The Clinical Veterinary Technician 2 assists in providing clinical care, nursing support, and husbandry for a variety of laboratory research animals. This is the second level of a three-level series. It is distinguished from the lower level by increased responsibility in independently performing complex animal care protocols, including the opportunity to learn veterinary diagnostic and treatment procedures. A high level of case management, organizational capabilities, and communication skill is essential for employee success. At this level, there is an emphasis on hospitalized patient care, maintaining special project assignments, and less need for task instruction and supervision. Work inside an ABSL3 facility is a requirement of this position.
Rounds/Triage/Observation/Records
- Evaluate new/ongoing clinical cases.
- Orders and collects diagnostic tests; may interpret diagnostics with veterinary oversight.
- Provides basic to complex treatments within clinic guidelines or as determined by the attending veterinarian.
- Prescribe medication using algorithms as directed by a veterinarian, treatment protocols.
- Determines which cases need immediate care from the attending veterinarian, and which can be managed through routine practices.
- Communicates medical needs to veterinary staff using appropriate terminology/clinical parameters.
- Triage emergency needs.
- Maintains expected and appropriate standards of cleanliness, including management of disparate viral statuses.
- Documents all medical cases within the electronic health record data base according to ONPRC and departmental guidelines.
- Provides complete health review including weight management.
- Communicates between multiple units to ensure proper health management.
Nursing and Critical Care
- Aids and supports the assessment, treatment, and stabilization of patients with urgent medical needs.
- May independently stabilize patients while the veterinarian is in route.
- Provides ongoing care for patients with potentially life-threatening illness or injury whose condition is likely to change moment to moment.
- Monitors recovery from sedation and patient care, including creation of medical records and administration of medications.
- Performs general nursing functions in the clinical hospital, hospitalized patient area, and animal housing facilities to include taking and recording of clinical signs, performing all aspects of patient assessment and treatment of animals, and patient recovery. These functions are to be accomplished independently without professional supervision.
Therapeutics
- Performs standard clinical procedures including but not limited to:
- Checking for standard pathogens and treating as appropriate
- Venipuncture
- Intravenous and urethral catheter placement
- Medication/fluid rate calculations
- Medication administration via intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, intradermal and oral routes
- Bandaging, dental prophylaxis, radiographs, ultrasound, etc.
- Body fluid and tissue collection
- Cleans, debrides, sutures, and bandages wounds
- Assists with dental manipulations
- Monitoring of animals receiving gas anesthetics
- Additional clinical procedures may include:
- Ultrasound evaluation of patients
- Intraosseous catheter placement
- Manual reduction of intussusceptions
- High-risk infant care
Surgical Procedures
- Performs minor surgical procedures without supervision by the Veterinary Clinical Supervisor or Chief of Clinical Medicine.
- Independently accomplishes minor surgical procedures in the treatment of spontaneous wounds including wound debridement, sliding and rotating flap skin grafts, V-to-Y plasty, and suturing minor skin lacerations.
- Responsible for anesthetic induction, including intubation with some oversight.
- Provides patient monitoring during anesthetic procedures or while a patient is being stabilized.
- Recovers patients from anesthesia.
Observation and Records
- Checks clinical cases daily for signs of abnormal behavior, illness, or injury.
- Records information necessary to document adequate clinical care.
- Reports observed findings to veterinarian.
- Records requested environmental data (e.g. room temperatures, lighting, etc.).
- Completes area work and maintenance sheets for work performed.
- Fills out death record on dead or euthanized animals.
Miscellaneous
- Animal husbandry.
- Cleans and disinfects surgical and clinical supplies.
- Drives truck to tend to animals and to transport animals for care.
- Other duties as assigned.