Overnight Veterinary Technician or Assistant

Overnight Veterinary Technician or Assistant

Department: Veterinary Technicians

Employment Type: Full Time

Location: Marietta, Georgia

At Dogwood Veterinary Specialty and Emergency, we are dedicated to providing exceptional, compassionate care to pets in need of emergency services and specialized veterinary care. Located in Marietta, GA, our hospital is a leader in the field of critical care, emergency medicine, and specialty services, including:
Oncology Surgery and Anesthesia Internal Medicine Critical & Urgent Care …and much more!

As part of our commitment to excellence, we are looking for a Full-Time Overnight Veterinary Technician to join our dedicated team. This role offers the opportunity to work the overnight shift (7:00 PM – 7:00 AM), where you'll be responsible for providing high-level care to critically ill or injured pets while supporting the hospital’s emergency and specialty services.

As an Overnight Veterinary Technician at Dogwood, your primary responsibility will be to ensure that patients receive outstanding care during the overnight hours, when many emergency cases are seen.

Emergency & Critical Care:

• Provide direct care for emergency and critically ill patients, including but not limited to:
  • Stabilization of patients experiencing acute distress or trauma
  • IV fluid therapy to maintain hydration and electrolyte balance
  • Pain management through administration of prescribed analgesics
  • Continuous monitoring of vital signs (heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation)
• Administer medications and treatments as prescribed by the veterinarian, ensuring patient responses are closely monitored
• Assist in emergency procedures such as:
  • CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)
  • Tracheal intubation and airway management
  • Wound care, including bandaging and suturing
  • Venipuncture for blood draws or IV access

Patient Monitoring:

• Continuously monitor critically ill patients to ensure stability, including tracking vital signs and patient responses
• Operate and maintain advanced monitoring equipment such as:
  • ECG (Electrocardiography)
  • Pulse oximeter
  • Capnography for CO2 monitoring
  • Blood pressure cuffs (non-invasive and invasive)
• Provide constant observation of patients during anesthesia for surgeries or diagnostic imaging procedures, ensuring patient safety and comfort

Diagnostic & Laboratory Support:

• Perform diagnostic tests and bloodwork, including:
  • CBC (Complete Blood Count), chemistry panels, and blood gas analysis
  • Urinalysis to assess kidney and urinary tract function
• Prepare patients for diagnostic imaging (X-rays, ultrasounds), ensuring proper positioning and safety
• Assist veterinarians with interpretation of diagnostic results during critical care cases
• Operate and maintain laboratory equipment, including hematology analyzers and chemistry analyzers, ensuring devices are calibrated and functioning properly

Anesthesia & Surgery Assistance:

• Prepare and assist with emergency surgeries, ensuring proper sterile techniques and equipment setup
• Provide anesthesia monitoring during surgeries, adjusting as needed to maintain patient stability
• Administer anesthetic agents, assisting with induction and recovery, and ensuring patients are stable throughout the procedure
• Provide post-operative care, including:
  • Monitoring recovery from anesthesia
  • Managing pain relief and ensuring patients remain comfortable
  • Observing for complications such as respiratory or cardiovascular instability during recovery

Client Communication & Documentation:

• Communicate clearly and compassionately with pet owners regarding their pets' conditions, procedures, and treatment plans, especially during overnight hours
• Document all aspects of patient care, treatments, and client communications in the electronic medical record (EMR) system
• Provide clear, concise follow-up care instructions to clients once patients are discharged, ensuring they feel supported and informed during the recovery process

Inventory & Equipment Management:

• Ensure medical supplies and medications are adequately stocked, organized, and ready for use during the night shift
• Assist with maintaining and updating controlled substances inventory, ensuring compliance…