VETERINARY ANESTHESIA TECHNICIAN
VETERINARY SPECIALTY TECHNICIAN

4286F3

Pay Grade: 24

DEFINITION OF WORK

Summary

This is specialized technical veterinary work providing advanced nursing and technical care in one or more of the specialty areas such as:

    • Anesthesia
    • Behavior
    • Cardiology
    • Clinical Practice
    • Dentistry
    • Dermatology
    • Emergency/Critical Care
    • Equine Internal Medicine
    • Exotic, Wildlife and Zoo Animal Medicine
    • Large Animal Internal Medicine
    • Large Animal Surgery
    • Neurology
    • Oncology
    • Ophthalmology
    • Radiology
    • Small Animal Internal Medicine
    • Small Animal Surgery

Standard Classification Factors

Supervision Received - LEVEL B: "Under general supervision…" Employees working under general supervision usually receive some instructions with respect to the details of most assignments but are free to develop their own work sequences within established procedures, methods and policies. They are often physically removed from their supervisor and subject to only periodic checks.

Difficulty - LEVEL C: Considerable… Duties which require a high degree of concentration because of the many factors which must be considered and weighed before a decision can be reached. Usually positions that require planning, developing, and coordinating programs and directing fairly large groups of people fall into this category.

Complexity - LEVEL D: Work is of a diversified nature that usually involves multiple unrelated steps. Analytical thought is necessary for dealing with complex data and situations. Work often involves a variety of unrelated processes and may require planning or carrying out a sequence of actions or both. Several alternatives usually exist at this level for approaching problems or situations. Workers at this level exercise a considerable amount of independent judgment. Work is controlled by occasional review and by reporting to or consultation with supervisors or superiors. When guidelines exist at this level, they are usually broadly defined or technical requiring careful analysis and interpretation.

Consequence of Actions or Decisions - LEVEL D: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are significant as the work may be rarely if ever reviewed, making errors difficult to detect. Errors may cause major program failure or a high degree of confusion. Injuries to others due to errors are serious or incapacitating or both and costs due to errors are substantial.

Contacts - LEVEL B: The purpose of the contact is to plan, coordinate and advise on work efforts, interpret guidelines or instructions, elicit opinions or give guidance on the basis of facts to resolve common issues or problems when the information is not sensitive in nature or the individuals or groups are working toward mutual goals and have basically cooperative attitudes. Well developed communication skills are required.

Physical Demands - LEVEL C: The work requires moderate physical exertion.

Environmental Conditions - LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and patients. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible.

Supervision/Leadership - LEVEL A: No supervisory or leadership responsibility; may explain work instructions or assist in training others.

Distinguishing Features

Differs from the Veterinary Technician II class where the work involves directing, supervising or independently performing a wide range of complex technical procedures.

EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED

Supervise and instructs lower-level technicians in procedures to be followed; assign and review the work for compliance with established protocol.

Reviews data and compile reports on a variety of medical results.

Independently operate and maintain precision medical equipment to monitor patient life-signs during complex surgical procedures in small and large animals.

Provide technical assistance to faculty and veterinary students during specialized medical procedures.

Anesthetize animals; connect biomedical monitors and patient care devices; monitor biomedical equipment to balance patient vital signs throughout entire anesthetic delivery and recovery process.

Independently check out, calibrate and set up all physiological monitoring and anesthetic delivery equipment for use.

Oversee and train professional students, direct biomedical instrumentation and critical care work in areas such as operating room and intensive care unit.

Serve as member of "code blue" team by operating cardiac defibrillator and other emergency resuscitation equipment.

Independently perform troubleshooting, preventive and unscheduled maintenance, calibration and safety inspections of biomedical equipment; record biomedical data, maintenance and repair activities.

Independently prepare and set up surgical areas for any type of surgery. 

Instruct veterinary students, Veterinary Technician I and Veterinary Technician II in restraint and handling of any fractious animal.

Instruct veterinary students, Veterinary Technician I and Veterinary Technician II in blood draw techniques

Prepare and set up endoscopic, laparoscopic or arthroscopic equipment for any procedure.  Create, update and implement policies to care and maintain equipment.

Independently manage administration of IV chemotherapy.

Insert and place PICC and arterial lines in any species without supervision.  Instruct advanced level veterinary students and graduate veterinarians in procedure.

Independently calculate, set up and administer Continuous Rate Infusion

Independently manage a variety of radiographic, CT, MRI and Nuclear Medicine procedures.  Instruct veterinary students and graduate veterinarians in techniques.

Lead rounds with students.  Assess student technical skills and performance.

REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS

Knowledge

*Knowledge of the principles of animal science.

*Knowledge of the principles and practices of the maintenance of animal health and of nursing ill or injured animals.

Knowledge of the principles and practices of supervision.

Abilities

*Ability to prepare animals for surgery and select instruments for surgery.

*Ability to read and record data from animal health monitoring equipment.

*Ability to perform a wide range of technical laboratory tests to measure animal health conditions.

*Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with co-workers.

*Ability to work under the direct supervision of a veterinarian.

*Ability to communicate effectively, both orally and in writing.

*Ability to instruct others.

Ability to effectively supervise.

Skills

* Skill sets published by NAVTA for designated specialty(ies)

* Basic Nursing Skills such as cleaning wounds, changing bandages, bathing, and observing patient for potential problems or signs of distress

*Medication administration

*Calculation skills

*Vital sign measurement

*Laboratory test performance

*Aseptic technique

*Medical record documentation

*Necessary at Entry

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

Completion of a two-year college program in veterinary or animal technology accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association plus five years’ experience as a state credentialed veterinary technician (RVT, LVT, CVT) in animal or veterinary technical support.

Experience working in designated specialty as determined by the Agency.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

Must be registered as a paraprofessional under the authority of the Kansas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners upon appointment.

NC:   07/95
REV: 12/95
REV: 10/98
REV: 02/00
REV: 08/05
REV: 06/09
REV: 06/12
REV: 09/12