Large Animal Hospital Surgical Assistant

Summary

The individual in this position primarily acts as a surgical nurse utilizing proper clinical techniques in support of the Large Animal Hospital Surgery Service and its clinicians. Additional duties include restrain horses for exams and diagnostic procedures, jog horses and aid in the positioning of horses in the MRI unit throughout the workday several days of every workweek. This is a physically demanding position that requires excellent horse handling skills and experience.

Examples of Work

Job functions are specific duties that would be included in the essential functions of the job description. These functions are not all-inclusive nor do they cover the full extent of the duties performed.

• This position will be assisting in surgery for all patients in the Large Animal Hospital and working in sterile supply requiring the incumbent to stand for long periods of time.
• Must have working knowledge surgical instruments, medical terminology, anatomy and physiology, sterile technique and decontamination procedures.
• Intermittently, will require the physical ability and stamina to jog, flex horse’s limbs and lunge horses during physical exams.
• This is a physically demanding position that requires excellent horse handling skills and experience.
• This is a position that requires the experience and physical ability to handle, manipulate, restrain and treat large animals, primarily horses, but may include goats, alpacas, llamas and bovine patients.
• Additional duties include administering treatments to animals admitted to the Large Animal Hospital under supervision of the Professional staff, provide clinical assistance to the professional staff, instruct veterinary students and technicians in proper surgical techniques, and maintain a sanitary and functionally well-organized surgical service within the Large Animal Hospital.
• Independently sets up, maintains and ensures proper storage of specialized surgical equipment.

Education and Experience

High school diploma and two years of experience loading, unloading, restraining, and handling horses or one year of experience loading, unloading, restraining, and handling horses in a veterinary academic teaching hospital.

Licensure and Certification

None

Supervision

Received: Detailed and precise supervision from clinicians, supervisors or higher ranking technicians. Instructions are both written and oral. Minimal supervision is required but supervisor is normally available for advice and consultation.

Exercised: May provide general instruction and review to veterinary students.

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