A Veterinary Technician Externship can shed light on future passions

Finding out what you really love to do isn’t found in a classroom or textbook. Our externships provide vet tech students with hands-on learning, mentorship, and VTNE coaching support that helps bridge the learning gap between classroom and real world.

Our diversity of practices—from urban to rural, equine to small animal, Midwest to deep South—will satisfy any goals you have.

Position Purpose

This position offers students enrolled in a veterinary technician program at an AVMA accredited institution the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a practice setting while completing the requirements of their externship. Veterinary Technician Externs will be paid employees of the practice and as such will also be expected to assist the veterinarians and technicians with patient care and treatment, client education and management, and cleaning of the facility.

Veterinary Technician Extern Competencies

• Patience & Compassion: Remaining professional while still making Doctors, teammates, clients, and patients feel as comfortable as possible regardless of the situation or challenges presented. Responding quickly and calmly to crisis while maintaining a high standard of patient care.
• Collaboration & Teamwork: Carefully coordinating actions with Doctors and practice team members. Providing feedback appropriately and in a timely manner.  Quickly incorporating feedback to ensure positive results.  Sharing ideas and being open to other’s ideas.
• Communicating: Conveying instructions to clients and teammates to ensure successful patient care.
• Active Listening: Following the instructions of Doctors and sometimes patient owners. Picking up the needs of Doctors and teammates based on prior experiences and feedback.
• Organization Skills: Clear tracking of lab specimens, medications, patient instructions, workflow, and other job-related items while managing multiple patients and clients.
• Client Satisfaction: Ensuring all activities and interactions result in the highest level of client satisfaction.

Essential Responsibilities

• Completes skills required by AVMA accredited school to complete externship.
• Consults with Doctors and/or mentoring CVT daily to plan each day’s activities.
• Communicates with Doctors and practice team members including client discussions, patient plans, client concerns, etc.
• Demonstrates warmth, courtesy and professionalism in all interactions with clients; exercises compassion and care in all interactions with patients.
• Completes any tasks as directed by Doctors or practice team members, including but not limited to:
• Properly restrains animals in a safe, efficient and compassionate manner during examinations and procedures.
• Obtains laboratory samples; uses a fecal loop when necessary.
• Anticipates and prepares medications or vaccine.
• Prepares specimens for outside laboratory; obtains results from the laboratory over the phone or fax.
• Monitors laboratory supplies and orders supplies, as needed.
• Takes, develops, and maintains radiographs following proper safety procedures.
• Performs routine suture removals, nail trims, and weight checks; applies bandages and splints under the direction of the attending Doctor.
• Provides injections, as directed by Doctor - intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous.
• Promotes the practice’s products, programs and services using direct or passive marketing; makes appropriate suggestions to clients about products appropriate for the patient’s condition.
• Accurately dispenses medications as directed by Doctor; prepares prescription labels and packages medications; ensures medications are added to the patient’s record and appropriately charged to the client.
• Follows DEA and OSHA guidelines; documents controlled drug logs anytime a controlled drug is used; follows appropriate safety and handling of hazardous materials; follows established hospital safety guidelines regarding radiographs, controlled drugs, animal handling, etc.
• Cleans and straightens exam rooms, treatment, and lab areas; restocks exam rooms with supplies. Assists other team members to keep the public areas of the practice clean; cleans and maintains all medical equipment.
• Any other duties as assigned.