Role Summary:

Cornerstone Animal Center is seeking a passionate and skilled Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) to join our new spay/neuter and wellness clinic in Visalia, California, who is dedicated to improving animal welfare in California’s Central Valley by providing nursing care for high-quality, affordable veterinary care for the pets and families of our community.

The ideal candidate is a confident and compassionate Registered Veterinary Technician with demonstrated experience in High Quality High Volume Spay/Neuter (HQHVSN) surgery who thrives in a fast-paced clinical environment. In addition to surgical nursing duties, this RVT will deliver, under the direction of a veterinarian, routine wellness services including vaccinations, preventive care, and client education, embodying our mission to make essential veterinary care accessible to all. We are looking for a team member who shares our commitment to teamwork, a positive attitude for problem-solving, and a desire to learn and grow.

Core Responsibilities

Veterinary Care

• Know how to perform a basic physical exam, and recognize normal and abnormal parameters in a variety of canine and feline patients
• Be able to recognize signs of pain and distress.
• Understanding of infectious disease in patients and control
• Be able to simultaneously monitor multiple patients at various stages of anesthesia
• Be able to recognize and appropriately respond to anesthetic emergencies
• Knowledge of principles of sterility, maintain sterile fields
• Prepare patients for surgery, assist in surgery when required
• Know how to operate an anesthesia machine
• Know how to operate various anesthesia monitoring equipment
• Knowledge of commonly used veterinary surgical equipment
• Be familiar with commonly used veterinary drugs
• Induction of veterinary anesthetic drugs
• Intubation of feline and canine patients of various sizes
• IV catheter placement
• Be able to calculate drug and fluid dosages
• Familiarity with veterinary terminology and abbreviations
• Perform venipuncture, and intramuscular and subcutaneous injections
• Knowledge of common surgical instrument names, surgical instrument care
• Be able to operate an autoclave machine
• Comply with all laws pertaining to controlled substances, record keeping and drug logs
• Be familiar with and apply stress-free animal handling and restraint techniques
• Perform other duties as required—take radiographs, laboratory work, drug log, and patient charting
• Able to interpret treatment sheets and administer treatment to patients (PO, topically, otic, ocular) under the direction of a veterinarian
• Facilitate good working relationships through teamwork and collaboration.
• Proactively communicate with other team members to assure excellent patient care
• Keep up to date in veterinary medicine with regular continuing education.

Administrative Duties

• Maintain and create patient records by accurately recording treatments, surgery notes, examinations, and test results on computerized patient charts and other medical records
• Read and respond to work related e-mails at least one time per shift
• Participate in regular staff meetings and medical rounds

Client and Community Service

• Practice and encourage the humane treatment of animals
• Handle and discharge animals from the clinic in a responsive, courteous, and tactful manner
• Inform clients of any pertinent medical information regarding animal care
• Provide quality customer service to clients, volunteers, and staff while actively promoting our mission, services, programs and events
• Promote donation and giving opportunities as appropriate

Safety

• Ensure a safe work environment by following all safety guidelines and modeling safe work practices (to include animals, equipment, drugs, chemicals, radiology, sharps, biohazardous material)
• Take immediate action to address any safety concerns that could put a staff member, volunteer, customer, animal, or the organization at risk
• Maintain a clean, healthy, and sanitary work area

Volunteers

• Work cooperatively with all volunteers and recognize the talent and commitment they bring to the Center
• Mentors and trains volunteers as needed

Diversity and Inclusiveness

• Work effectively with individuals and colleagues from diverse communities and cultures.

Open Communication