Emergency-Veterinary Assistant

Veterinary Assistant Or Registered Veterinary Technician

VCA Sacramento Veterinary Referral Center is a 24-hour emergency/critical care and referral hospital. Our emergency department (ER) manages patients who require advanced medical attention, hospitalization, and lifesaving treatments. We are seeking experienced Veterinary Assistants or Registered Veterinary Technicians who thrive in dynamic, high-acuity environments and are eager to provide hands-on, life-saving care.

About the Role

As a full-time VA in our ER Department, you will support our doctors and credentialed technicians in delivering advanced patient care. You will work alongside our emergency doctors and their team to take on advanced and unique cases. This role is best suited for individuals with strong Critical Care foundational skills who are ready to expand their skills and knowledge. You will help triage and stabilize incoming emergencies, monitor sedation or anesthetic emergency procedures (non-surgical) and support intensive treatment plans while maintaining compassionate communication with clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Assist with advanced diagnostics (bloodwork, radiology, ultrasound prep, etc.)
• Perform patient monitoring for sedated procedures
• Complete treatments in a timely manner
• Perform quality diagnostic radiographs
• Prepare and maintain treatment areas, ensuring efficiency during emergencies
• Support doctors and technicians with advanced procedures and critical nursing care
• Communicate with clients regarding hospitalized patients and treatment updates

What We're Looking For

• Prior veterinary assistant experience strongly preferred, particularly in the ER or critical care areas.
• Ability to remain calm and effective in high-pressure situations.
• Team-oriented, detail-driven, and adaptable.
• Foundational skills in venipuncture, medication calculations, anesthesia monitoring, CPR, patient recovery, and triage.
• Interest in critical care and continued skill development.
• Weekend availability is required.
• Full time (40 hours/week, 5 days/week)
• 6am start time

Why Join Us?

We are passionate about supporting our associates and are committed to your continuing education and personal career development. At VCA we are committed to equity, inclusion, and diversity, and strive to be a place where a talented mix of people want to come, stay, and do their best work. We support a work environment where you can focus on your career, your happiness, and the patients you serve. Compensation is negotiable based on education, experience, and other relevant credentials. The pay range for this position is $20-$24/hour with a $4/hr shift differential for working on a weekend day.

Benefits: We offer competitive compensation along with a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision and paid vacation/sick days, 401(k), generous employee pet discounts and more! The information in this position description indicates the general nature and level of work to be performed. It is not designed to be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of associates assigned to this job. Management reserves the right to revise the job description or require that other tasks be performed when the circumstances of the job change (for example, emergencies, change in personnel, workload, or technical development). We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer - Veterans / Disabled.