Veterinary Technician I - Large Animal Hospital - Tufts University

The technicians of the large animal hospital are well versed at handling multiple different species that are cared for in our hospital. In addition to horses, which comprise much of our case load, our staff also have the opportunity to work with a variety of other species including alpacas, goats and pigs. Our technicians    work together with the veterinary teams of residents, interns, and faculty clinicians to provide quality, compassionate, and timely care to all of our hospitalized patients. In addition to caring for our in-house patients, the technicians aid and provide urgent care to incoming emergencies along with our teams of veterinarians, and veterinary students. 

As a teaching hospital, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is well known for the ability to offer a wide variety of cutting-edge diagnostic and therapeutic options for our large animal patients and their owners. The focus of our work here is to provide medical guidance and care to the patients and clients, as well as providing a solid education to our future veterinary professionals. Our technicians play an integral part in both roles… as caregivers and as educators.

We have over a dozen specialists with extensive experience in large animal Internal Medicine, Surgery, and Sports Medicine; and with this knowledge, the staff can provide our new hires with the training, the tools, and support that they will need to be successful in this environment. Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University has excellent resources, and health benefits to offer, and plenty of Continuing Education opportunities to further enhance our staff and our hospital surroundings.

If you are looking for a new challenge and a rewarding experience in the veterinary/large animal field, please consider the opportunities that we have available.

The Veterinary Technician I in the Large Animal Hospital is responsible for providing high quality nursing care and treatment to all Internal Medicine, General Diagnostics and Surgery Service, and Sports Medicine Service patients as directed by clinicians/residents or supervising technicians.  As a team member, the Vet Tech I will assist other technicians in carrying out the daily patient management plan, which includes inpatient care and treatment, providing technical support for other clinicians and students, guidance, and instruction to students on rotation, and assisting with routine/emergency admissions and discharges.  

Essential functions in the role will be:

• Overall observation of all LA patients.
• Perform treatments.
• Assure general comfort and safety of animals and be alert to any unforeseen circumstances.
• Competently administer Rx as ordered.
• Provide instruction/assistance to fourth-year students, new hires, and visiting interns, i.e., catheterizations, venipuncture, rough/sterile preps, proper restraint techniques, reflux horses.
• Assist with discharge/admission of patients, grooming, leg wraps, on-loading and off-loading animals.
• Follow protocols as set forth by all departments within the HLA and FHSA.
• Provide emergency and routine technical assistance for all clinic admissions.
• Set up colic cart, catheterizations, prepare for abdominocentesis, rectal examination, reflux, assist with proper restraint techniques.
• Set up and use of Endoscopy equipment, Radiology equipment and various other monitoring and diagnostic devices.
• Restocking and cleaning of treatment areas (i.e., inpatient and outpatient treatment rooms, neonatal ward, isolation).
• Order supplies from Central Sterile as needed to assure adequate supplies are available at all times in the treatment areas.
• Maintain cleanliness and order in treatment areas as well hospital wards.
• Follow Biosecurity protocols.
• Assist in keeping isolation stalls neat and orderly.
• Additional tasks deemed necessary per Supervisor or Hospital Administration

The schedule for this position is Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday 7pm - 4am + One 8hr on-call shift weekly. 

Basic Requirements:

• Large Animal Handling Skills Required
• At least one year of related experience
• High School Diploma/GED is required
• Computer proficiency/Electronic Medical Records
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• CVT, eligible to sit for VTNE
• Vocational/Technical training or Associate/Bachelor’s Degree with 2+ years’ experience preferred