What are the responsibilities and job description for the Relief Veterinary Assistant position at vca?
Relief Veterinary Assistant General Practice Veterinary Hospital Location: Anchorage, Alaska Employment Type: Relief About Us: VCA Bering Sea Animal Hospital is a well-established 4-doctor general practice veterinary hospital open six days a week. We are committed to providing comprehensive, high-quality care to pets, including wellness, advanced diagnostics, and specialized services such as orthopedic surgeries, acupuncture, and laser therapy. We are proud to be AAHA-accredited, demonstrating our dedication to the highest standards of veterinary care. Our team utilizes hands-free radiograph techniques and incorporates Fear Free® handling methods to ensure the comfort and safety of our patients. In addition to medical care, we offer on-site boarding for both dogs and cats, providing compassionate care while their families are away. Position Summary: The Veterinary Assistant supports veterinarians and veterinary technicians in providing high-quality medical care to patients while ensuring a positive experience for clients. This role involves assisting with patient care, maintaining a clean and organized hospital environment, and supporting the overall efficiency of the medical team. Key Responsibilities: Assist veterinarians and technicians with patient restraint, examinations, and treatments. Prepare exam rooms, treatment areas, and surgical suites for patient care. Support diagnostic procedures such as radiographs, laboratory testing, and sample collection under supervision. Monitor patients and report changes in behavior or condition to veterinary staff. Clean, disinfect, and maintain hospital equipment and work areas according to hospital protocols. Assist with patient intake, obtaining basic histories, and recording information in the medical record. Provide compassionate care and comfort to hospitalized and recovering patients. Support client communication by reinforcing discharge instructions and patient care information when appropriate. Stock and organize medical supplies to ensure smooth hospital operations. Qualifications: High school diploma or equivalent required. Previous experience in a veterinary clinic, animal hospital, shelter, or animal care environment preferred. Ability to safely handle and restrain dogs and cats of various sizes and temperaments. Ability to work in a physically demanding environment, including lifting up to 40 lbs and standing for extended periods. Strong attention to detail and ability to follow medical protocols and instructions. Excellent communication skills and ability to work effectively within a team. Commitment to compassionate animal care and a positive client experience. Compensation and Benefits: Competitive hourly wage based on experience. Employee discounts on veterinary services and products. Opportunities for professional development and advancement within the hospital. Supportive and collaborative team environment. Schedule: This position requires a flexible schedule, including some evenings, weekends, and holidays, to meet the needs of our patients and clients. If you are a current associate, you need to apply through our internal career site. Please log into Workday and click on the Jobs Hub app or search for Browse Jobs. Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more! The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development). We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled. For a complete EEO statement please see our career page at vcacareers.com. A leader in veterinary care, VCA Animal Hospitals is committed to taking care of the future of veterinary medicine. We are a family of hometown animal hospitals determined to positively impact pets, people and our communities. From primary care to emergency, urgent and specialty care, VCA delivers world-class medicine and hometown care to more than four million pets each year. We invest in cutting-edge tools, training and technology that enable Associates across our national network of hospitals to lead the industry today and into tomorrow. Among our talented 35,000 Associates are nearly 7,000 veterinarians – including 500 who are board-certified specialists – nearly 4,000 credentialed technicians and over 10,000 veterinary assistants – all dedicated to giving pets the very best in medical care. The future of veterinary medicine is in our hands. Join us.