Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Assistant

• Location 3025 Dundee Road,Winter Haven, FL, 33884,United States
• Base Pay $15.00 - $20.00 / Hour
• Employee Type FT Non-Exempt
• Required Degree High school
• Manage Others No

• Phone
• Email

Build Your Skills in Emergency & Critical Care

Veterinary Healthcare Associates (VHA) is seeking an experienced, compassionate Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Assistant to join our ER/ICU team. This role is ideal for a veterinary assistant who thrives in a fast-paced environment, stays composed under pressure, and wants to build advanced skills while supporting emergency and critically ill patients.

At VHA, General Practice, Emergency, Critical Care, and Specialty Services come together on one integrated campus. You ll work alongside experienced veterinarians, credentialed technicians, and multidisciplinary teams while gaining exposure to a diverse and challenging caseload.

Support emergency triage, patient intake, and rapid assessment workflows

Assist veterinarians and technicians with emergency treatments, procedures, and patient stabilization

Monitor hospitalized and ICU patients, obtain vital signs, and promptly communicate changes in patient condition

Provide nursing and comfort care, including patient hygiene, feeding, walking, bedding, and positioning

Assist with oxygen therapy, wound care, fluid therapy, and medication administration under appropriate supervision

Safely handle and restrain patients during emergency treatments and diagnostic procedures

Assist with laboratory sample collection, processing, radiology, and diagnostic procedures

Maintain accurate patient information and support medical record documentation

Prepare and maintain emergency stations, crash carts, equipment, and ICU supplies

Support infection prevention, isolation, biosecurity, and patient safety protocols

Provide compassionate client support during emergency visits, hospitalization, and discharge

Collaborate with Emergency, ICU, Specialty, and hospital teams to support efficient patient care and seamless transitions

High school diploma or equivalent

Veterinary Assistant Certification (CVA) or equivalent formal veterinary assistant training

Previous hands-on experience in a veterinary hospital or clinical animal care environment

Demonstrated proficiency in patient handling, restraint, vital signs, nursing care, and clinical workflow

Experience assisting with diagnostics, treatments, hospitalized patient care, and medical documentation

Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and promptly communicate concerns to the veterinary team

Ability to remain composed, organized, and adaptable in emergency and high-pressure situations

Strong communication, multitasking, teamwork, and attention to detail

Compassionate approach to patients and the families navigating urgent or critical situations

Experience in Emergency, Critical Care, ICU, Specialty Medicine, or a high-volume veterinary hospital

Experience supporting emergency stabilization and critically ill patients

Familiarity with oxygen therapy, fluid therapy, laboratory procedures, radiology, and emergency equipment

Fear Free Certification and/or Low-Stress Handling experience

Desire to develop advanced clinical skills and grow within Emergency & Critical Care medicine

Summary

At VHA, our mission is helping people, pets, and the planet become healthy, happy, and healed. That mission shapes how we care for our patients, support our clients, invest in our team, and contribute to our community. We’ve built a culture rooted in compassion, teamwork, growth, and well-being—where talented veterinary professionals can do meaningful work while building sustainable, fulfilling careers.

Culture That Cares – A…