Veterinary Assistant 1, 2 or 3 - Large Animal

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Job Posting Title:

WAE-Veterinary Assistant 1, 2, or 3-Large Animal

Position Type:

Wages as Earned (Fixed Term)

Department:

LSUAM VetMed - VTH - Admin - Nursing - Large Animals (Dawn Lou-Wese Kelley (00001329))

Work Location:

Veterinary Medicine

Pay Grade:

Job Description:

The Large Animal Hospital provides patient care 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This position provides technical veterinary support to faculty clinicians, house officers, and veterinary students throughout the Large Animal Hospital. The individual must possess extensive experience in the safe handling and restraint of horses and livestock and be capable of instructing veterinary students in proper animal handling techniques while promoting a safe learning environment for both personnel and patients. This position supports the care and management of emergency and critical care cases during both regular business hours and after-hours operations. The individual is expected to consistently adhere to hospital infection prevention and biosecurity protocols to maintain a safe environment for patients, clients, students, and staff. Patient care responsibilities include, but are not limited to, providing technical support in the Isolation Unit, Intensive Care Unit (ICU), resident teaching herd, as well as equine surgery, equine internal medicine, and food animal services. The position requires flexibility to assist throughout the hospital as needed to ensure the delivery of high-quality patient care and support the hospital's teaching, clinical, and service missions.

Job Responsibilities:

WAE-Veterinary Assistant 1

50% Assist with the day-to-day operations of the Large Animal Hospital, including assisting faculty clinicians, house officers, and veterinary students with appointments, emergency cases, medical procedures, and inpatient treatments. Assist with providing proper patient handling, restraint, inpatient monitoring, hourly patient assessments, and treatment administration. Safely unload, load, admit, transfer, and discharge equine patients, and prepare examination and treatment areas before and after procedures by setting up, cleaning, disinfecting, and restocking equipment and supplies. Complete all duties with minimal supervision while adhering to established hospital policies, safety procedures, and biosecurity protocols.

20% Assist with client communication, ensuring effective communication and accurate collection of patient information. Monitor patients throughout the hospital; assist with treatments as prescribed by clinicians; maintain accurate and complete medical records; and enter and track charges for large animal inpatients and outpatients. Assist veterinary students and student workers with clinical procedures and treatments while promoting proper techniques and quality patient care.

15% Assist with clinical teaching and training of veterinary students and newly hired veterinary technicians, assistants, and student workers. Assist clinical veterinary students, house officers, and faculty clinicians with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including bandaging, sample collection, blood transfusions, ultrasonography, joint injections, intravenous catheter placement, and other clinical treatments. Assist with blood collection from equine blood donors in accordance with hospital protocols.

10% Assist with the routine maintenance and cleaning of technical equipment, including endoscopes, ultrasound machines, ECG equipment, oxygen tanks, and other clinical instruments. Maintain hospital readiness by stocking and cleaning examination rooms, treatment areas, carts, and supplies. Assist in training veterinary students and new staff on hospital protocols, including biosecurity and infection prevention procedures. Participate in holiday, weekend, and on-call emergency coverage as required.

5% 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.

WAE-Veterinary Assistant 2

50% Perform and demonstrate the day-to-day operations of the Large Animal Hospital, including assisting faculty clinicians, house officers, and veterinary students with appointments, emergency cases, medical procedures, and inpatient treatments. Perform and demonstrate proper patient handling, restraint, inpatient monitoring, hourly patient assessments, and treatment administration. Safely unload, load, admit, transfer, and discharge equine patients, and prepare examination and treatment areas before and after procedures by setting up, cleaning, disinfecting, and restocking equipment and supplies. Complete all duties with minimal supervision while adhering to established hospital policies, safety procedures, and biosecurity protocols.

20% Perform and demonstrate professional interactions with clients, ensuring effective communication and accurate collection of patient information. Monitor patients throughout the hospital; perform and assist with treatments as prescribed by clinicians; maintain accurate and complete medical records; and enter and track charges for large animal inpatients and outpatients. Assist veterinary students and student workers with clinical procedures and treatments while promoting proper techniques and quality patient care.

15% Participate in the clinical teaching and training of veterinary students and newly hired veterinary technicians, assistants, and student workers. Assist clinical veterinary students, house officers, and faculty clinicians with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including bandaging, sample collection, blood transfusions, ultrasonography, joint injections, intravenous catheter placement, and other clinical treatments. Assist with blood collection from equine blood donors in accordance with hospital protocols.

10% Perform and demonstrate routine maintenance and cleaning of technical equipment, including endoscopes, ultrasound machines, ECG equipment, oxygen tanks, and other clinical instruments. Maintain hospital readiness by stocking and cleaning examination rooms, treatment areas, carts, and supplies. Assist in training veterinary students and new staff on hospital protocols, including biosecurity and infection prevention procedures. Participate in holiday, weekend, and on-call emergency coverage as required.

5% 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.

WAE-Veterinary Assistant 3

50% Perform and Teach the day-to-day operations of the Large Animal Hospital, including assisting faculty clinicians, house officers, and veterinary students with appointments, emergency cases, medical procedures, and inpatient treatments. Perform and Teach proper patient handling, restraint, inpatient monitoring, hourly patient assessments, and treatment administration. Safely unload, load, admit, transfer, and discharge equine patients, and prepare examination and treatment areas before and after procedures by setting up, cleaning, disinfecting, and restocking equipment and supplies. Complete all duties with minimal supervision while adhering to established hospital policies, safety procedures, and biosecurity protocols.

20% Perform and teach professional client communication, ensuring effective communication and accurate collection of patient information. Monitor patients throughout the hospital; assist with treatments as prescribed by clinicians; maintain accurate and complete medical records; and enter and track charges for large animal inpatients and outpatients. Assist veterinary students and student workers with clinical procedures and treatments while promoting proper techniques and quality patient care.

15% Participate in clinical teaching and training of veterinary students and newly hired veterinary technicians, assistants, and student workers. Assist clinical veterinary students, house officers, and faculty clinicians with diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including bandaging, sample collection, blood transfusions, ultrasonography, joint injections, intravenous catheter placement, and other clinical treatments. Perform and teach blood collection from equine blood donors in accordance with hospital protocols.

10% Perform and teach routine maintenance and cleaning of technical equipment, including endoscopes, ultrasound machines, ECG equipment, oxygen tanks, and other clinical instruments. Maintain hospital readiness by stocking and cleaning examination rooms, treatment areas, carts, and supplies. Participate in training veterinary students and new staff on hospital protocols, including biosecurity and infection prevention procedures. Participate in holiday, weekend, and on-call emergency coverage as required.

5% 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.

Job Skills Needed: (ALL LEVELS):

Knowledge of basic large animal species 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 and conversions)

Operation of equipment, diagnostic tests, and handheld analyzers (EPOC, glucometer)

Working knowledge of common disease processes, injuries and ailments

Is able to read and understand patient treatment flow sheets and carry out orders

Able to work independently and with minimal supervision

Able to set up, teach, and troubleshoot procedures

Additional Job Description:

Special or Physical qualifications (ALL LEVELS):

Required to work a variety of shifts including nights, weekends, holidays, and "on-call"/relief shifts.

Per PS 18- This position is a part of the Emergency Response Personnel - these personnel are linked with the hospital during any emergency response event and are expected to report in and perform as outlined in the emergency response plan.

Required to be capable of lifting more than 50 pounds, standing or walking for prolonged periods, able to reach and/or climb a ladder, kneel or sit on the floor, bending, squatting, and/or twisting. 

 
*Due to the nature of this position and/or responsibilities, this position is subject to random drug & alcohol testing in accordance with University Policy Statement 67*

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 Dawn Kelley, [email protected].

Skills Needed:

Preferred Skills:

Posting Date:

October 14, 2026

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

January 13, 2027

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: