Veterinary Technician III - Blood bank

Cumming School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University provides 24-hour care for pets 365 days of the year. Since 1985 we have offered high quality medical care, consultation, referral, and emergency veterinary services for the care of dogs, cats and exotic pets. In addition, the hospital creates a positive learning experience for Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University students and student technicians. We are currently hiring an experienced technician to be an intrinsic member of the Emergency and Critical Care unit focused primarily on collaborating with the Emergency and Critical Care faculty to oversee the hospitals blood bank and be a trainer for transfusion medicine for the veterinary nursing staff, house officers and students.

This position qualifies for a $2,000 sign on bonus following successful completion of 6 months of employment for newly hired employees.

Under the direction of the Emergency and Critical Care faculty and residents, the blood bank technician is independently responsible for overseeing the hospitals blood bank. This blood bank services primarily the small animal hospital but also helps assist with large animal, farm animal and zoologic companion animal transfusion medicine needs. This position requires excellent client communication to be able to build community awareness of our blood banking program, recruitment and management of donors from both staff and student pets as well as public owned pets. This position will also require communication and coordination with referring veterinarians to obtain patient record and to assist veterinarians in need of blood products that we can supply.

The blood bank technician will work to rely primarily on donations to keep the needed stock of products for FHSA patients and decrease reliance on purchasing blood products when possible. When blood product orders are needed, this technician will be the primary person responsible for ordering and managing these products. This technician will also educate house officers, staff and students in transfusion medicine and help facilitate transfusions throughout the hospital. With an advanced technical skillset, the blood bank technician may be called upon to help train staff and students in other areas such as phlebotomy and catheter placement. The Veterinary Technician III performs advanced and more specialized technical procedures with limited direct supervision from the attending veterinarian or a supervising technician.

Under minimal supervision, the Veterinary Technician III makes decisions and provides advanced veterinary patient nursing care, respecting the directions of the attending veterinarian. This technician also coaches and mentors junior staff and provides on-the-job training to new technicians. The Blood Bank Veterinary Technician is considered an essential employee within the hospital and the schedule may include providing University and calendar holiday coverage for emergency needs. A substantial holiday premium pay is applied to any University designated holiday. The University observes a minimum of thirteen holidays throughout the calendar year.

Essential Functions as a Veterinary Technician in the ECC and blood bank will be:

Nursing Care:

• Provide high quality patient care including the following:
• Collaborate with administrative and clinical colleagues, co-workers, faculty, house officers and students to effectively manage a high-volume clinical workflow without direct supervisory oversight.
• Assist clinicians in maintaining complete medical records for all patients including correct charging.
• Independently perform advanced technical tasks without supervision
• Provide care to patients and support to co-workers and students that are consistent with hospital standards of minimizing fear, anxiety, stress and pain in our patients.
• Safely administer sedation to patients and monitor sedated patients throughout procedures
• Implementing and facilitating clinicians' care decisions and treatment plans to ensure prompt, thorough, and accurate patient care.
• Development, training, and coordination of technicians capable of providing back up blood bank coverage.
• Provide quality technical assistance for clinical, academic and research applications daily and as needed.
• Although focus is blood bank services and managing donors, cross training to provide care to patients in any other section is expected when time allows primarily in the ER and with transfusion medicine inpatients in the ICU and inpatient sections.
• Complete diagnostic testing as ordered by clinicians including bench-top lab tests.

Teaching:

• Instruct veterinary students, student technicians and house officers in all technical aspects of blood banking and transfusion medicine
• Participate in formal continuing education lectures and labs as needed
• Provide one on one on the job training for students, house officers and technical staff in proficiently utilizing the blood bank resources and administering transfusions.
• Maintain and update the service SOP's and digital files to ensure consistent and high-quality care by all staff and clinicians.

Client Service:

• Recruit and manage relationships with donor clients both within the Tufts community and in the general public
• Serve as point of contact for the blood bank service both internally and externally
• Communicate with clients and referring veterinarians to coordinate donations, obtain patient records and answer questions about blood products.
• Attend Tufts sponsored and community events to promote the blood bank

Department Maintenance:

• Responsible for ordering supplies and ensuring that the blood bank unit is well stocked with set minimums of blood products
• Clean/stock/maintain service areas.
• Maintain equipment and ensure that all equipment is kept in good working order.
• Facilitate the maintenance of clinical equipment by identifying malfunctioning equipment and scheduling service.
• Oversee service contracts if applicable for equipment.
• Establish and maintain infection control protocols for the service areas.

Research:

• Assist in faculty and house officer studies and projects as needed including treating research/laboratory animals.

Other:

• Participate in hospital wide initiatives such as infection control, patient care improvements and staff training

Basic Requirements:

• Mastery of basic technical skills associated with blood banking, including mandatory skills below.
• High School diploma or equivalent and 3 years of experience as a veterinary technician in a fast-paced hospital
  OR
• Associate OR bachelor's degree from an AVMA-accredited institution providing training in veterinary technology, veterinary nursing, or veterinary science, and one year experience at a University hospital or large scale hospital.
  OR
• Certified Veterinary Technician in good standing.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently when completing basic tasks and procedural skills, and the ability to conduct more advanced tasks under supervision.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively as a member of a diverse team of clinical and administrative professionals.
• Highly motivated, enthusiastic self-starter with a professional attitude.
• Comprehensive understanding of medical terminology and veterinary pharmacology.
• Demonstrated ability to provide excellent service to both internal and external customers.
• Knowledge of transfusion medicine in a veterinary setting.
• A desire to teach. This includes sharing knowledge and expertise with colleagues throughout the Small and Large Animal Hospitals as well as students. Teaching also requires a commitment to ongoing professional development such as participation in Continuing Education and maintenance of credentials and certifications.
• Experience with Microsoft Office and ability to learn electronic medical record systems and other software systems used.

Minimum required technical skills:

• Safely restrain small animal patients primarily dogs and cats
• Assess the attitude and responsiveness of small animal patients
• Be able to identify animals in pain or distress
• IM and IV injections
• Dosage calculations for medications
• Monitoring and identifying physiological parameters in patients under sedation
• Familiarity with sedatives and tranquilizers.
• Describe steps required and be able to assist in an emergency situation
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation
• BLS and ALS RECOVER certified
• Fear Free Certified

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in veterinary technology preferred
• Experience working in an academic environment or teaching hospital
• Experience with transfusion medicine and blood banking
• Demonstrated ability teaching other technicians, veterinary students, veterinary technician students