Certified Veterinary Technician - Surgery Anesthetist

About Us

Bridgetown Veterinary Emergency & Referral (BVER) is a collaborative, multi-specialty hospital located in Portland, Oregon. Our team includes specialists in Emergency & Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology, Surgery, Ophthalmology, Cardiology and Radiology, supported by highly skilled technicians and client service professionals.

We are a medicine and culture focused organization that values teamwork, integrity, compassion, and continuous learning. Our goal is to create an environment where both people and pets feel supported.

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) to join our Surgery team as an Anesthetist. This role is best suited for a technically strong, detail-oriented technician who enjoys anesthesia and thrives in a fast-paced specialty environment.

The Surgery Anesthetist will play a key role in providing safe, high-quality anesthesia and perioperative care for surgical patients. This position requires strong anesthesia skills, sound clinical judgment, attention to detail, and the ability to recognize and respond appropriately to changes in patient status.

You will work closely with veterinary surgeons, technicians, and other hospital teams to prepare patients for procedures, provide anesthetic support throughout surgery, and ensure smooth and attentive recovery.

Schedule

• Full-time
• 3, 12 hour shifts. Includes rotating Saturdays/holiday on-call responsibilities
• Surgery schedule may evolve as the service continues to grow

What You’ll Do

Anesthesia & Perioperative Care

• Prepare patients for anesthesia and surgical procedures
• Perform anesthetic inductions and maintain patients under general anesthesia
• Monitor patients throughout anesthesia using appropriate monitoring equipment and clinical assessment
• Recognize changes in patient status and respond appropriately
• Adjust anesthetic plans in collaboration with the veterinarian based on patient needs and procedure requirements
• Provide appropriate analgesia and perioperative pain management
• Safely recover patients from anesthesia and monitor them closely through recovery
• Communicate anesthetic concerns and patient changes clearly to the surgical team

Surgical Support

• Prepare surgical patients, equipment, and anesthesia workstations
• Place and manage IV catheters and arterial/other monitoring lines as appropriate
• Assist with patient positioning, surgical preparation, and procedural support
• Maintain appropriate anesthesia and surgical records
• Anticipate the needs of the surgical team and help maintain an efficient workflow
• Assist with equipment preparation, cleaning, maintenance, and restocking

Patient High-Level Patient Care & Monitoring

• Perform advanced nursing and client care
• Provide education and support to clients throughout their pet’s care
• Monitor and support patients throughout diagnostics and treatment
• Provide compassionate, patient-focused care throughout hospitalization
• Monitor pain, temperature, cardiovascular status, respiratory status, and other relevant parameters
• Perform medication administration and other technical skills as indicated
• Maintain accurate and timely patient documentation
• Recognize changes in patient condition and escalate concerns appropriately

Team-Based Care

• Collaborate closely with surgeons, technicians, assistants, and other hospital teams
• Communicate effectively to support continuity of patient care
• Participate in case discussions and contribute to anesthesia planning
• Maintain a calm, organized approach during complex or high-acuity cases
• Help support a positive, collaborative, and learning-focused team environment

What We’re Looking For

• Active Oregon CVT license (or eligibility for Oregon licensure)
• Minimum 3 years of experience as a CVT
• At least 1 year of experience in anesthesia, ER, ICU, surgery, or specialty practice
• Strong foundational knowledge of general anesthesia and anesthetic monitoring
• Confident with anesthetic induction, maintenance, monitoring, and recovery
• Strong technical skills and attention to detail
• Ability to recognize changes in patient status and communicate concerns promptly
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to remain organized and composed in a fast-paced environment
• Compassionate, dependable, and patient-focused approach
• Ability to work independently while appropriately seeking support when needed

Preferred:

• Previous specialty surgery or referral hospital experience
• Strong anesthesia experience with a variety of patient sizes, procedures, and risk classifications
• Experience with invasive monitoring and advanced anesthesia techniques
• Familiarity with CRIs, multimodal analgesia, and perioperative pain management
• Experience with SmartFlow, ezyVet, or similar systems
• Experience working with orthopedic, soft tissue, neurologic, or other advanced surgical cases
• Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills
• Interest in continuing to develop advanced anesthesia skills

Physical & Work Environment Expectations

• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs
• Comfortable working with anesthetized, critically ill, and recovering animals
• Comfortable working with biologic hazards and cleaning chemicals
• Ability to work in an environment with odors, noise, and fast-paced activity
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, and perform physical patient-care tasks throughout the shift

Compensation & Benefits

• $30–$38/hour DOE
• $5/hour hospital-wide overnight shift differential

Comprehensive Benefits Include:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance (HSA/FSA options)
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off
• Generous CE allowance twice-monthly in-house CE
• Tuition assistance and professional development support
• License reimbursement and uniform allowance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee discounts
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance
• And more

What Success Looks Like

• Safe, consistent, and thoughtful anesthetic management
• Strong preparation and organization before each procedure
• Appropriate recognition and response to changes in patient status
• Thorough and accurate anesthetic and patient documentation
• Effective communication with surgeons and the surgical team
• Smooth patient recovery and appropriate post-operative monitoring
• Reliable technical performance and attention to detail
• Continued growth in anesthesia knowledge and skills
• Positive contributions to team culture and collaboration

If you are a skilled CVT who genuinely enjoys anesthesia, surgical medicine, and the challenge of caring for complex patients, we would love to hear from you. At BVER, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside experienced specialists and a collaborative team while continuing to develop your anesthesia and specialty skills.

Pay: $30.00 - $38.00 per hour

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Continuing education credits
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Employee discount
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• License reimbursement
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Referral program
• Relocation assistance
• Retirement plan
• Uniform allowance
• Vision insurance

Work Location: In person

Salary : $30 - $38