Overview

Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University 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 hospital also serves as the primary clinical training environment for veterinary students, interns, and residents.

What You'll Do

The Inpatient Medicine Veterinary Technician II performs complex and diverse clinical duties in veterinary patient nursing care in addition to performing more complex technical procedures.

As a Vet Tech II, Inpatient Medicine you will:

• Provide high quality patient care including the following:

• Monitor, manage and implement treatment plans as ordered by clinicians to insure prompt delivery of high-quality care to inpatient, acute care, exotic and isolation cases.

• Collaborate with administrative and clinical care team members throughout the hospital to coordinate and prioritize patient care in a high-volume environment.
• Identify and communicate changes in patient condition to members of the patient care team.
• Assist in training, orienting, and mentoring new Veterinary Technicians and Animal Care Attendants in all aspects of the department. 
• Provide coverage for other sections of the hospital as needed.
• Participate in service and hospital wide initiatives as required.
• Complete at least 6 hours of RACE approved CE annually.

The schedule for this position is Wednesday - Saturday 2:00 PM - 11:15 PM. There is potential for other schedules to become available.

What We're Looking For

Basic Requirements:

• Mastery of basic technical skills associated with your related service, including mandatory skills below.
• High School diploma or equivalent and 3 years of experience as a veterinary technician in a fast-paced hospital

OR

• Associate OR bachelor's degree from an AVMA-accredited institution providing training in veterinary technology, veterinary nursing, or veterinary science, and one year experience at a university hospital or large-scale hospital.

OR

Certified Veterinary Technician in good standing.

• Demonstrated ability to work independently when completing basic tasks and procedural skills, and the ability to conduct more advanced tasks under supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively as a member of a diverse team of clinical and administrative professionals.
• Comprehensive understanding of medical terminology and veterinary pharmacology.
• Demonstrated ability to provide excellent service to both internal and external customers.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and ability to learn electronic medical record systems and other software systems used.  

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:

• Bachelor’s or associate degree from an AVMA accredited institution
• Certified Veterinary Technician
• Experience in a specialty or academic hospital setting
• Fear free certified

Exotic animal handling skills. Exotic animals include birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, rodents, special small mammals (such as chinchillas or hedgehogs), reptiles, and amphibians.

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.