Stephanie Mendez, CVT

MAJOR DUTIES - GENERAL

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

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

• Prepare surgical treatment sheets for patients.

• Cleaning, walking, feeding hospitalized animals as needed. Assistance with euthanasia and after-care.

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

• Communicate effectively with clients as needed for patient intake, recalls, lab work, post-surgical patient updates, etc. Provide exceptional customer service by anticipating client’s needs.

• Proper opening and closing protocols as outlined on morning and evening checklists for this position.

• Enter individual charges into EzyVet as they are being performed (MRI, CT, x-ray, surgery, etc.). Audit digital medical records for accuracy throughout the shift.

• Ensure all animals are clearly labeled and all treatment information is properly logged on treatment forms and entered into medical records. White-board is kept up to date throughout the day.

• Ability to prepare surgical specimens for shipment to outside laboratories.

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

• Provide input on co-workers for annual 360 performance evaluations. Participate in staff lecture series. Contribute information obtained from CE events at bi-weekly technician meetings.

• Help maintain overall cleanliness:

• Trash is collected

• Restocking lab, treatment area

• Dusting counter space and laboratory machines

• Sweep, vacuum, and mop floors as needed

• Cleaning cages as they become available

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

• Attend and participate in rounds at the beginning of shift. Attend and participate in bi-weekly Departmental meetings. Complete projects within a timely manner as directed by the Imaging and Anesthesia Lead.

• Assist in the training of newly hired Surgical Veterinary Technicians, Assistants, Interns and Volunteers.

• Assistance with euthanasia and after-care.

• Regularly perform inventory counts and stock areas as needed and directed by the Head Technician.

• Provide input on co-workers for annual 360 performance evaluations. Participate in staff lecture series. Contribute information obtained from CE events at bi-weekly technician meetings.

• 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.

• Participate in on-call, weekend and holiday shift sign-ups.

• Lift small animals up to 50 pounds. Lift, with help, small animals over 50 pounds.

MAJOR DUTIES - SURGICAL

• Help maintain overall cleanliness in surgical suite:

• Clean operating rooms and equipment after use including prep and recovery areas throughout the day.

• Wash, sterilize and store endotracheal tubes.

• Dispose of used needles and syringes and other sharp objects as set forth by SEVN policy and OSHA standards.

• Clean surgical instruments, prepare surgical packs, operate and maintain the autoclave.

• Attend and participate in bi-weekly departmental meetings. Complete projects within a timely manner as directed by the Director of Medical Imaging & Surgery.

• Maintain equipment and instrument maintenance logs on a regular basis.

• Understand aseptic principles and apply them to surgical patients, instruments, equipment, and rooms.

• Knowledgeable regarding the names of surgical instruments, what their purpose is, where they are stored, and proper cleaning and sterilization techniques.

• Prepare the surgical suite for incoming patients as needed. Prepare patients for surgery taking into account the patient and the surgery being performed to appropriately clip surgical fields, scrub and prep, maintain fields during transport and apply proper positioning.

• Prepare surgical patients for imaging and surgery including creating an anesthetic record and protocol, imaging and surgical suite set up, performing patient induction and maintenance of anesthesia.

• Assist surgeons with aseptic gowning and gloving. Ability to properly scrub and aseptically gown and glove when called to “scrub-in”. Anticipate surgeons’ needs for assistance, instruments, monitoring, and treatments.

• Be sufficiently familiar with the anesthetic machines to be able to operate, maintain, repair and troubleshoot as needed. Routinely check soda lime; change and log as needed. Ensure anesthetic scavenging is functional. Regularly check the level of inhalant anesthetic in vaporizers. Check pressure of oxygen tanks, replace and order as needed.

• General anesthetic monitoring including:

• Anesthetic depth - adjust gas anesthesia as needed to maintain proper surgical plane. Use palpebral, toe pinch, and corneal reflexes to assess and maintain surgical planes.

• Heart rate

• Respiratory rate

• Temperature

• Pulse ox

• ECG

• Monitor patient recovery. Protect patients from aspiration and hypothermia. Maintain surgery logs and controlled substance logs.

• Regularly perform inventory counts and stock areas as needed and directed by the Director of Medical Imaging & Surgery.

• Available for rotating on-call and holiday shifts.

MAJOR DUTIES - IMAGING

• Maintain radiographic, developing, and shielding equipment to maximize patient and employee safety. Record maintenance data.

• Minimize radiation hazards by utilizing protective equipment including exposure badges during radiographic exposures.

• Properly measure patients for effective translation into machine settings.

• Develop, utilize, adjust and maintain a radiographic technique chart that minimize waste caused by erroneous exposures.

• Utilize proper positioning technique to obtain diagnostic quality radiographs of skeletal anatomy, internal organs, superficial lesions or extremities as needed.

• Assist during MRI and CT procedures including patient prep, anesthetic monitoring and recovery.

• General understanding of how MRI/CT works.

• Proper patient positioning for MRI and CT.

• Understanding and maintaining the MRI/CT safety program.