Overnight Veterinary Technician or Assistant
Full TimeJob Overview
At Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency, we are dedicated to providing exceptional, compassionate care to pets in need of emergency services and specialized veterinary care. Located in Marietta, GA, our hospital is a leader in the field of critical care, emergency medicine, and specialty services, including: Oncology Surgery and Anesthesia Internal Medicine Critical & Urgent Care …and much more!
As part of our commitment to excellence, we are looking for a Full-Time Overnight Veterinary Technician to join our dedicated team. This role offers the opportunity to work the overnight shift (7:00 PM – 7:00 AM), where you'll be responsible for providing high-level care to critically ill or injured pets while supporting the hospital’s emergency and specialty services.
As an Overnight Veterinary Technician at Dogwood, your primary responsibility will be to ensure that patients receive outstanding care during the overnight hours, when many emergency cases are seen.
As part of our commitment to excellence, we are looking for a Full-Time Overnight Veterinary Technician to join our dedicated team. This role offers the opportunity to work the overnight shift (7:00 PM – 7:00 AM), where you'll be responsible for providing high-level care to critically ill or injured pets while supporting the hospital’s emergency and specialty services.
As an Overnight Veterinary Technician at Dogwood, your primary responsibility will be to ensure that patients receive outstanding care during the overnight hours, when many emergency cases are seen.
Key Responsibilities
Emergency & Critical Care:
- Provide direct care for emergency and critically ill patients, including but not limited to:
- Stabilization of patients experiencing acute distress or trauma
- IV fluid therapy to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance
- Pain management through administration of prescribed analgesics
- Continuous monitoring of vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation)
- Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian, ensuring patient responses are closely monitored
- Assist in emergency procedures such as:
- CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
- Tracheal intubation and airway management
- Wound care, including bandaging and suturing
- Venipuncture for blood draws or IV access
Patient Monitoring:
- Continuously monitor critically ill patients to ensure stability, including tracking vital signs and patient responses
- Operate and maintain advanced monitoring equipment such as:
- ECG (Electrocardiography)
- Pulse oximeter
- Capnography for CO2 monitoring
- Blood pressure cuffs (non-invasive and invasive)
- Provide constant observation of patients during anesthesia for surgeries or diagnostic imaging procedures, ensuring patient safety and comfort
Diagnostic & Laboratory Support:
- Perform diagnostic tests and bloodwork, including:
- CBC (Complete Blood Count), chemistry panels, and blood gas analysis
- Urinalysis to assess kidney and urinary tract function
- Prepare patients for diagnostic imaging (X-rays, ultrasounds), ensuring proper positioning and safety
- Assist veterinarians with interpretation of diagnostic results during critical care cases
- Operate and maintain laboratory equipment, including hematology analyzers and chemistry analyzers, ensuring devices are calibrated and functioning properly
Anesthesia & Surgery Assistance:
- Prepare and assist with emergency surgeries, ensuring proper sterile techniques and equipment setup
- Provide anesthesia monitoring during surgeries, adjusting as needed to maintain patient stability
- Administer anesthetic agents, assisting with induction and recovery, and ensuring patients are stable throughout the procedure
- Provide post-operative care, including:
- Monitoring recovery from anesthesia
- Managing pain relief and ensuring patients remain comfortable
- Observing for complications such as respiratory or cardiovascular instability during recovery
Client Communication & Documentation:
- Communicate clearly and compassionately with pet owners regarding their pets' conditions, procedures, and treatment plans, especially during overnight hours
- Document all aspects of patient care, treatments, and client communications in the electronic medical record (EMR) system
- Provide clear, concise follow-up care instructions to clients once patients are discharged, ensuring they feel supported and informed during the recovery process
Inventory & Equipment Management:
- Ensure medical supplies and medications are adequately stocked, organized, and ready for use during the night shift
- Assist with maintaining and updating controlled substances inventory, ensuring compliance with regulations and proper documentation
- Regularly check and ensure functionality of medical equipment, reporting any malfunctions or issues to appropriate team members for repair or replacement
Team Collaboration & Leadership:
- Work closely with veterinarians, other veterinary technicians, and hospital staff to manage emergency patient care, ensuring smooth operations and effective collaboration
- Assist in mentoring and training junior technicians, interns, and veterinary students, providing guidance on emergency procedures and critical care best practices
- Promote a positive, collaborative environment in the hospital, fostering teamwork and efficient patient care
- Support leadership in identifying opportunities for process improvements and best practices in emergency and critical care
Skills, Knowledge & Expertise to be Successful
Education & Certification:
- High School Diploma Required, graduation from an accredited Veterinary Technician program is strongly preferred
- Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) or Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)
- RVT or LVT certification is preferred. Non-licensed candidates with significant experience and skills will be considered.
- Additional Certifications (preferred but not required):
- Emergency & Critical Care (ECC) Certification
- Canine and Feline CPR Certification
- Anesthesia Certification
Experience:
- Minimum of 3-5 years of veterinary technician experience in a fast-paced, high-volume general practice or emergency veterinary hospital
- Previous experience in emergency, critical care, or specialty veterinary environments strongly preferred.
- Experience with emergency and critical care procedures is highly desirable, including:
- Patient stabilization techniques
- Triage and rapid assessment in emergency situations
- Handling high-acuity cases (e.g., trauma, poisoning, respiratory distress)
- Comfortable in high-pressure, fast-paced environments, with the ability to stay calm and focused during emergencies.
- Experience working overnight shifts in an emergency or specialty setting is a plus.
Technical Skills:
- Proficient in essential veterinary technical skills, including:
- Venipuncture (IV catheter placement, blood draws)
- Placement of urinary catheters (e.g., cystocentesis)
- Endotracheal intubation and airway management
- Emergency CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
- Strong anesthesia monitoring abilities, including:
- Administering anesthetic agents
- Monitoring and adjusting anesthesia during procedures and recovery
- Managing IV fluid therapy to support critical patients
- Experience with diagnostic imaging equipment, such as:
- Digital radiology
- Ultrasound for imaging and diagnostics
- Proficient in laboratory procedures and diagnostics, including:
- Performing and interpreting CBC (Complete Blood Count), chemistry panels, blood gas analysis, and urinalysis
- Familiarity with lab equipment such as hematology analyzers and chemistry analyzers
- Proficient in medical mathematics for accurate medication dosages, fluid calculations, and anesthesia protocols.
Critical Thinking & Problem-Solving:
- Strong critical thinking skills to make swift, accurate decisions in high-stress, fast-paced situations.
- Ability to assess and prioritize patient needs during emergencies, including trauma cases, respiratory distress, and other critical conditions.
- Skilled in troubleshooting and adapting to dynamic, ever-changing patient needs, especially when faced with complicated or unusual medical cases.
Communication & Interpersonal Skills:
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively convey complex medical information to pet owners.
- Empathy and emotional intelligence when communicating with stressed or anxious clients, particularly during nighttime hours when owners may be more worried about their pets' conditions.
- Ability to explain medical procedures, treatment options, and recovery plans in a clear, reassuring, and compassionate manner.
- Team-oriented communication to work effectively with veterinarians, technicians, and hospital staff during emergency situations and in support of overnight care.
Physical & Emotional Resilience:
- Ability to lift and carry patients up to 40 pounds and assist with patient positioning, especially in critical care or emergency procedures.
- Comfortable performing physically demanding tasks (e.g., positioning patients, lifting, restraining) for extended periods.
- Emotional resilience to handle the stress and emotional challenges that come with working in emergency and critical care settings, especially during overnight hours.
- Ability to maintain focus and efficiency during long shifts in a busy and sometimes high-stress work environment.