Veterinary Anesthesia Technician I - Small Animal Anesthesia

Job Title

Veterinary Anesthesia Technician I - Small Animal Anesthesia

Agency

Texas A&M University

Department

Vet Med-Teaching Hospital

Proposed Minimum Salary

Commensurate

Job Location

College Station, Texas

Job Type

Staff

Job Description

Our Commitment

Texas A&M University is committed to enriching the learning and working environment by promoting a culture that respects all perspectives, talents & lived experiences.  Embracing varying opinions and perspectives strengthens our core values which are: Respect, Excellence, Leadership, Loyalty, Integrity, and Selfless Service.

Who we are

The Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS) is an institution that represents 100 years of growth from a small school of veterinary medicine in 1916 to its present role as a major veterinary educational, medical, and research center. Today, we are one of the largest schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, training nearly 600 Doctor of Veterinary Medicine students each year. We support collaboration and teamwork that turns today's discoveries into proactive solutions for animals, humans, and the environment. Together, we strive to support the goals of the faculty, staff and students in teaching, research and outreach programs.  To learn more, please visit our website https://vetmed.tamu.edu/  

What we want

The Veterinary Technician I, under the supervision of a professional staff member or veterinary technician II or higher, assists in the treatment of animals admitted to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, provides assistance to the professional staff, may assist in instructing veterinary students in proper clinical technique for supporting primary care; helps to maintain a sanitary and functionally well-organized service within the Veterinary Teaching Hospital.

What you need to know

Compensation will be commensurate to selected hire’s experience.

Required Education and Experience:

• Associate degree in veterinary technology, biomedical science, animal science or related area or equivalent education and experience.

• Two years of technical experience in veterinary medicine, anesthesia, or related field.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Basic computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, and billing entry through electronic medical record. Working knowledge of veterinary equipment used within a veterinary teaching hospital such as but not limited to: anesthesia machines, fluid pumps, multi-parameter monitoring equipment, blood gas analyzers, CO2 monitors, anesthesia ventilator, anesthesia monitoring equipment, defibrillators, and other equipment required for anesthetic management of veterinary patients.

• Must be able to work within time constraints and in a crisis situation.

• Knowledge of high flow/low flow anesthesia.

• Familiarization with injectable and inhalant anesthesia.

• Strong animal handling skills and positioning of patients for surgical procedures.

• Strong oral and written communication skills.

• Ability to communicate professionally, effectively, and positively at all levels within the anesthesia service and the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital.

•  Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology, biomedical science, animal science, or a related area. Specialty training in anesthesia or related area.

• LVT, Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) in Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists (AVTA), or Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians (AVECCT).

• Advanced computer skills in word processing, spreadsheets, and electronic medical record and charge entry.

• Advanced understanding of the equipment used in the veterinary anesthesia and imaging settings of a teaching hospital.

• Advanced knowledge of terms routinely used in veterinary anesthesia and imaging.

Responsibilities:

• Anesthesia Duties: Ensures anesthetic cases are worked up, approved in a timely manner by the anesthesiologist, and needed supplies are pulled and secured until the case begins. Records and assists faculty, students, and technicians in reviewing patient medical history, recording the patient’s physiological data, and all medications given on anesthesia records. Place intravenous, intra-arterial catheters, set up appropriate IV fluids, place nerve blocks, and other technical skills as needed. Intubates and maintains an appropriate level of sedation of anesthesia. Monitors different inhalant anesthetic gases using a precision vaporizer. Recognizes and manages peri-anesthetic cardiac arrhythmias and disturbances in blood electrolytes, acid-base homeostasis, and perioperative pain. Ensures that the proper equipment is available and functional to facilitate patient safety. Assess and solves anesthetic machine complications as necessary. Communicates with team members concerning changes in their assignments. Reviews anesthesia requests prior to the shift and accurately and clearly communicates information. Reviews next-day schedule and availability.

• General Technical Job Duties: Prepares and administers medications. Ensures that all charges/fees are captured and correctly entered into the medical record. Assists faculty and students with proper patient care. Prepares patients for treatment and procedures. Transports patients to designated service areas in the hospital. Provides physical patient restraint for safe handling of multiple species of patient animals. Maintains and operates point-of-care laboratory equipment and patient monitoring equipment. Prepares and submits various samples for diagnostic testing. Informs supervisor/senior clinician of any concerns. Gives a complete and accurate report to clinicians. Coordinate infectious and exotic cases with all necessary services. Assists with orienting new team members; case evaluator for the newer technician. Maintains and restocks all required inventory in the service area. Perform equipment maintenance checks and repairs assigned equipment as applicable.  Demonstrates and promotes the professional practice of all team members. Adheres to all TAMU, VMTH, and departmental policies and procedures.  Arranges for equipment maintenance when necessary. Logs any maintenance for inventory control of capital equipment within the service area.

• Teaching and Clinical Research : Assists faculty, residents, interns, and students with patient care. Facilitates the instruction of professional curriculum veterinary medical students. Assists students in inducing and maintaining anesthesia in a variety of animal species. Performs and instructs students in catheterization techniques, and the administration of pre-medicants, induction agents, inhalant anesthetics, and appropriate analgesics. Assist in training newly hired Veterinary Anesthesia Technicians. Assists and instructs students and/or staff in preparing patients for surgical procedures including proper clipping and aseptic surgical site preparation. Monitors or assists students in monitoring anesthetized patients. Monitors or assists students in proper anesthesia recovery techniques. Assists with critical and intensive nursing care or life-sustaining emergency care as needed. Ensures that all medications and controlled substances used are properly documented and accounted for. Assists faculty and students with data entry in patients’ medical records. Reviews anesthetic records and pharmacy slips for accuracy and completeness. Records or assists students in recording the patient’s physiological data and all medications given on Anesthesia Records. Actively participates in clinical research activities, including comprehensive literature searches and data collection.

• Maintain Service Area: Maintains and supervises a sanitary and well-organized service area. Restocks supplies, drugs, and solutions. Cleans and repackages items for sterilization specific to the service area. Provides best practices for infectious disease control and sanitation activities to ensure a consistently clean working environment. Helps provide oversight for faculty, staff, and students in the service area-specific safety procedures.

• Required Training, compliance, and administrative procedures: Demonstrates mastery of Anesthesia Skills Test and RECOVER training within six months of hire. Remains current with safety classes, rabies prophylaxis, and Licensure Radiation/MRI safety Infection Control Aseptic Technique Rabies prophylaxis, etc. Maintains and remains current with all required trainings by Texas A&M and VMTH. Maintains certification or licensure where appropriate. Enters all time and leave requests to direct supervisor in a timely manner within Workday. Remains available for open communication via email correspondence. Assists in revising and preparing policies. Assists in maintaining compliance for AAHA/AVMA/IACUC/AALAC/USDA surveys. Performs other duties as assigned. May require working alternate shifts, holidays, weekends or “on call” duty.

Instructions to Applicants: Applications received by Texas A&M University must either have all job application data entered or a resume attached. Failure to provide all job application data or a complete resume could result in an invalid submission and a rejected application. We encourage all applicants to upload a resume or use a LinkedIn profile to pre-populate the online application.

All positions are security-sensitive. Applicants are subject to a criminal history investigation, and employment is contingent upon the institution’s verification of credentials and/or other information required by the institution’s procedures, including the completion of the criminal history check.

Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action/Veterans/Disability Employer.