Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Assistant

Build Your Skills in Emergency & Critical Care

Veterinary Healthcare Associates (VHA) is seeking an experienced, compassionate Emergency & Critical Care Veterinary Assistant to join our ER/ICU team. This role is ideal for a veterinary assistant who thrives in a fast-paced environment, stays composed under pressure, and wants to build advanced skills while supporting emergency and critically ill patients.

At VHA, General Practice, Emergency, Critical Care, and Specialty Services come together on one integrated campus. You'll work alongside experienced veterinarians, credentialed technicians, and multidisciplinary teams while gaining exposure to a diverse and challenging caseload.

What You'll Do

• Support emergency triage, patient intake, and rapid assessment workflows

• Assist veterinarians and technicians with emergency treatments, procedures, and patient stabilization

• Monitor hospitalized and ICU patients, obtain vital signs, and promptly communicate changes in patient condition

• Provide nursing and comfort care, including patient hygiene, feeding, walking, bedding, and positioning

• Assist with oxygen therapy, wound care, fluid therapy, and medication administration under appropriate supervision

• Safely handle and restrain patients during emergency treatments and diagnostic procedures

• Assist with laboratory sample collection, processing, radiology, and diagnostic procedures

• Maintain accurate patient information and support medical record documentation

• Prepare and maintain emergency stations, crash carts, equipment, and ICU supplies

• Support infection prevention, isolation, biosecurity, and patient safety protocols

• Provide compassionate client support during emergency visits, hospitalization, and discharge

• Collaborate with Emergency, ICU, Specialty, and hospital teams to support efficient patient care and seamless transitions

Required

• High school diploma or equivalent

• Veterinary Assistant Certification (CVA) or equivalent formal veterinary assistant training

• Previous hands-on experience in a veterinary hospital or clinical animal care environment

• Demonstrated proficiency in patient handling, restraint, vital signs, nursing care, and clinical workflow

• Experience assisting with diagnostics, treatments, hospitalized patient care, and medical documentation

• Ability to recognize changes in patient condition and promptly communicate concerns to the veterinary team

• Ability to remain composed, organized, and adaptable in emergency and high-pressure situations

• Strong communication, multitasking, teamwork, and attention to detail

• Compassionate approach to patients and the families navigating urgent or critical situations

Preferred

• Experience in Emergency, Critical Care, ICU, Specialty Medicine, or a high-volume veterinary hospital

• Experience supporting emergency stabilization and critically ill patients

• Familiarity with oxygen therapy, fluid therapy, laboratory procedures, radiology, and emergency equipment

• Fear Free Certification and/or Low-Stress Handling experience

• Desire to develop advanced clinical skills and grow within Emergency & Critical Care medicine