Veterinary Practitioner

Overview of the Role

The Relief Veterinary Practitioner plays a crucial role in delivering preventive healthcare, diagnosing, and treating ailments and injuries in pets.

Key Responsibilities

• Maintain the safety of pets, clients, and team members by employing safe handling techniques, adhering to established protocols, and ensuring treatment areas, examination rooms, and laboratories are clean, sterile, and organized.
• Gather pertinent information and medical history from clients while keeping thorough and accurate medical records.
• Inform clients about preventive care, pet health requirements, diagnoses, treatment options, hospital services, and other relevant information.
• Deliver professional, efficient, and exceptional service, including prescribing and administering preventive care for the wellness of pets, as well as diagnosing and treating their illnesses and injuries.
• Clearly communicate diagnoses and treatment plans to both the veterinary medical team and clients.
• Ensure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations, including the proper management of controlled substance inventory logs.
• Understand and adhere to state regulations regarding the responsibilities of veterinary assistants and licensed veterinary technicians.
• Perform additional tasks as assigned.

Qualifications for Hiring

Skills and Experience

• Multi-tasking ability - Effectively manages several tasks simultaneously; quickly and accurately shifts focus among various tasks without losing precision or appearing frustrated.
• Communication proficiency - Fluent in reading, writing, and speaking English, utilizing appropriate grammar, style, and vocabulary. Demonstrates exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
• Organizational skills - Exhibits a systematic approach to completing assignments, maintaining order, and effectively managing chaos.
• Surgical proficiency - Proven capability to perform all basic surgical procedures, utilizing standard medical instruments and equipment.
• Problem-solving aptitude - Strong ability to identify, analyze, and resolve issues, making decisive choices in challenging situations.
• Client service orientation - Consistently ensures that the team provides attentive, courteous, and informative service, deriving personal satisfaction from delivering excellent service.
• Intellectual capability - Accurately follows instructions presented in various formats and can provide clear directions.
• Compassionate commitment to pet care - Advocates for pets by ensuring hospital teams present treatment recommendations and associated costs, gaining client agreement for the most suitable treatment for the pet's health.
• Mathematical skills - Capable of performing basic arithmetic operations and converting units of measurement.
• Computer proficiency - Comfortable and confident in using computers and specialized software, including Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook.
• Management skills - Effectively enforces policies while achieving high productivity and maintaining team morale.

Desired Attitudes

• Initiative - Willingness to independently seek solutions to problems and propose enhancements to current processes.
• Integrity - Adheres firmly to the values and ethics of Banfield Pet Hospital, demonstrating honesty and sound judgment.
• Teamwork - Willingness to collaborate with others, sharing relevant information promptly.
• Flexibility - Open to changing circumstances and willing to perform all assigned tasks.
• Independence - Capable of performing duties without supervision.
• Resilience - Maintains a positive outlook and composure in stressful situations.

Working Conditions

• Must be comfortable working around various pets (e.g., dogs, cats, birds, reptiles).
• Client demands and workload may necessitate working beyond 40 hours per week, including weekends and evenings.
• Requires cognitive abilities for reasoning, memory, mathematics, and language to perform duties effectively.
• The work environment may have moderate noise levels.
• Ability to follow written, oral, or diagrammatic instructions and solve problems involving multiple variables.
• Requires physical capabilities to perform duties within the hospital.
• Must be able to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, crouch, and lift up to 50 pounds.
• Requires good hand-eye coordination and visual acuity for operating equipment and using a keyboard.
• Exposure to various pets that may bite or scratch, as well as potential exposure to anesthesia, radiation, and biological hazards.
• Minimal travel may be required for vendor visits and educational purposes.

Education and Experience

• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD) or equivalent degree is required.
• Must hold a valid license in good standing with the relevant state veterinary board.
• DEA license is required.
• Proven ability to perform all basic surgical procedures using standard medical instruments and equipment.

Banfield Pet Hospital is committed to fostering a diverse work environment and is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, genetic information, status as a protected veteran, or status as a qualified individual with a disability.

WE ARE A DRUG-FREE, SMOKE-FREE, EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER.

Banfield Pet Hospital values the uniqueness of all individuals and promotes a work environment where diversity is embraced.