at University of Illinois in Urbana, Illinois, United States
Job Description
Veterinary Technician III - Emergency Critical CareVeterinary Teaching Hospital
The Veterinary Technician III (ECC) works under ECC Service Head and clinicians, leading continuous improvement projects, serving as an expert in ER workflows, advocating for patients and clients. The incumbent will perform hiring, training, and performance evaluations. They will perform diagnostic testing, provide advanced and highly skilled patient care, and provide advanced emergency life support until a veterinarian is available. They will also ensure ER readiness and equipment maintenance.
Provide advanced and highly-skilled paramedical technical support, nursing care and instruction in a professional and courteous manner with exceptional skill and little or no supervision
• Review the patient chart/record and enter charges into the computer for billing purposes
• Suggest patient care strategies to clinicians, including advanced care and advanced procedures
• Review patient flowsheets for completion, give advice for orders and record clinical signs/diagnosis/treatments
• Report to the clinician information about the patient
• Recognize and problem solve critical, emergent and non-emergent situations
• Anticipate the needs of doctors and patients, recognize and prevent patient problems
• Provide advanced nursing care for patients including emergent, critical, pre- and post-surgical, acute and chronic disease
• Recognize physiological abnormalities such as cardiac arrhythmias, pulmonary edema/respiratory distress, renal failure, hypotension, shock and other advanced disease processes
• Orient, direct and instruct veterinary staff and students with treatments, protocols, patient set-up, as well as the use of specialized equipment such as telemetry, rectal probes, direct and indirect blood pressures, pleur-e-vac, defibrillator, ventilator and oxygen cages
• Set up equipment for use on patients; including oxygen cage, oxygen nebulizer, saline nebulizer, ventilator, fluid pumps, syringe pumps, pleur-e-vac, pulse oximeter, end-tidal CO2 monitor, direct and indirect blood pressure monitor, ECG, telemetry and temperature monitoring, etc
• Assist with procedures, such as abdominocentesis, pericardiocentesis, chest tube placement, fine needle aspirates, nasogastic/esophageal tube placement, thoracocentesis and temporary tracheostomy placement, etc.
• Perform placement of, maintain and trouble-shoot: peripheral IV catheters, jugular IV catheters, central line catheters, intraosseous catheters, urinary catheters and nasal oxygen catheters, etc.
• Set up and administer blood products, continuous rate infusions, TPN/PPN (parenteral nutrition) and enteral feedings (NE, NG, E-tube, PEG and J-tube)
• Collect and submit blood (venous and arterial), urine and fecal samples
• Administer anesthesia under the direction of the clinician in select cases
• Institute advanced life support practices (CPR)
• Calculate and administer controlled substances at the direction of the veterinarian
• Calculate, dispense and administer medications and fluids under the direct or written orders of the veterinarian
Serve as Clinical Coordinator and supervising technician on the clinic floor. Provide oversight and support for lower-level veterinary technicians, assistants and hourly staff (extra help/student help). Supervise medical support activities in a professional and courteous manner independently with proficiency and expertise.
• Act as Clinical Coordinator for ER and attend monthly hospital meetings
• Create and manage protocols, curriculum and training modules to orient and instruct veterinary technical staff and students on treatments, procedures, patient set-up, as well as the use of specialized equipment such as ECG, rectal probes, direct and indirect blood pressures, defibrillator etc.
• Assist with development and maintenance of departmental policies and procedures and ensure policies are upheld and maintained.
• Coordinate hiring, training, work assignments and scheduling of lower-level veterinary technicians, assistants and hourly staff with assistance from the ECC Office Manager.
• Back up for biweekly timesheet approvals and time off requests.
• Conduct performance evaluations and facilitate performance management when needed for lower-level veterinary technicians, assistants and hourly staff.
• Assist with orientation and instruction of students, interns and residents.
• Organize quarterly CE sessions with the ECC faculty and residents for the ECC veterinary technicians
• Provide guidance, assistance and training of ECC procedures to other veterinary technicians, veterinary students, veterinary technician students, and house officers assigned to ECC
• Supervise the training of Parkland veterinary technician students on the ECC service
OTHER DUTIES PERFORMED
• Coordinate ordering of supplies and equipment for use in the ECC with the ECC Office Manager
• Supervise the cleaning and routine maintenance of equipment in the ECC; including ventilators, nebulizers, incubators, ECG multi-monitoring unit, blood pressure machines, oxygen cages and others
• Supervise the daily cleaning and maintenance of the ECC
• Assist with student, intern and resident orientations as they pertain to ECC
• Coordinate with ER and IMC VT3s the creation and management of the schedules for Small Animal ER, IMC, and ICU on-call shifts, ensuring constant readiness to expand staffing on demand.
• Perform other duties as assigned
Additional Physical Demands
DIFFICULTY:
This position entails operating equipment, administering medications, and restraining animals of various species for examination. Syringes, needles and medications are potentially dangerous and must be used with care. The amount of physical exertion will vary with assignments. For example, the technician may be lifting a 40 pound dog on and off an examination table. Must be able to learn and adapt to new skills, technologies, procedures and equipment. Must understand and apply strict protocols. Must remain calm and be professional in a crisis.
ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS:
The handling of any animal always will present some element of risk or injury. Persons allergic to animal dander may experience discomfort in this position. The handling of anesthetic waste gases and other biological materials will be required and may present risk if protocols are not properly applied.
Minimum Qualifications
1. Successful completion of a veterinary technology program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
2. Current certification as a Veterinary Technician by the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
3. A. Five (5) years (60 months) of progressively more responsible paramedical veterinary experience gained as a Veterinary Technician (GENERAL) or in other positions of comparable responsibility or
B. Four (4) years (48 months) of progressively more responsible experience gained as a Veterinary Technician I or
C. Three (3) years (36 months) of progressively more responsible experience gained as a Veterinary Technician II or
D. Four (4) years (48 months) of progressively more responsible experience in an AVMA recognized specialty or subspecialty, a species-specific specialty area, or a specialized area of the hospital with a subspecialty equivalent.
4. Two (2) years (24 months) of the work experience at a lead worker or supervisory level or coordinating/managing an area.
Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
- Certification must be maintained throughout employment
- Proficient in a subspecialty of veterinary clinical medicine
- Ability to instruct veterinary technicians at all levels and veterinary/technician students in patient care protocol and procedures and also in the use of specialized equipment or instrumentation
- Familiar with federal regulations and university and hospital polices regarding the use and handling of controlled substances, shipment of biological materials, and handling of anesthetic waste gases
- Skill in the operation of laboratory and diagnostic equipment
- Exceptional leadership skills with proven ability to foster teamwork within organizations
- Exemplary commitment to personal and team accountability within the service
- Ability to recognize abnormalities in vital signs of patients, assess changes observed, and take necessary action in the absence of veterinarian
- Ability to operate independently on the clinical floor and anticipate needs and directions of staff and students regarding patients and methods of care
- Ability to accurately observe, record, compile and assimilate data
- Ability to explain terminology used in veterinary medicine
- Ability to read and assimilate technical materials relating to veterinary medicine
- Ability to use team communication and project management technology (MS Teams, MS Planner, Sharepoint, or other platforms as instructed.
- Ability to assess complex situations, prioritize tasks, and allocate resources effectively.
- Ability to maintain exceptional organization and record keeping, documentation of processes and standard work, and
- Possess a sense of personal responsibility for the upward growth and success of the ECC service, independent of any personal goals.
This is a 100% full-time Civil Service 4849 - Veterinary Technician III position, appointed on a 12-month basis. The expected start date is as soon as possible. Salary begins at $28.83/hour.
For more information on Civil Service classifications, please visit the SUCSS web site at https://www.sucss.illinois.gov/pages/classspec/default.aspx .
Application Procedures & Deadline Information
Applications must be received by 6:00 pm (Central Time) on May 23, 2024. Apply for this position using the Apply Now button at the top or bottom of this posting. In order to be considered as a transfer candidate, you must apply for this position. Applications not submitted through https://jobs.illinois.edu will not be considered. If required by the position, transcripts or other documentation of credentials are to be provided no later than the first day of employment. For further information about this specific position, please contact Jake Bough (jbough@illinois.edu). For questions regarding the application process, please contact 217-333-2137.
The University of Illinois System is an equal opportunity employer, including but not limited to disability and/or veteran status, and complies with all applicable state and federal employment mandates. Please visit Required Employment Notices and Posters to view our non-discrimination statement and find additional information about required background checks, sexual harassment/misconduct disclosures, and employment eligibility review through E-Verify .
Applicants with disabilities are encouraged to apply and may request a reasonable accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act (2008) to complete the application and/or interview process. Requests may be submitted through the reasonable accommodations portal , or by contacting the Accessibility & Accommodations Division of the Office for Access and Equity at 217-333-0885, or by emailing accessibility@illinois.edu .
Requisition ID: 1024231
Job Category: Technical
Apply at: https://jobs.illinois.edu
