Summary of Job Purpose and Function

The Oncology veterinary technician ensures that the patients of the medical oncology department receive the appropriate care/treatments that they require as well as assist the doctors with their daily cases and procedures.

Primary Responsibilities:

Communication:

• Assist with appointment admission, history collection, and discharges
• Provide patient updates, reporting doctor recommendations
• Call in prescriptions verbally and/or send electronically
• Provide follow-up care for patients and clients
• Provide client education on drug side effects, common toxicity, half-life, nadir, and handling of animal waste products while on chemotherapy
• Provide client education on the common treatment approaches for the basic cancer types, including mean survival times with and without treatment, and typical sites of metastasis
• Follow established hospital policies and procedures when handling client communications and concerns
• Communicate with doctors, technicians, and assistants regarding patient status or concerns
• Practice kind, respectful communication between coworkers
• Communicate respectfully with referring veterinarians

Treatment of patients:

• Obtain and record vitals, provide prescribed nursing care
• Utilize gentle patient handling techniques and ask for sedation when needed
• Fill and administer medications
• Collect and run diagnostics as indicated
• Provide accurate charting and complete records and treatments in a reasonable timeframe
• Practice proper animal restraint for the safety of the patient, Doctor, tech, and assistant
• Venipuncture and intravenous catheter placement
• administer oral and parenteral medications

Anesthesia:

• Employ knowledge of anesthetic and monitoring equipment (anesthesia machine, capnograph, pulse oximeter, doppler, ECG, ventilator)
• Develop anesthetic plans from pre-anesthesia to recovery
• Administer anesthetic, analgesic, and sedative medications when prescribed and monitor through recovery
• Ensure appropriate vascular access
• Be knowledgeable of monitoring parameters
• Perform general anesthesia and monitor for CT or other procedures
• Perform calculations of basic drugs and be knowledgeable of various routes of drug administration

Imaging:

• Practice appropriate radiation safety techniques
• Perform radiograph positioning and capture
• Assist in CT studies and ultrasounds
• Order diagnostics (rads, AUS, CT) and send for review

Laboratory:

• Set up the appropriate supplies for sample needed
• Ensure appropriate submission of samples to various labs (including storage, shipping and forms)
• Set up for FNA’s and prepare to submit to lab
• Properly and safely collect urine by ultrasound guided cystocentesis
• Perform basic laboratory tests (i.e. packed cell volume, total protein/solids, urinalysis, cytology staining, manual platelet count)

Chemotherapy administration:

• Set up appropriate materials for chemotherapy administration
• Proper restraint of patient during IV chemo administration
• Proper monitoring of IV chemo administration site during administration
• Be familiar with the calculation of IV fluid drip rates
• Check chemotherapy agent calculations and dosages
• Correctly calculate the size of a patient using lb, kg, m2.
• Properly and safely mix and/or draw up chemotherapeutic agents in the hood using proper PPE
• Safely dispense and administer oral chemotherapy using proper safety techniques
• Safely dispense, reconstitute and administer SC/IM chemotherapy agents
• Properly place an IV catheter for chemotherapy infusion
• Safely administer IV chemotherapy using proper drawing techniques, administration techniques, and proper PPE
• Assist with intracavitary chemotherapy administration
• Demonstrate how to properly handle a chemotherapy spill
• Properly handle and dispose of chemotherapy waste materials and patient waste
• Demonstrate techniques for handling chemotherapy extravasations including the use of antidotes where applicable

General oncology service tasks:

• Maintenance of proper medical records and knowledge of computer skills
• Routinely monitor oncology inventory and order as needed
• Stock and keep rooms and kennels clean
• Have a clear understanding and enforcement of OSHA regulations and hospital safety standards
• Performs other job duties as assigned

General requirements:

• All employees are required to participate in the on-call rotation as needed. Shifts are subject to revisions and changes at the discretion of the hospital
• Willing to work rotating holiday shifts in the emergency and critical care department

QUALIFICATIONS:

• High School Diploma or equivalent required.
• Completion of an AVMA-Accredited Veterinary Technician Program preferred.
• Currently licensed in WA state, or able to transfer an out of state technician license.
• At least 2 years of specialty medicine required, oncology preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Strong work ethic and a positive attitude. Ability to act as a team player.
• Must be flexible, adaptable and ability to multitask.
• Punctual and reliable.
• Must participate in rotating holiday shifts in the emergency and critical care department.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential job functions. Pacific Northwest Pet ER & Specialty Center provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, Pacific Northwest Pet ER & Specialty Center complies with applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

This position requires repetitive motion, which includes periods of sitting/standing, bending/stooping, kneeling, and lifting up to 50 pounds.