Avis Johnson

Nursing Job Requirements:

• Strong understanding of medications used at Southeast Veterinary Neurology and formulas used to calculate

dosing of medications and fluids.

• Have a strong understanding of veterinary neurology including the credentials of our neurologists, the neurological

exam, diagnostic tools, surgical procedures, post-op care, and what constitutes a neurological emergency.

• Lift small animals up to 30 pounds. Lift, with help, patients over 30 pounds.

• Knowledgeable regarding related federal and state animal health laws and regulations including OSHA.

• Able to work independently without the direct supervision of the Lead Technician and primary neurologist.

• Ability to recognize patient needs, status, and emergencies.

• Assist in the training of newly hired Overnight Veterinary Technicians.

• Regularly perform inventory counts and stock areas as needed and directed by the Lead Technician and/or Shift

Leader.

• Perform ICU specific procedures and treatments:

• Proper after-hours protocols as outlined on morning and evening checklists for this position.

• Observe and communicate the progress of each patient to the doctor during rounds and evaluations and

communicate proper concerns to the on-call doctor when appropriate.

• Properly administering medications, taking scheduled TPRs on each hospitalized patient as dictated by doctor

orders.

• Prepare daily treatment sheets for patients being admitted to SEVN and daily treatment sheets for hospitalized

patients after hours.

• Cleaning, walking, feeding hospitalized animals as needed.

• Administering medications (oral, injectable, other) to hospitalized patients as needed.

Job Description – Veterinary Technician - Overnight Lead

Updated 8/2021

• Assistance with euthanasia and after-care following protocols

• Monitoring CRI’s

• Calculating drug doses

• Performing bladder expressions

• Placing, monitoring, and maintaining urinary catheters

• General restraint on small animals as needed for treatments, catheter placements, examinations, X-rays, etc.

• Proper positioning for x-rays.

• Cytosar treatments and handling according to protocols.

• Perform proper animal restraining techniques for examinations, treatments, and procedures.

• Ensure all animals are clearly labeled and all treatment information is properly logged on all admission paperwork

and entered into medical records.

• Update treatment sheets and round sheets with proper information post-diagnosis.

• Understanding of all euthanasia documents and following the protocols to perform after-hours euthanasia

procedures along with the proper entry of charges and gathering payment in the proper order

• Understanding protocol for when patients pass on their own after-hours and proper paperwork steps and

communication that follows.

• Ensure the whiteboard is up to date with patient information.

• Participate in holiday sign-up shifts.

• Proper after-hours triage with phone calls and communication with on-call doctors:

• Triage after-hours phone calls appropriately and log the calls each night.

• Typing all communication with clients (both existing and non-existing) correctly into practice software.

• Understanding emergent calls that need to be tended to by the on-call doctor versus calls that can be tended to by

the patient care coordinators the following day.

• Creating “to-do’s” for the appropriate staff the following day in regards to calls taken during the after-hours when

they do not require immediate attention by the on-call doctor.

• Proper after-hours pharmacy and lab protocols including but not limited to:

• Preparing prescription labels and medications for after-hours appointments and referring to the after-hours

pharmacy fill SOP to ensure proper communication is completed along with proper logging of controlled

substances in the pharmacy.

• Able to filter pharmacy calls but not call any in unless approved by a doctor.

• Ability to properly run in-house lab work, prepare labs to be sent to outside laboratories.

• Proper clean-up and follow up in the lab per after-hours protocols:

• Cleaning the hemacytometer properly and putting it away

• Proper cleanup and care of the microscope.

• Proper use and cleanup of the cytospin: stain/dry slides and notifying doctor when ready

• Replace new clean slides and rinse used cytosine equipment once done.

• Following through with samples left for the lab to ensure pickup and communicating that with the next day’s

team.

• Perform basic lab assignments including but not limited to:

• Running in-house lab work and packing outside lab work.

• Proper CSF sample handling.

• Basic understanding of the care and troubleshooting in-house lab work equipment including but not limited

to:

• Waking up the ProCyte.

• Changing the reagent kit to the ProCyte if indicated.

• Communicating this with the daytime ICU nursing team to ensure they are aware.

• Proper imaging and surgery procedures protocols including but not limited to:

• Proper procedures to assist the initiation of anesthetic procedures for after-hours advanced diagnostics.

• Proper anesthetic recovery from post-MRI and post-surgical patients.

• Strong understanding of surgical procedures and protocols in the event of an overnight emergency.

• Assisting in anesthetic monitoring (when ICU has proper coverage) for after-hours cases.

• Assisting in OR cleaning procedures during after-hours and following all protocols.

• Assisting in instrument cleaning procedures during after-hours and following all protocols:

• Preparing surgical instruments for proper cleanup and packing for sterilization.

• Clear understanding of the sterilization process and use of the sterilization equipment.

• Proper after-hours exam room protocols including but not limited to:

• Obtain a weight, TPR, and current history on all patients presenting for after-hours exams.

• Review rDVM medical records for the previous history including pertinent lab work or findings.

• Proper history taking and entering into practice software; proper entering of charges associated with the after-hours

consult.

• Understanding charges of lab work and radiographs requested by doctors in after-hours cases to be performed.

• Proper invoice responsibilities and CSR responsibilities including but not limited to:

• Input appropriate charges into Practice software and entering patient history appropriately into medical records and

taking payment for after-hours consults.

• Enter each treatment and charge into Practice software as they are being performed.

• Audit digital medical records for accuracy throughout the shift.

• Understand third-party financing options for clients and assist them through the application process.

• Collecting payments and deposits for after-hours cases according to protocols.

• Understanding SEVN documents for clients: Client registration, Estimate, and Authorization sheets, and

Euthanasia forms and documents.

Job Description – Veterinary Technician - Overnight Lead

Updated 8/2021

• Attendance requirements:

• Attend and participate in rounds at the beginning of the shift.

• Attend and participate in departmental meetings.

• Complete projects within a timely manner as directed by the Nursing Services Supervisor.

• Provide input on co-workers for annual 360 performance evaluations.

• Participate in staff lecture series.

• Attend CE events and contribute information obtained from CE events.

• Participate in community events that take place throughout the year, assisting with set-up and break-down,

educating potential clients about our hospital and services.

• Learning and Growth:

• Inventory management and cost considerations for the hospital.

• Training of new Overnight Veterinary Technicians. Ensure trainee knowledge of after-hours protocols.

• Developing new training protocols for onboarding new team members. Create new training protocols and checklists

specific to overnight team members.

• Continuous training provided to department team members on new or updated policies and procedures. Review

existing protocols and provide mock training to ensure retention of them.

• Team and Culture:

• Lead by example, recognize the team, and contribute to the culture via our CORE Values.

• Ensure Overnight Veterinary Technicians are practicing the CORE values.

• Check-ins with the Overnight Veterinary Technician team members. Ensure the physical and mental wellbeing of

each individual is being met. Provide problem solving and feedback.

• Administrative and Leadership:

• Ensure the team is available and capable of meeting the demands of the schedule.

• Ensure the staff uses their annual PTO entitlement in a manner that is not disruptive.

• Ensure all records are up to date each day and accurate prior to the end of shift to ensure patient care, patient

records, and inventory is being kept up with and charged appropriately.

• Address and report any department issues to ensure resolution in a manner consistent with Southeast Veterinary

Neurology’s CORE Values is achieved in a timely manner.

• Perform monthly Overnight Veterinary Technician meeting and present to the overnight team.

• Report to the Nursing Services Supervisor. Have open communication and schedule meetings weekly to discuss

and resolve issues together.