Veterinary Technician II - Ophthalmology

Job Title

Veterinary Technician II - Ophthalmology

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 & identities.  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 II will assist faculty, staff and students with veterinary patient care, including but not limited to: administering treatments to animals admitted to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital under supervision of the professional staff, providing clinical assistance to the professional staff, instructing veterinary students in proper clinical techniques supporting patient care, and maintaining a sanitary and functionally well-organized service within the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.

What you need to know

Compensation will be commensurate to selected hire’s experience.

Other Requirements or Other Factors: Ability to work alternate shifts and provide holiday coverage. May require working alternate shifts, holidays, weekends, or on-call duty. Persons in this position are considered essential when the University declares an emergency, campus closure, class cancellations, etc., and are therefore required to report to work and remain on duty unless/until relieved by the direct supervisor.  Provide quality customer service to internal and external customers/clients.

Required Education and Experience:

• Associate’s degree in veterinary technology, biomedical science, animal science or a related area, or equivalent combination of education and experience. 

• Two years of technical experience in veterinary medicine.

Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Basic computer skills. Working knowledge of equipment used in a veterinary teaching hospital.

• Thorough knowledge of equipment used in with area of specialization,

• Ability to multitask and work cooperatively with others.

• Demonstrates knowledge of medical math. 

• Basic knowledge of canine and feline anatomy and physiology.

• Able to appropriately handle and restrain feline and canine patients with methods that are both fear free and/or feline friendly.

• Ability to communicate professionally, effectively, and positively with all individuals in a veterinary medical teaching hospital setting.

Preferred Qualifications:

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

• Two years’ experience in area of specialization related to position.

• Two years relevant experience within the Texas A&M University System. 

• Certification as a Licensed Veterinary Technician. 

• Knowledge of ophthalmic equipment including slit lamps, tono-pens, binocular indirect ophthalmoscopes, electroretinogram, and ocular ultrasound

Responsibilities:

• Ophthalmology responsibilities: Performs aseptic surgical patient preparation. Serves as scrub nurse during surgical procedures as needed, including set up of ophthalmic microscope. Assists in the scheduling of surgical procedures, providing communication to all areas of the hospital. Ensures that necessary equipment is available for the day of a procedure. Assists the anesthesia service as needed with surgical and diagnostic cases pertaining to the Ophthalmology service. Assists clinicians, residents, and students with proper ophthalmic exams. Assists clinicians, residents and students with proper sedation protocols and techniques. Communicates with clients and referring veterinarians as needed.

• Clinical Responsibilities: Instructs, guides, and supervises students in proper clinical techniques to support patient care. Monitors patients to detect any change in their clinical status and keep patients clean. Provides physical restraint for the safe handling of patient animals. Performs or assists with the collection and submission of patients’ blood, urine, and tissues. Assists and instructs in the performance of diagnostic procedures and examinations. Administers patient treatment following a clinician’s orders without direct supervision. Places and maintains IV catheters. Assists in all surgery services as needed, providing technical support due to staff outages or caseload. Provides assistance to other services as caseload permits.

• Teaching and Clinical Research: Participates in the instruction of technical skills in labs and seminars as needed. Participates in clinical and basic research programs as needed within the terms of employment (<10%). Assists in clinical research efforts to include record keeping and data management. Assists in instruction and training of other staff, including junior veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants and student technicians

• Maintaining safe, clean, sanitary work environment: Maintains a sanitary and well-organized service within the Veterinary Medical teaching hospital. Restocks supplies and medical inventory as needed. Cleans and repackages items for sterilization specific to the service. Maintains equipment within the service area.

• Required training, compliance, and administrative procedures: Remains current with safety classes, rabies prophylaxis, Radiation safety training, Infection Control, Aseptic Technique and maintains certification or licensure where appropriate. Ensures all hospital fees are correctly captured and entered the hospital electronic medical records system. Assists hospital with maintaining accreditations and certifications: AHAA, AVMA, AALAC, IACUC, etc. Performs duties as assigned as an essential employee of the VMTH.

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.