Veterinary Assistant – Small Animal ICU (Level 1-3)

About the role

The Small Animal Intensive Care Unit (SA‑ICU) at LSU Veterinary Medicine provides 24/7 critical care for hospitalized animals. We are seeking Veterinary Assistants (Level 1, 2 or 3) to support advanced nursing and emergency operations within this high‑acuity environment.

Key responsibilities

• Assist with advanced nursing procedures and intensive‑care treatments for critically ill patients.
• Administer medications, document dosages, and maintain accurate medical records.
• Place and maintain intravenous catheters; perform venipuncture, cystocentesis, and abdominal/thoracic fluid collection.
• Operate and monitor life‑support and intensive‑care equipment.
• Monitor patient status continuously and communicate changes to the veterinary team.
• Recover and observe anesthetized or post‑surgical patients, recording vital signs.
• Support the Emergency Service with triage, admission, stabilization, and CPR when needed.
• Handle, dispense, and document Class II controlled substances in compliance with regulations.
• Maintain ICU readiness through daily, weekly and monthly equipment maintenance and inventory control.

Required profile

• Ability to work in a 24/7 ICU setting and respond quickly to emergency situations.
• Attention to detail for medication administration and controlled‑substance documentation.
• Commitment to maintaining accurate patient records and equipment logs.

Required skills

• Intravenous catheter placement and maintenance.
• Venipuncture and cystocentesis techniques.
• Abdominal and thoracic fluid collection.
• Operation of life‑support and intensive‑care monitoring equipment.
• Controlled‑substance handling and documentation.

What we offer

• Experience in a high‑volume veterinary teaching hospital.
• Opportunities for teaching and training within the ICU.