Vet Assistant; Banfield Beverly

Job Purpose and Function

The Veterinary Assistant supports the veterinarians and veterinary technicians in ensuring quality veterinary care for all pets, advocates for pets, educates clients on all aspects of pet health, and ensures a safe and effective hospital environment.

• Live and exemplify the Five Principles of Mars, Inc. within self and team.
• Act as the extra eyes, ears and hands for the veterinarian and veterinary technician to ensure the best quality pet care and to maximize the veterinarian's and veterinary technician’s productivity.
• Communicate with veterinarian, veterinary technicians and all other associates to maintain the flow of patients.
• Provide professional, efficient and exceptional service at all times.
• Perform or prepare procedures that do not require veterinarian or veterinary technician assistance, complete preparatory work for other procedures, ensure that clients and pets are comfortable in the hospital, and monitor hospitalized or surgical pets as allowed in the state practice acts.
• Educate clients about Optimum Wellness Plans, preventive care, pet health needs, hospital services and other issues.
• Obtain relevant information and history from clients and maintain proper and complete medical charts.
• Ensure the safety of pets, clients and associates by utilizing safe restraining techniques, following standard protocols, and maintaining clean, sterile and organized treatment areas, exam rooms and labs.
• Assist with surgery as applicable.
• Utilize technical skills to the fullest, within state practice acts and as outlined in the NAVTA guidelines for veterinary assistant skills and duties.
• Mentor other paraprofessionals in the hospital.
• Other job duties as assigned.

Quality – The consumer is our boss, quality is our work and value for money is our goal. Responsibility – As individuals, we demand total responsibility from ourselves; as associates, we support the responsibility of others. Mutuality – A mutual benefit is a shared benefit; a shared benefit will endure. Efficiency – We use resources to the full, waste nothing and do only what we can do best.

Freedom – We need freedom to shape our future, we need profit to remain free.

• Leadership
• Action Oriented
• Customer Focus
• Listening
• Peer Relationships
• Personal Learning
• Functional Skills
• Priority Setting

• Ability to multi-task – manages multiple tasks at one time and shifts attention accurately.
• Communication skills – reads, writes and speaks fluent English with proper grammar.
• Organizational ability – systematic approach, orderly and turns confusion into order.
• Problem solving skills – identifies, analyzes and solves problems, translates to practical solutions.
• Client service skills – consistently delivers attentive, courteous and informative service.
• Intellectual ability – follows instructions accurately in oral, written or diagram format.
• Mathematical ability – performs basic arithmetic and unit conversions.
• Computer skills – uses Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel and specialized medical software.

• Initiative – willing to take appropriate steps to solve problems.
• Integrity – conforms to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital.
• Cooperativeness – works with others and shares relevant information.
• Flexibility – open to changing situations and performs all tasks assigned.
• Independence – performs duties without supervision as appropriate.
• Tolerance for Stress / Resiliency – maintains a positive outlook while dealing with stressful situations.

Requires long periods at a computer, confidence around pets, potential extra hours beyond 40 per week, work on weekends and evenings. Requires standing, walking, stooping, kneeling, crouching, climbing, and carrying up to 50 pounds. Requires good hand‑eye coordination and visual acuity. Exposure to pets, anesthesia, radiation, biological hazards and medication/controlled substances.

Certificate of completion from a NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program, or equivalent combination of education, training and experience. High School Diploma or equivalent…