Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University provides 24-hour care for pets 365 days of the year. Since 1985, we have offered high quality medical care, consultation, referral and emergency veterinary services for the care of dogs, cats and exotic pets. The hospital also serves as the primary clinical training environment for the veterinary students, interns and residents.

The Veterinary Assistant collaborates with clinicians, residents, interns, technicians and students to provide exceptional patient care and client service in the small animal hospital.  The Veterinary Assistant also serves as a clinical liaison to provide clients with status updates and to address any questions they may have.

As a Veterinary Assistant in the ECC you will:

• Patient Care - Provide high quality patient care including the following:
• Assist clinicians, students and technicians with restraint, care and treatment of patients. Anticipate the clinician’s needs with regards to treatments, restraint, supplies and instruments.
• Provide professional and courteous service to ensure that the highest levels of client satisfaction and patient treatment are maintained at all times.
• Coordinate patient flow within and between services to expedite each patient’s visit.
• Draw blood samples as ordered. Process in-house lab work as directed by a licensed veterinarian.
• Assist with medical record documentation
• Assist with providing basic animal husbandry and hygiene.

Client Support

• Serve as a contact for designated service to address clients’ clinical questions and concerns. Solicit information from clinician/technician as necessary.
• Assess and address the needs of clients waiting in reception. Keep clients informed of wait times.
• Facilitate the flow of clients for patient visits.
• Greet and escort clients to and from ECC department.
• Schedule follow up appointments for clinicians as needed.

Maintenance - Maintain a safe and clean work environment, including but not limited to:

• Maintain cleanliness of the ECC department. Sweep and mop as needed.
• Clean and package instruments for sterilization as needed after use.
• Maintain an adequate inventory of ECC supplies including equipment and medications.

Miscellaneous

• Perform other duties as assigned by Supervisor and Shift Leader
• Participate in Departmental and Hospital-wide initiatives as required. 

Basic Requirements:

• High school diploma (or the equivalent) and at least one year of related experience.
• Familiarity with medical terminology, veterinary pharmacology and animal behavior.
• Ability to restrain small animals in a safe, compassionate manner.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to interact effectively with co-workers, clinicians, students, staff and clients.
• Enthusiastic, genuine, empathetic and self-motivated professional with a positive, upbeat attitude.
• Pride in and commitment to maintaining hospital floor and front lobby areas.
• Basic computer skills including the ability to learn the electronic medical record system.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program
• Credentialed as a Certified Veterinary Assistant
• One or more years’ experience as a Veterinary Assistant in a veterinary hospital
• Exotic animal handling skills. Exotic animals include birds, rabbits, ferrets, guinea pigs, rodents, special small mammals (such as chinchillas or hedgehogs), reptiles, and amphibians.

About Tufts University

This is Tufts. Tufts is a student-centered research university with a constellation of world-class schools encompassing undergraduate, graduate, professional, and lifelong learning programs. Across the university, students satisfy their intellectual curiosity, jump-start rewarding careers, and unlock bright, promising futures. Through rigorous academics, groundbreaking research, and a commitment to civic engagement and leadership, our community of students, faculty, and staff collaborate across four Massachusetts campuses to build a brighter world (Medford/Somerville, Grafton, Boston-Chinatown, and Boston-Fenway). Our employees light the way. Tufts develops innovative solutions for the most complex global challenges of our time through teaching, research, and an unparalleled investment in civic engagement. In administration and operations, in dining centers and in labs, every employee plays a role in our mission for a better, brighter world. At Tufts, the work you do matters. So do you. Enjoy flexible and remote opportunities, innovative benefits, and an inclusive, welcoming, collaborative culture that supports you. Develop your skills. Take classes. Advance your career. ...Do work that makes you proud in a community you love. All while taking great care of yourself and the people who matter most. We’re all in on creating an anti-racist culture of belonging. Across Tufts, we’ve deepened our commitment to making the university a truly inclusive place. Where every member of our community contributes and feels like they belong. Where diverse perspectives are seen as our strength, and great ideas are always heard. In offices, labs, classrooms, and beyond, we’re doing this work together, knowing it is the foundation of our mission to create a brighter world. An innovative university needs resourceful people who make things happen. Here, collaboration isn’t just a buzzword, colleagues actually care, and community means everything. Sound appealing? Come join us. Choose a campus and find the role that fits you. Tufts University is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. We are committed to increasing the diversity of our faculty and staff and fostering their success when hired. Members of underrepresented groups are welcome and strongly encouraged to apply. See the University’s Non-Discrimination statement and policy here https://oeo.tufts.edu/policies-procedures/non-discrimination/. If you are an applicant with a disability who is unable to use our online tools to search and apply for jobs, please contact us by calling the Office of Equal Opportunity (OEO) at 617-627-3298 or at oeo@tufts.edu. Applicants can learn more about requesting reasonable accommodations at https://oeo.tufts.edu/

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