URGENT CARE

Veterinary Technician

Job Description

About Our Hospital

Heather Ridge Pet Hospital is a well-established, five-doctor small animal practice serving the Sioux Falls community. In addition to comprehensive general practice care, we offer walk-in urgent care Monday through Thursday to help pets and their families when unexpected illnesses and injuries arise. Our team values collaboration, open communication, continued learning, and compassionate care, and we strive to create an environment where team members feel supported while doing meaningful work. Our culture is grounded in dependability, relationships, happiness, honesty, empathy, and education.

Job Summary

The Urgent Care Veterinary Technician supports veterinarians in delivering timely, compassionate care to walk-in patients with acute illnesses and injuries. This role combines strong technical skills with sound judgment, organization, and clear client communication in a fast-paced setting where priorities and caseload can change quickly. The technician helps move each patient safely and efficiently from initial assessment through diagnostics, treatment, monitoring, and discharge while supporting an excellent client and team experience.

Core Values

·   Dependability: Arrives prepared and on time, follows through, communicates changing priorities, and can be counted on during busy or unpredictable shifts.

·   Relationships: Builds trust with clients and teammates through respectful communication, collaboration, and a willingness to help wherever needed.

·   Happiness: Contributes a steady, solutions-focused attitude and helps create a supportive environment even during stressful cases or long waits.

·   Honesty: Communicates openly, documents accurately, acknowledges concerns or errors promptly, and acts with integrity.

·   Empathy: Recognizes the fear and stress that often accompany urgent visits and responds to patients, clients, and coworkers with patience and compassion.

·   Education: Continues developing urgent care skills and explains treatments, medications, home monitoring, and follow-up needs in understandable language.

Key Responsibilities

Urgent Care Triage and Patient Support

·   Assist with prompt patient intake and triage by obtaining an accurate history, recording vital signs, identifying changes in patient status, and immediately escalating concerns to the veterinarian.

·   Support stabilization and treatment of urgent patients, including safe restraint, venipuncture, IV catheter placement, oxygen support, fluid therapy, medication administration, wound care, bandaging, and other treatments as directed.

·   Continuously reassess and monitor hospitalized or recovering patients; document findings accurately and communicate changes promptly.

·   Maintain awareness of case priority and help coordinate patient flow as new walk-in cases arrive.

Diagnostics and Procedures

·   Collect and process blood, urine, fecal, cytology, and other samples; perform in-house testing and prepare specimens for external laboratories.

·   Obtain diagnostic radiographs using appropriate positioning, technique, radiation safety, and patient handling.

·   Prepare patients, supplies, and equipment for minor procedures, sedation, wound repair, and other urgent care services; monitor sedated patients through recovery within training and legal scope.

·   Maintain, clean, and troubleshoot diagnostic and treatment equipment and report concerns promptly.

Client Communication and Service

·   Set clear, compassionate expectations regarding triage order, estimated wait times, recommended diagnostics, treatment plans, and costs within the technician's role.

·   Review discharge instructions, medications, home monitoring, follow-up recommendations, and signs that require immediate reassessment; confirm client understanding.

·   Provide updates during the visit, respond professionally to questions and concerns, and involve the veterinarian or leader when needed.

·   Complete follow-up communication and callbacks as assigned and document all client interactions in the medical record.

Teamwork, Records, and Hospital Readiness

·   Partner closely with the urgent care veterinarian, technicians, assistants, and client service team to anticipate needs, communicate priorities, and maintain efficient case flow.

·   Create complete, timely, and accurate medical records, treatment sheets, charges, medication entries, and controlled-substance documentation.

·   Keep exam, treatment, laboratory, pharmacy, and patient-care areas clean, stocked, organized, and ready for the next case.

·   Follow hospital, OSHA, infection-control, hazardous-material, controlled-substance, and radiation-safety protocols.

·   Assist with opening, closing, restocking, inventory, and end-of-shift handoffs so unresolved patient or client needs are clearly communicated.

Professional Development

·   Maintain current knowledge of veterinary nursing, urgent care workflows, medications, diagnostics, and patient safety through continuing education and hands-on development.

·   Participate in team meetings and training, receive feedback constructively, and support hospital goals, standards, and philosophy.

Skills and Qualifications

·   Education: High school diploma or equivalent required. Graduation from an accredited Veterinary Technology program is required.

·   Credentialing: Current or eligible veterinary technician credentialing consistent with South Dakota requirements. Fear Free certification is a plus.

·   Experience: At least one year of veterinary clinical experience preferred; urgent care, emergency, or high-volume general practice experience is especially valuable.

·   Technical Skills: Proficiency in patient assessment, venipuncture, IV catheter placement, medication administration, laboratory testing, radiography, patient monitoring, and accurate medical documentation.

·   Judgment and Adaptability: Ability to recognize changes in patient condition, prioritize competing needs, remain calm under pressure, and seek veterinarian direction appropriately.

·   Communication: Strong verbal and written communication skills with the ability to explain information clearly and respectfully to clients and team members.

·   Availability: Ability to work consistently Monday through Thursday on one of the listed schedules, plus a rotating Saturday shift from 7:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Shift end times may occasionally vary based on active patient care and closing needs.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment

·   Ability to lift and handle animals up to 45 pounds independently and request assistance or use appropriate equipment for heavier patients.

·   Ability to stand, walk, bend, kneel, reach, and perform tasks requiring manual dexterity for extended periods.

·   Frequent exposure to animals that may be painful, fearful, unpredictable, or aggressive; zoonotic and infectious diseases; anesthetic agents; medications; radiation; noise; odors; and hazardous materials.

·   Ability to manage emotionally difficult situations, fluctuating workload, and time-sensitive patient needs while maintaining safety, accuracy, empathy, and professionalism.

Position Expectations

This description reflects the primary responsibilities of the position but is not intended to list every duty. Responsibilities may change based on patient needs, staffing, hospital operations, and the employee's training and legal scope of practice.