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Technician (OPN)

Hawthorne Animal Hospital Ltd

Technician (OPN)

Glen Carbon, IL
Full Time
Paid
  • Responsibilities

    Summary: The outpatient nurse (OPN) performs medical tests under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian to help diagnose and treat the illnesses and injuries of animals.

    Typical Tasks: The OPN shall be responsible for, but is not limited to the following:

    Laboratory

    1. Restrains animals in order to effectively perform healthcare tasks such as draw blood.

    2. Performs or assists with blood draws, fecals, cystos, and so forth for examination and analysis.

    3. Prepares blood slides, cytologies, fecals, etc. and labels samples for laboratory testing.

    4. Conducts client call backs to alert clients of negative test results.

    Examination and Treatment

    1. Administers emergency first aid  to animals in dire situations.

    2. Prepares and administer medications, vaccines, serums, or treatments as directed by veterinarians.

    3. Conducts ear cleaning, nail trims, anal gland expressions, wound care, and so forth to provide general patient health care.

    4. Goes over medications and treatment plans with clients to explain need and function.

    5. Performs and assist with x-rays as needed.

    6. Cleans messes when necessary to provide a safe and healthy hospital environment.

    7. Loads exam rooms, taking history, TPRs, creating soaps and writing doctors exam notes, and use of VetNotes.

    8. Keep exam rooms stocked with supplies.

    Office Management

    1. Conducts charges to ensure the hospital is being paid properly for services provided and checks clients out

    2. Answers and directs phone calls, discusses results with clients, and schedules appointments

    3. Utilizes Message Center to pass along messages from clients to the doctors and vice versa.

    4. Utilizes health care plans in the hopes that payments will be more feasible for clients to manage

    5. Fills medications to ensure prescriptions are sent to the pharmacy, create written script for DVM to sign when needed, or call medications into off-site pharmacy.

    6. Creates hospital sheets in order to track patients admitted into the hospital, and help admit hospital patients.

    7. Assists with paperwork involved with Surgery (SOAP Surgery, discharge forms, dental charts, etc.)

    8. Discharges patients and discusses post visit care instructions with clients.

    Customer Service and Reception

    1. Interacts positively and professionally with clients, patients, and veterinarians to ensure positive client experiences

    2. Exceeds client expectations by being effective and efficient regarding outpatient care

    3. Attends all staff and training meetings

    4. Completes other duties as needed to keep a clean and safe working environment.

    Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skills, and abilities required of the job.

    Active Listening – Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

    Monitoring – Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself or other individuals to make improvements or take corrective action.

    Service Orientation – Actively looking for ways to help people and animals, and confidently executing those action plans.

    Oral Expression – The ability to communicate information and ideas to one or more persons at a time in speaking so others will understand.

    Multi-tasking- The ability to perform more than one task at one time or keep track of many actions taking place.

    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. (Example: be able to read the atmosphere in a room, and stay aware if money concerns are expressed).

    Biology – Knowledge of animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, behaviors, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment

    Critical Thinking – Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

    Judgment and Decision Making – Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one. Ability to assess situations and complete tasks without getting anyone injured. (Example: Understand and address money or rehabilitation concerns early, knowing priorities and without judging the clients).

    Technology- Knowledge of basic computer functions and communication operating systems like phones or walkie-talkie radios.

    Qualifications:  In order to be eligible for the Out-Patient Technician position, applicants must adhere to the following:

    1. Must work effectively and efficiently in a fast-paced  and high stress environment

    2. Must have a high school degree

    3. Veterinary technician certification is preferred along with an Associate’s or comparable degree related to veterinary technician education

    4. At least 6 months of experience is preferred (job shadowing and internships are acceptable)

    5. Pass a drug screen test

    6. Pass a criminal background check

    7. Be able to, on occasion of need, lift at least forty pounds of weight

    Additional Information:

    Reports to: Veterinarians, In-patient nurses and Management Team

    Works most closely with: All other outpatient and inpatient nurses, veterinarians, and staff members.

    Equipment commonly utilized: Telephones, computers, walkie-talkie radios and general animal care equipment used to monitor health regarding temperature, pulse, heart rate and so forth.

    Working condition considerations: On feet walking and standing 90% of working time, noisy working conditions, high pressure situations; requires bending, stooping, and lifting, crawling on the floor, and physical resistance.

    Common hazards: Animal-related hazards such as bites, scratches, zoonotic illness transmission, and working with sharp objects, chemical exposure and radiation exposure.