Overnight Veterinary Assistant Job at PetVet Care Centers in Berkeley

Overnight Veterinary Assistant

PetVet Care Centers

Position Overview

The veterinary assistant provides support to veterinarians and technicians in daily tasks: cleaning and maintaining equipment, feeding, exercising, grooming patients, preparing and sanitizing surgery suites, restraining and handling patients, and clerical and administrative work. They deliver quality care for all patients and provide exceptional service.

Essential Functions

• Provide compassionate care to all patients.
• Greet patients and their owners, take the patient's weight and vital signs upon arrival, and perform triage.
• Assist with physical exams, treatments, and administration of medications as directed by licensed veterinary technicians (LVTs).
• Calm and soothe anxious patients.
• Assist doctors and technicians with medication administration or patient restraint.
• Perform laboratory tests and take radiographs.
• Operate and maintain hospital equipment, including EKG, fluid pump, syringe pump, scales, anesthetic monitors, and other machines.
• Fill prescriptions, calculate and administer medications, and maintain proper documentation of controlled drugs.
• Feed patients per veterinarian instructions, record appetites, and report any abnormal behavior.
• Communicate positively with clients and ensure they feel comfortable leaving their pet(s).
• Educate clients about insurance, wellness, and medication plans.
• Maintain cleanliness of the hospital: clean equipment, kennels, and facilities using chemicals and supplies; ensure safe use of chemicals; complete laundry.
• Bathe and care for patients who stay overnight; ensure animals are clean and groomed before release.
• Adhere to hospital safety and wellness regulations.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Maintain accurate medical records.
• Show up for work regularly; full‑time presence at work is essential for each shift.
• Promote hospital products and services and support the organization.
• Respond promptly to directions from the DVM or LVT.
• Perform any other duties assigned by the Manager or in a specialty area (e.g., dentistry, surgery, emergency, radiology, cardiology, neurology, internal medicine).

Competencies

• Care and Compassion – builds rapport and provides emotional support.
• Animal Restraint and Safety – uses sound judgment and precautionary steps.
• Communication – uses effective methods of interacting with others.
• Team Orientation – works cooperatively to accomplish goals.
• Dependability – completes all job tasks responsibly.
• Cleanliness Standards – follows sanitization and sterilization procedures.
• Energy and Productivity – completes tasks quickly and thoroughly without prompting.
• Time Management – prioritizes work tasks effectively.
• Technical Skills and Learning – stays up‑to‑date with new technical knowledge.
• Equipment Care – performs operation checks and maintenance of equipment.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 6 months of experience in a veterinary environment performing all duties of this position.
• VTNE certification preferred.
• Experience with surgical monitoring, radiology, dental prophylaxis, and client education preferred.
• Equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience considered.

Position Requirements

• Maintains current knowledge in the field and seeks continuing education.
• Ability to restrain animals, fill prescriptions, and monitor sedation procedures.
• Ability to work with sick animals, hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors.
• Knowledge of hospital procedures, policies, client and patient protocols, computer systems, and record terminology.
• Flexible scheduling; able to work weekends and holidays.
• Will perform extended periods at a keyboard or workstation, standing, walking, lifting, climbing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling as required.
• Job requires lifting or carrying animals up to 50 pounds.

Schedule

• Monday through Sunday, 10 PM – 6 AM (overnight shift).

Pay Range

$24.00 – $29.70 USD per hour.

About PetVet Care Centers

At PetVet Care Centers, we’re committed to a Culture of Care — for pets, for the people who love them, and for the team members who make it all possible. With more than 420 hospitals across the U.S. and a team of over 11,000 professionals, including 1,700+ veterinarians, we offer a unique blend of local leadership and national support that helps our hospitals thrive.

Equal Opportunity Employer

PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical or mental disabilities, military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. EEO, M/F/D/V

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