Large Animal Service Veterinary Technician III

Summary

Responsible for improving the efficiency and organization of the assigned service; improving communication, recovering all charges for the service and improving the clients’ experience when admitting inpatients and outpatients. Assists in the treatment of horses and other animals admitted to the assigned service by providing technical assistance to the professional staff, may assist in instructing students in proper clinical technique for diagnostic and primary care, and helps to maintain a sanitary and functionally well-organized service within the Large Animal Hospital.

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.

• Assists in providing clinical support to faculty veterinarians in the delivery and instruction of primary care; assist professional staff in performing critical and intensive care or life sustaining emergency care, diagnostic services, blood collection, and fluid administration as directed.
• The individual will work closely with Service clinicians assisting with paperwork including discharge letters, record keeping, dispensing medications at discharge and client communications and documentation.
• Performs or assists in patient medical evaluation and observation. Administers medications, collects, prepares, and submits clinical pathology samples, captures and inputs fees for materials and services.
• Must demonstrate knowledge of pharmacology and drug reactions, doses and usage.
• Be able to perform calculations for fluids rates and drugs.
• Must have working knowledge of normal and abnormal values for lab work and their indications.
• Handle, manipulate, restrain and treat horses and other large animal patients including goats, alpacas, llamas and bovine.
• Independently sets up, maintains and ensures proper storage of specialized diagnostic equipment.
• Provides clinical service support by maintaining a supply inventory and supervising and replenishing stock within the assigned areas and maintains a clean/sanitary and functionally organized clinical service area.
• Manages after-hours admissions and discharges, visitor policies and emergency call-ins. Also will assist clinicians in gathering and recording information pertinent to receiving and working up emergency cases.
• Monitors budgetary expenditures and working with Supervisor and Service Chief to ensure service budget is complied with or adjusted as needed.
• Acts as liaison with supervisor on personnel matters affecting morale, job efficiency, and clinical primary care of hospitalized animals.

Education and Experience

High school diploma or equivalent and six years of experience loading, unloading, restraining, handling and treating horses or four years of experience loading, unloading, restraining, handling and treating horses in a veterinary academic teaching hospital; and certification or licensure as a Veterinary Technician and designation of VTS in an appropriate large animal discipline.

Licensure and Certification

Certification or licensure as a Veterinary Technician and designation of VTS in an appropriate large animal discipline.

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: Provides general instruction and review to veterinary students and lower ranking technicians. May provide periodic instructions and review of student workers, and OPS technicians in the absence of a professional staff member or higher ranking technician. May assume intermediate supervisory authority for and train subordinate veterinary technical staff assigned within the clinical service section; may be required to advise on personnel emergency duty shift schedules and work assignments; may assist with job performance evaluations for assigned staff.

To see common career pathways for each position at the University of Florida please visit the Career Paths section of the UFHR website.