Do you have a passion for exotic animal medicine? Do you want to join a dynamic team practicing and teaching the highest standards of veterinary medicine? Do you want to advance your technical skills and work in an environment with leading veterinary specialist experts? Do you want to be part of shaping the next generation of veterinarians? If so, we’d love to have you join us!

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) at the Atlantic Veterinary College requires an Animal Health Technician to work in the Zoo & Exotics Service. The position will provide technical support for the Exotics Service, which is on clinics 50% of the year (exotics emergencies accepted at other times through the primary emergency service). Additional responsibilities will include support for the Small Animal Primary Emergency Service, which runs 100% of the year, as well as primary Zoo & Exotics patient follow-up and client communication during off clinics time. This position will also provide secondary support to Community Practice, triage service, and the ICU, with the intention that they will offer support to those services with both exotics and small animal patients.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Under the direction of the Zoo, Exotics, and Wildlife clinician, this position will provide technical assistance to the Zoo & Exotics veterinary medicine service. Job responsibilities will include:

Zoo & Exotics Service duties:

• Assist veterinarians in the medical care of animals presenting to the service including all species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and invertebrates. This will include client owned animals, and animals maintained at regional facilities (zoos, rehabilitation centers, other)
• Routine written and verbal client communication for support on husbandry, treatment and medication protocols
• Rounding with clinicians and technicians in the Small Animal Hospital, and communicating treatment plans and patient updates to ICU technicians for hospitalized patients
• Work with technicians and clinicians to anticipate, organize, and prioritize cases
• Coordination of animal treatments and completion of treatment orders for hospital in-patients
• Administer anesthesia under the direction of a veterinarian and at times in collaboration with the VTH anesthesia service
• Perform necessary nursing skills for various levels of care required within the VTH
• Monitor and report to the clinician any findings or abnormalities with the patient in relation to the treatment and/or monitoring of their care and well-being
• Assist in surgery and animal emergencies
• Perform cleaning, disinfection, and sterilization of instruments, equipment, and patient care areas to maintain the service areas in a clean and orderly condition and maintain biosecurity
• Prepare, submit and occasionally perform diagnostics for the service (including, but not limited to, hematology, biochemistry analysis, cytology, and parasitology)
• Organize and maintain supplies including rotating inventory (diet, supplies, equipment, other), removing expired products, stocking and ordering supplies.
• Practice safe work practices while in proximity of potentially dangerous animals or substances.
• Support veterinary students, technician students, and junior veterinarians (interns and residents) participating in post-secondary post graduate programs with confidence and compassion.
• Work in a position of flux and change within the small animal hospital, thus requiring a team-based approach with all services within the VTH.
• Must be able to work on-call shifts on a rotational basis.
• Other related duties as assigned. 

VTH Technician duties:

• Monitor, assist with and complete treatments and procedures for large and small animal patients
• Ability to perform necessary nursing skills for the various levels of care required (including triage of emergency presentations, animal handling and restraint, and basic husbandry) and assisting with diagnostic procedures including administering sedation and monitoring sedated patients
• Monitor and report to the clinician any findings or abnormalities with the patient in relation to the treatment and/or monitoring of their care and well-being
• Support clinicians and VTH interns/residents with client communication (including discussing estimates, consent forms, and client education/care)
• Support client services staff in ensuring an excellent client experience including answering client inquiries, taking payments, and client communication
• Stock and maintain supplies in various hospital locations including Radiology
• Assist in the maintenance of complete and accurate patient medical records and billing and working with clinicians and client services staff to ensure that patient bills are completed and paid prior to patient discharge
• Maintain a high standard of cleanliness and biosecurity standards and other related technician duties as assigned

General duties:

• Must be willing to participate as assigned in an on-call schedule and may include some evening/weekend/holiday work
• Participate in the training of veterinary students, technician students and post-graduate program veterinarians with confidence and support
• Maintain collegial and professional interactions and communication with colleagues, students and clients at all times
• Maintain safe, respectful, professional and ethical conduct, handling and interactions with patients and during patient care as befitting a veterinary teaching hospital environment and in accordance with veterinary regulatory bodies

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Must be a graduate of an Animal Health Technician program from a recognized facility
• Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) designation is required. Consideration will be given to those who are eligible to write the VTNE within the position’s six-month probationary period
• Demonstrated clinical experience working with exotics and small animal patients is required with a preference given to those with VTS specialization in Avian/Exotics or Zoo Medicine
• Ability to handle and restrain small and large animals and of a wide variety of species
• Excellent technical proficiency with experience and confidence with nursing and handling large and small animal patients, placing catheters and administering IV fluids, performing sample collection, assisting with diagnostic procedures including administering sedation and monitoring sedated patients, performing patient assessments and administering required treatments
• Clinical experience working with patients in an emergency or ICU setting is preferred (with specialty referral hospital experience considered an asset)
• Ability to exercise sound judgment in emergency situations and to respond with appropriate action
• Training in and experience with remote drug delivery systems (Safe Capture or other training)
• Strong computer skills with demonstrated ability in Windows and Ios Operating Systems
• Previous experience with electronic medical records is considered an asset, with preference given to applicants with knowledge of RxWorks and Smart Flow
• Must possess strong work ethic and accountability with demonstrated excellent written and verbal communication skills with colleagues and clients, with experience working in a teaching environment being an asset
• Demonstrated experience in inputting, maintaining and reviewing patient invoicing
• Experience with a flexible schedule (including evening or weekend work)