Veterinary Assistant 1 - Small Animal Intensive Care Unit

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Job Posting Title:

Veterinary Assistant 1, 2, or 3-SAICU

Position Type:

Professional / Unclassified

Department:

LSUAM VetMed - VTH - Admin - Nursing - Small Animal Intensive Care Unit (Jose Juarez (00070166))

Work Location:

Veterinary Medicine

Pay Grade:

Job Description:

The Small Animal Intensive Care Unit (SA-ICU) provides continuous patient care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Our intensive care facility maintains a 52-patient capacity and delivers around-the-clock monitoring and treatment for critically ill and injured animals. The ICU also serves as the primary anesthesia and surgical recovery area and provides triage support for cases presented to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital emergency department. The ICU veterinary technicians and assistants provide advanced nursing care to critically ill patients, support emergency and critical care operations, maintains ICU readiness, and participates in teaching and training activities within the hospital.

Veterinary Assistant 1:

40%-Assist with advanced nursing procedures and intensive care treatments for critically ill and hospitalized patients. Administer medications and treatments as prescribed, ensuring proper dosing, administration, and documentation. Place and maintain intravenous catheters. Assist with venipuncture, cystocentesis, abdominal and thoracic fluid collection procedures, and other technical nursing procedures as directed. Assist with the operation of and monitor life-support and intensive care equipment. Closely monitor patient status and promptly communicate changes in condition to the veterinary team. Recover and monitor anesthetized and post-surgical patients, documenting vital signs and recovery progress. Maintain accurate and complete medical records.

20%-Assist the Emergency Service with patient admission, triage, assessment, and stabilization of emergency case as needed. Remain prepared to initiate CPR and other emergency interventions when required. Handle and maintain Class II controlled substances in accordance with hospital policies and regulatory requirements. Verify prescribed dosages and requested quantities.  Assist with obtaining, dispensing, and accurately documenting controlled drug usage. Assist with ensure appropriate drug administration. Assist with maintaining required inventory and usage records. Properly dispose of unused controlled substances and document disposal procedures.

20%-Assist with maintaining the ICU in a constant state of operational readiness. Assist with complete daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance responsibilities. Assist with equipment quality control checks and routine maintenance procedures. Assist with monitoring inventory levels and ensuring adequate stocking of medications, supplies, and emergency equipment. Assist with maintaining a daily census of ICU patients, procedures performed, and hospitalization charges. Assist with completing accurate and timely data entry of all patient charges and fees.

10%-Assist with communicating patient signalment, diagnosis, treatment plans, current status, and nursing considerations to staff on incoming shifts. Communicate with veterinarians, residents, interns, students, and fellow technicians to ensure continuity of care and optimal patient outcomes. Contribute to a positive team environment focused on excellence in patient care. 

10%-Participate in veterinary teaching activities as assigned. Assist with training veterinary students, interns, residents, and newly hired staff in ICU procedures and patient care protocols. Support the educational mission of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital through demonstration of best practices in critical care nursing. Serve as designated emergency response personnel and work assigned holiday shifts as required. 
Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree; OR associate's degree in veterinary technology OR credentials as a vet tech or equivalent OR 3 years of experience in a working environment with similar duties. 

Veterinary Assistant 2:

40%-Perform advanced nursing procedures and intensive care treatments for critically ill and hospitalized patients. Administer medications and treatments as prescribed, ensuring proper dosing, administration, and documentation. Place and maintain intravenous catheters. Perform venipuncture, cystocentesis, abdominal and thoracic fluid collection procedures, and other technical nursing procedures as directed. Operate and monitor life-support and intensive care equipment. Closely monitor patient status and promptly communicate changes in condition to the veterinary team. Recover and monitor anesthetized and post-surgical patients, documenting vital signs and recovery progress. Maintain accurate and complete medical records.

20%-Assist the Emergency Service with patient admission, triage, assessment, and stabilization of emergency case as needed. Remain prepared to initiate CPR and other emergency interventions when required. Handle and maintain Class II controlled substances in accordance with hospital policies and regulatory requirements. Verify prescribed dosages and requested quantities. Obtain, dispense, and accurately document controlled drug usage. Ensure appropriate drug administration. Maintain required inventory and usage records. Properly dispose of unused controlled substances and document disposal procedures.

20%-Maintain the ICU in a constant state of operational readiness. Complete daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance responsibilities. Perform equipment quality control checks and routine maintenance procedures. Monitor inventory levels and ensure adequate stocking of medications, supplies, and emergency equipment. Maintain a daily census of ICU patients, procedures performed, and hospitalization charges. Complete accurate and timely data entry of all patient charges and fees.

10%-Effectively communicate patient signalment, diagnosis, treatment plans, current status, and nursing considerations to staff on incoming shifts Communicate with veterinarians, residents, interns, students, and fellow technicians to ensure continuity of care and optimal patient outcomes. Contribute to a positive team environment focused on excellence in patient care. 

10%-Participate in veterinary teaching activities as assigned. Assist with training veterinary students, interns, residents, and newly hired staff in ICU procedures and patient care protocols. Support the educational mission of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital through demonstration of best practices in critical care nursing. Serve as designated emergency response personnel and work assigned holiday shifts as required. Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree; OR associate's degree in veterinary technology with 2 years' experience OR credentials as a vet tech or equivalent with 2 years' experience OR 5 years of experience in a working environment with similar duties. 

Veterinary Assistant 3:

40%-Perform and teach advanced nursing procedures and intensive care treatments for critically ill and hospitalized patients. Administer medications and treatments as prescribed, ensuring proper dosing, administration, and documentation. Place and maintain intravenous catheters. Perform and teach venipuncture, cystocentesis, abdominal and thoracic fluid collection procedures, and other technical nursing procedures as directed. Operate and monitor life-support and intensive care equipment. Closely monitor patient status and promptly communicate changes in condition to the veterinary team. Recover and monitor anesthetized and post-surgical patients, documenting vital signs and recovery progress. Maintain accurate and complete medical records.

20%-Assist the Emergency Service with patient admission, triage, assessment, and stabilization of emergency case as needed. Remain prepared to initiate and teach CPR and other emergency interventions when required. Handle and maintain Class II controlled substances in accordance with hospital policies and regulatory requirements. Verify prescribed dosages and requested quantities. Obtain, dispense, and accurately document controlled drug usage. Ensure and teach appropriate drug administration. Maintain required inventory and usage records. Properly dispose of unused controlled substances and document disposal procedures.

20%-Maintain the ICU in a constant state of operational readiness. Complete and teach daily, weekly, and monthly maintenance responsibilities. Perform and instruct equipment quality control checks and routine maintenance procedures. Monitor inventory levels and ensure adequate stocking of medications, supplies, and emergency equipment. Maintain and teach how to maintain a daily census of ICU patients, procedures performed, and hospitalization charges. Complete accurate and timely data entry of all patient charges and fees.

10%-Effectively communicate patient signalment, diagnosis, treatment plans, current status, and nursing considerations to staff on incoming shifts. Teach this skill to others. Communicate with veterinarians, residents, interns, students, and fellow technicians to ensure continuity of care and optimal patient outcomes. Contribute to a positive team environment focused on excellence in patient care. 

10%-Contribute to veterinary teaching activities as assigned. Assist with training veterinary students, interns, residents, and newly hired staff in ICU procedures and patient care protocols. Support the educational mission of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital through demonstration of best practices in critical care nursing. Serve as designated emergency response personnel and work assigned holiday shifts as required. 
Other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree; OR associate's degree in veterinary technology with 4 years' experience OR credentials as a vet tech or equivalent with 4 years' experience OR 7 years of experience in a working environment with similar duties. 

Additional Job Description:

-Safety and Security Sensitive Job - Safety and security-sensitive positions are defined as those positions where any form of substance abuse may affect University activities through unsafe work behavior/performance or error in judgment; or where substance abuse could jeopardize the safety and well-being of employees, other personnel, or the general public, or cause significant damage to University property. This includes positions requiring firearms, access to controlled substances, handling hazardous material, operating heavy equipment or machinery, etc. These positions are subject to drug screens per PS-67/FASOP HR-04.

-Emergency Essential Personnel -This position may be required to report to campus in times of emergency and/or closure per PS-18.

-Required to work a variety of shifts including nights, weekends, and holidays, on-call, and emergency response. 

Job Competencies (ALL LEVELS):

-Knowledge of basic animal care and handling including restraint   

-Knowledge of medical terminology, basic anatomy, and abbreviations

-Basic computer skills, problem-solving and communication skills  

-Knowledge of proper medical record keeping (paper and electronic)

-Math skills; including drug calculations (dosage & conversions) 

-Operation of equipment, diagnostic tests and hand held analyzers (eg. Glucometer)  

-Interpretation of normal and basic arrhythmias on ECG

-Ability to collect blood from a number of different sites by venipuncture

-Proper administration of oral, sub-cutaneous, intramuscular, and intra venous medications

-Obtain and interpret temperature, pulse, respiratory rates and capillary refill time 

Special Instructions:

A copy of your transcript(s) may be attached to your application (if applicable).

Please provide your resume and three professional references including name, title, phone number and e-mail address.

Questions can be directed to Amy Geeding, [email protected], or Torri Collins, [email protected].

Skills Needed:

Preferred Skills:

Posting Date:

August 21, 2026

Closing Date (Open Until Filled if No Date Specified):

November 20, 2026

Additional Position Information:

Background Check - An offer of employment is contingent on a satisfactory pre-employment background check.

Benefits - LSU offers outstanding benefits to eligible employees and their dependents including health, life, dental, and vision insurance; flexible spending accounts; retirement options; various leave options; paid holidays; wellness benefits; tuition exemption for qualified positions; training and development opportunities; employee discounts; and more!

Positions approved to work outside the State of Louisiana shall be employed through Louisiana State University’s partner, nextSource Workforce Solutions, for Employer of Record Services including but not limited to employment, benefits, payroll, and tax compliance. Positions employed through Employer of Record Services will be offered benefits and retirement as applicable through their provider and will not be eligible for State of Louisiana benefits and retirement.

Essential Position (Y/N):

LSU is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All candidates must have valid U.S. work authorization at the time of hire and maintain that valid work authorization throughout employment. Changes in laws, regulations, or government policies may impact the university’s ability to employ individuals in certain positions.

HCM Contact Information: