Veterinary Technician (General) - Small Animal Surgery

Duties & Responsibilities

• Learn to prepare patients for surgery ◦ Assist with restraint and transport of patient into surgery ◦ Position patient on surgical table according to standard operating procedures or specific veterinarian instruction (Learn all surgical positions and associated terminologies) ◦ Prepare patient for surgery (e.g., scrub surgical site for aseptic surgery, insert IV catheter, etc.) ◦ Clip patient according to standard procedure or specific clinician instructions regarding surgery site ◦ Administer medications, fluids, etc. under the direction of the veterinarian
• Learn to prepare surgical suite, instruments and equipment for aseptic surgery ◦ Open and handle sterile surgical instruments onto an aseptic field according to aseptic technique. ◦ Operate, clean and perform routine maintenance on surgical equipment according to aseptic technique ◦ Sterilize and wrap surgical instruments using different sterilization techniques, such as gas, autoclave, and plasma
• Learn to provide standard paramedical technical and nursing assistance during surgical procedures ◦ Provide surgeon with surgical instruments by name and function ◦ Respond to requests by clinicians for paramedical technical assistance ◦ Learn to utilize and monitor highly specialized surgical instruments and equipment ◦ Provide intro-operative radiographic procedures as necessary
• Learn to provide post-surgery duties ◦ Assist with transport of patient from surgical suite ◦ Monitor patient, record vitals and recognize, report and learn appropriate response to emergency conditions ◦ Apply bandages and administer medications and fluids as by veterinarian ◦ Dispose of sharps properly and collect opened instruments for sterilization ◦ Clean surgical suite and equipment according to aseptic technique ◦ Assist veterinary staff and students assigned to the section with their treatments of surgical patients
• Other service duties ◦ Prepare tissue and other specimen for submission for analysis ◦ Assist with maintaining surgical and drug supplies ◦ Enter procedures and charges into the Health Information System ◦ Assist with maintaining surgical log
• Perform other duties as assigned.