VETERINARY TECHNOLOGIST AND TECHNICIAN

Job Definition:

• Veterinary technicians and assistants carry out advisory, diagnostic, preventive and curative veterinary tasks more limited in scope and complexity than those carried out by, and with the guidance of, veterinarians. They care for animals under treatment and in temporary residence at veterinary facilities, perform routine procedures and assist veterinarians to perform procedures and operations.

Job Description:

• Perform medical tests in a laboratory environment for use in the treatment and diagnosis of diseases in animals. Prepare vaccines and serums for prevention of diseases. Prepare tissue samples, take blood samples, and execute laboratory tests, such as urinalysis and blood counts. Clean and sterilize instruments and materials and maintain equipment and machines.

Duties and Tasks:

• 1) Administer anesthesia to animals, under the direction of a veterinarian, and monitor animals’ responses to anesthetics so that dosages can be adjusted.
• 2) Care for and monitor the condition of animals recovering from surgery.
• 3) Prepare and administer medications, vaccines, serums, and treatments, as prescribed by veterinarians.
• 4) Perform laboratory tests on blood, urine, and feces, such as urinalyses and blood counts, to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of animal health problems.
• 5) Administer emergency first aid, such as performing emergency resuscitation or other life saving procedures.
• 6) Collect, prepare, and label samples for laboratory testing, culture, or microscopic examination.
• 7) Clean and sterilize instruments, equipment, and materials.
• 8) Provide veterinarians with the correct equipment and instruments, as needed.
• 9) Fill prescriptions, measuring medications and labeling containers.
• 10) Prepare animals for surgery, performing such tasks as shaving surgical areas.
• 11) Take animals into treatment areas, and assist with physical examinations by performing such duties as obtaining temperature, pulse, and respiration data.
• 12) Observe the behavior and condition of animals, and monitor their clinical symptoms.
• 13) Take and develop diagnostic radiographs, using x-ray equipment.
• 14) Maintain laboratory, research, and treatment records, as well as inventories of pharmaceuticals, equipment, and supplies.
• 15) Give enemas and perform catheterizations, ear flushes, intravenous feedings, and gavages.
• 16) Prepare treatment rooms for surgery.
• 17) Maintain instruments, equipment, and machinery to ensure proper working condition.
• 18) Perform dental work such as cleaning, polishing, and extracting teeth.
• 19) Clean kennels, animal holding areas, surgery suites, examination rooms, and animal loading/unloading facilities to control the spread of disease.
• 20) Provide information and counseling regarding issues such as animal health care, behavior problems, and nutrition.
• 21) Provide assistance with animal euthanasia and the disposal of remains.
• 22) Dress and suture wounds, and apply splints and other protective devices.
• 23) Perform a variety of office, clerical, and accounting duties, such as reception, billing, bookkeeping, and/or selling products.
• 24) Bathe animals, clip nails or claws, and brush and cut animals’ hair.
• 25) Conduct specialized procedures such as animal branding or tattooing, and hoof trimming.

Activities:

• 1) Performing General Physical Activities — Performing physical activities that require considerable use of your arms and legs and moving your whole body, such as climbing, lifting, balancing, walking, stooping, and handling of materials.
• 2) Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• 3) Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
• 4) Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• 5) Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events — Identifying information by categorizing, estimating, recognizing differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• 6) Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings — Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.
• 7) Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• 8) Handling and Moving Objects — Using hands and arms in handling, installing, positioning, and moving materials, and manipulating things.
• 9) Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• 10) Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
• 11) Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
• 12) Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
• 13) Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Material — Inspecting equipment, structures, or materials to identify the cause of errors or other problems or defects.
• 14) Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• 15) Processing Information — Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or verifying information or data.
• 16) Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• 17) Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards — Using relevant information and individual judgment to determine whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.
• 18) Judging the Qualities of Things, Services, or People — Assessing the value, importance, or quality of things or people.
• 19) Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
• 20) Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
• 21) Training and Teaching Others — Identifying the educational needs of others, developing formal educational or training programs or classes, and teaching or instructing others.
• 22) Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
• 23) Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
• 24) Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information — Estimating sizes, distances, and quantities; or determining time, costs, resources, or materials needed to perform a work activity.
• 25) Developing and Building Teams — Encouraging and building mutual trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.
• 26) Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others — Getting members of a group to work together to accomplish tasks.
  27) Scheduling Work and Activities — Scheduling events, programs, and activities, as well as the work of others.
• 28) Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates — Providing guidance and direction to subordinates, including setting performance standards and monitoring performance.
• 29) Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others — Handling complaints, settling disputes, and resolving grievances and conflicts, or otherwise negotiating with others.

Abilities:

• 1) Problem Sensitivity — The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
• 2) Oral Comprehension — The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
• 3) Oral Expression — The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
• 4) Near Vision — The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
• 5) Deductive Reasoning — The ability to apply general rules to specific problems to produce answers that make sense.
• 6) Speech Recognition — The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
• 7) Inductive Reasoning — The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
• 8) Information Ordering — The ability to arrange things or actions in a certain order or pattern according to a specific rule or set of rules (e.g., patterns of numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).
• 9) Arm-Hand Steadiness — The ability to keep your hand and arm steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
• 10) Written Comprehension — The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
• 11) Selective Attention — The ability to concentrate on a task over a period of time without being distracted.

Knowledge:

• 1) Customer and Personal Service — Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• 2) Biology — Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
• 3) Mathematics — Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
• 4) English Language — Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
• 5) Medicine and Dentistry — Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.