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Overview

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts provides 24-hour care for pets 365 days of the year. Since 1985 we have offered high quality medical care, consultation, referral, and emergency veterinary services for the care of dogs, cats and exotic pets. The neurology service utilizes state-of-the art diagnostic tests and cutting-edge surgical procedures to provide high quality patient care and customer service. This service provides teaching to veterinary students, interns, and residents, as well as continuing education for veterinary practitioners, veterinary technicians, and the public. The neurology service works in a facility and environment conducive to the study of neurologic disease, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatments in companion animals, and works to promote general awareness about neurologic disease in companion animals in the scientific community and in the general public. 

What You'll Do

The Veterinary Technician III performs advanced and more specialized technical procedures with limited direct supervision from the attending veterinarian or a supervising technician. Under minimal supervision, the Veterinary Technician III makes decisions and provides advanced veterinary patient nursing care, respecting the directions of the attending veterinarian.

Candidates for the Vet Technician III, Neurology position will be trained to perform electrodiagnostics tests (brain auditory evoked response tests (BAER) and EEGs), conduct primary technician appointments, assist with the physical examination process, record a complete and accurate patient history in the electronic medical record, and instruct veterinary students on neurology topics.  This position is also responsible for anesthesia on neurology patients, which may include MRI, surgery, CSF taps, muscle/nerve biopsies, electrodiagnostics, and more.

Our Veterinary Technicians are considered an essential employee within the hospital and the schedule may include providing University and calendar holiday coverage on a rotating basis.

As a Vet Tech III, Neurology you will:

• Provide high quality patient care.
• Provide care to patients and support to co-workers and students that are consistent with hospital standards of minimizing fear, anxiety, stress and pain in our patients.  
• Monitor, manage and implement treatment plans as ordered by clinicians to insure prompt delivery of high-quality patient care.
• Independently perform advanced technical tasks without supervision
• Collaborate with administrative and clinical care team members throughout the hospital to coordinate and prioritize patient care.
• Complete diagnostic testing as ordered by clinicians including bench-top lab tests.
• Assist clinicians with diagnostic and surgical procedures.
• Assessment and anesthetic management of patients from induction, throughout procedure, to recovery.
• Provide technical assistance for clinical, academic and research functions/activities.
• Assist clinicians in maintaining complete medical records for all patients.
• Cross training in other areas of the hospital is expected.
• Instruct, direct, and assist residents, interns, students, new technicians, and student technicians with all technical aspects including treatments, medical procedures, hospital protocols, use and care of medical supplies, instruments, and equipment used on these services.
• Clinical instruction of neurology protocols and procedures to veterinary students, interns, residents, and student technicians throughout the neurology rotation
• Develop and maintain a service SOP binder so that others can function in the service adequately in your absence.
• Engage students to ensure they are receiving a successful and fulfilling education in the department.
• May be asked to participate in providing formal CE training.
• Provide patient updates for inpatients and record in StringSoft.
• Communicate with clients regarding test results and scheduling.
• Relay service-specific requirements and information to clients
• Schedule appointments as required.
• Assist in admission of patients to hospital.
• Conduct discharge process and collect payment from clients as needed.
• Referring veterinarian and client communication as directed
• Review estimate with client and collect deposit (as required)
• Review with client hospital visitation and discharge policies
• Instruct home care.
• Serve as a mentor for newly hired veterinary technicians and facilitate the on-boarding process in collaboration with supervisor. 
• Demonstrate excellent leadership skills, resourcefulness, and self-accountability.
• Coordinate and prioritize daily husbandry care of inpatients and maintain adequate inventory for the service (medical supplies, special food supplies and pharmaceuticals)
• Facilitate the maintenance of clinical equipment by identifying malfunctioning equipment and scheduling service.
• Maintain electrodiagnostic equipment and ordering supplies.
• Establish and maintain cleaning protocols for the service areas.
• Complete projects as assigned by supervisor.    
• Provide coverage for other shifts and sections of the Hospital as needed.
• Participate in Departmental and Hospital-wide initiatives as required.

This position offers the option for either a 3 or 4 day work week. 

To be consistent with our Vet Tech Career Ladder, Veterinary Technicians at The Hospital for Large Animals and Foster Hospital for Small Animals can expect to receive a minimum starting rate of $29/hr.  Additionally, shift differentials are offered, depending on the day and scheduled shift, with an increased range from $2.00-$4.00/ hour.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

• Mastery of advanced technical and procedural skills
• Certified Veterinary Technician in good standing
• Associate OR bachelor's degree from an AVMA-accredited institution providing training in veterinary technology, veterinary nursing, or veterinary science or degree in a related field.
• A minimum of 3 years of experience as a certified veterinary technician in an academic or similar environment
• Demonstrated ability to work independently when conducting complex tasks, with minimal supervision.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively as a member of a diverse team of clinical and administrative professionals.
• Excellent understanding of medical terminology and veterinary pharmacology, including knowledge of and ability to identify adverse drug reactions.
• Demonstrated ability to provide exceptional service to both internal and external customers, and to work collegially as part of a team.
• Highly motivated, enthusiastic self-starter with a professional attitude.
• Demonstrated ability to instruct students, as determined by student feedback.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and electronic medical record systems
• Required technical skills include:
• Specialized technical skills related to neurology or demonstrated ability to learn such skills within 3 months.
• Be able to independently initiate steps to perform CPR in absence of an attending veterinarian.

Minimum required technical skills:

• Safely restrain cats and dogs
• Assess the attitude and responsiveness of dogs and cats.
• Obtain vital signs, including temperature, pulse, respiration, and capillary refill time.
• Be able to identify animals in pain or distress.
• IV catheterization
• Phlebotomy (cephalic, saphenous, jugular)
• Dosage calculations for medications, fluid therapy, and continuous rate infusions.
• Set up of fluid therapy systems and fluid therapy monitoring.
• Monitoring and identifying physiological parameters in patients under sedation and general anesthesia.
• Familiarity with sedatives and tranquilizers.
• Ability to use point of care machines.
• Describe steps required and be able to assist in CPR.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.

Preferred qualifications:

• Prior experience with small animal anesthesia, neurology or critical care
• 3 years dedicated specialty experience in a busy, fast-paced hospital.
• Veterinary Technician Specialist level skillset in neurology, anesthesia or critical care
• Experience teaching other technicians, veterinary students, veterinary technician students.
• Fear Free Certification
• RECOVER Certification
• Able to work well independently as well as part of a team.

Ability to work in a busy, stressful environment with diverse personalities while maintaining a calm, professional demeanor.

Pay Range

Minimum $26.40, Midpoint $31.40, Maximum $36.40
 

Salary is based on related experience, expertise, and internal equity; generally, new hires can expect pay between the minimum and midpoint of the range.