the combined expertise of multiple specialists utilizing a team approach to patient health care. Each year, nearly 35,000 patients are treated in the VH.

The VH provides compassionate care, state of the art specialty health care, expert clinical instruction for 4th year veterinary students from College of Veterinary Medicine, and ongoing investigation of innovative techniques and procedures to further advance the field of veterinary medicine.

Essential Job Duties

This position provides essential care for hospitalized patients through thorough cleaning and disinfection of housing areas and support to veterinary staff.

This includes the General Hospital (GH), Intermediate Care (IMC), Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and Emergency (ER) departments of the Randall B.

Terry Jr. Companion Animal Medical Center.

A person in this department must possess a basic knowledge of working in a veterinary facility and a strong desire to work in a fast-changing, teaching environment with a varied population of people.

The position interacts with staff, students and faculty to provide a clean and healthy environment for hospitalized patients requiring specialty level care for a variety of illnesses.

• Responsible for all activities relating to hospital disinfection, patient housing cleanliness, inpatient food supply, bedding supplies, and infectious disease monitoring and control
• Mopping, sweeping, cage disinfection, laundry collection & delivery, trash collection & delivery
• Management of antibiotic resistant patient supplies, bedding, disposables & disinfection
• Maintains a clean working environment to ensure Infectious Disease standards are followed and infection is not spread. Handles all medical / biological and infectious waste appropriately
• Follows all radiation safety, OSHA, and Environmental Health and Safety standards.
• Keeps all necessary equipment in clean and working order and has all necessary and appropriate stocked supplies including bedding, food, biohazard supplies and cleaning supplies
• Responsible for isolation maintenance and disinfection
• Weekly supply inventory and ordering for cleaning, bedding, inpatient food, and biohazard supplies
• Assists veterinary staff with stocking patient care related items

Basic patient care duties are limited to :

• Assist technicians in completing basic treatments such as TPR, walk / transport, and feed
• Cleanup pre and post procedure
• Works proactively to keep patients clean and comfortable
• Patient restraint
• Sample submission

The position provides essential patient, departmental and hospital coordination of workflow, information, and teaching with duties to include, but are not limited to :

• Communicates with students, staff and clinicians to receive the most up to date information regarding presenting problems, diagnostics being performed as well as projected plan of care for the animal to customize housing needs as well as cleaning needs for each individual patient
• Responsible for educating all senior veterinary students as well as post-doctoral interns and residents regarding excellent patient care and infectious disease control standards
• Records and communicates a variety of data relating to patient care and diagnostic testing and treatments with use of hospital information systems
• Monitors, informs and documents information related to antibiotic resistant, infectious and ongoing nosocomial testing related to the hospitalized areas

Other Responsibilities

Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Experience / Education

Completion of an accredited training program in the area of assignment; or equivalent combination of training and experience.

Some positions may require additional Training, Certifications, or Licensure.

Other Required Qualifications

• Previous experience in a canine / feline veterinary setting.
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively at all times and maintain professionalism in emotionally charged / challenging situations.
• Ability to provide high quality customer service.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to work beyond scheduled work hours when needed.
• Ability to work effectively as a member of a team and be an active participant in problem solving and team advancement.
• Ability to work effectively with computers and electronics.
• Ability to work independently and practice good judgment to ensure high quality care for all patients and request assistance when needed.
• Desire to teach 4th year veterinary students

Preferred Qualifications

Previous experience as a kennel attendant in a clinical setting; preferably at a teaching hospital.

Required License or Certification

N / A

Valid NC Driver's License required No Commercial Driver's License Required? No

Last updated : 2024-08-20

Salary : $31,200 - $61,687