Career Opportunities

Bluegrass Equine Surgery was founded with an uncompromising commitment to quality care for patients and strong relationships with their owners. Bluegrass Equine Surgery is a specialty equine hospital just outside Lexington, KY, in the heart of horse country. We provide both primary and specialized surgical care; providing ambulatory care services to nearly all of the premier horse farms; and are expanding our presence in the international equine industry.  Bluegrass Equine Surgery consistently strives to provide the most advanced technology and the latest in treatment options for every aspect of a horse’s life.

In response to the extremely competitive and increasingly international scope of the equine industry, Bluegrass Equine Surgery has established an Equine Surgical Intern Training Program. The program is intended to provide a trainee with a thorough knowledge of and experience with the practical standards and practices employed by Bluegrass Equine Surgery.

Rotations include:

- Surgery (13 weeks)

- Radiology and Imaging (10 weeks)

- Anesthesia (5 weeks)

- Lameness (10 weeks)

Candidates must be eligible for a US veterinary license.

At this time we are unable to provide sponsorships for foreign graduates who are not license-eligible.

For more information on our unique program, please contact Dr. Margot Daly at mdaly@petvetcarecenters.com with your resume or CV.

Position Overview:

The Veterinary Technician supports hospital operations by providing dedicated quality veterinary care and exceptional service to our patients and clients. Responsibilities include providing patient care by determining animal requirements, conducting examinations and diagnostic procedures, assisting during surgery and operations, providing nursing care, assisting with feeding and caring for patients, maintaining medical supplies and equipment, overseeing triage and discharging patients, and maintaining patient medical records.

Essential Position Functions:

• Determine animal requirements by conducting examinations and interviews, reviewing care plans and records, completing laboratory tests and studies, and diagnostic imaging.
• Care for patients by taking vital signs, collecting samples, administering medications, drugs, and vaccines, and bandaging and wrapping wounds.
• Support patient examinations and operations by assembling required supplies and instruments, securing and bringing patients to examination rooms, and restraining patients; aids as directed by the veterinarian.
• Provide excellent pet care by applying full knowledge of anatomy, physiology, disease processes, pharmacology, specialized equipment usage, and specialized drug administration.
• Obtain and verify medications.
• Ensure that patients have food and water, clean patients' rooms, cages, and equipment; observe patients for clinical signs of disease.
• As directed, fill prescriptions and administer medications, including proper documentation, logging, and security of controlled drugs.
• Maintain a safe, secure, healthy, and humane environment by sterilizing and wrapping instruments, sanitizing and disinfecting holding and operating areas, storing sterile supplies, verifying shelf life, following standards and procedures, and in compliance with applicable legal regulations.
• Maintain medical records by documenting patients’ conditions, reactions, and changes; update the database in an accurate and timely manner.
• Communicate with the pet owner about the status of the patient, as directed by the veterinarian.
• Maintain equipment by following operating instructions, troubleshooting breakdowns, maintaining equipment supplies, performing preventive maintenance, and calling for repairs.
• Maintain inventory, place orders for needed supplies, verify, and maintain receipts.
• Update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities and reading professional journals.
• Release pets to their owners as directed; ensure that every animal released is clean and properly groomed before their release.
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions.
• Perform other duties as assigned by Manager or practice.

Additional Position Functions:

Assignment to the specialty medical area listed below may require the following additional job functions:

Radiology

• Assist veterinarians with providing high-quality diagnostic imaging services to in-patient, out-patient, surgical, and emergency pets.

Competencies:

• Care and Compassion: Displays a desire to build rapport, provide personal assistance, and emotional support.
• Team Orientation: Works cooperatively with the team to address tasks and accomplish goals.
• Dependability: Demonstrates responsibility in completing tasks and accomplishing goals.
• Initiative: Proactively looks for the opportunity to address and follow through on work activities.
• Flexibility and Multi-Tasking: Adapts quickly to changing demands and manages multiple priorities effectively.
• Communication: Uses effective and appropriate methods of interacting with others.
• Customer Services: Displays a desire to provide outstanding service and exceed customer expectations.
• Organization and Attention to Detail: Monitors and reviews information thoroughly and maintains an organized system for all documents.
• Adherence to Rules and Instructions: Consistently follows standard procedures.

Qualifications:

• High school diploma or GED.
• Two or more years of experience with veterinary appointments, surgeries, and nursing care for hospitalized and critical patients.
• Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT), Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT), Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT), or the Licensed Veterinary Medical Technician (LVMT) preferred or as required by State.
• May consider an equivalent combination of education, certification, training, and/or experience.

Position Knowledge and Skill Requirements:

• Knowledge of the preparation, monitoring, and recovery of pets receiving surgery, as well as basic pet nursing.
• Ability to demonstrate and follow correct procedures in catheter placement, phlebotomy, emergency medicine, and digital radiology.
• Understand and limit the potential exposure to bites, scratches, and potential injuries.
• Able to restrain patients according to standard procedures.
• Fill prescriptions and monitor sedation procedures as directed by the veterinarian.
• Ability to work with or around sick animals, potentially hazardous materials, cleaning chemicals, gas anesthetics, zoonotic diseases, and unpleasant odors.
• Display confidence and reassurance when dealing with pets experiencing severe stress, illness, or pain.
• Communicate and approach job duties in a professional and mature manner.
• Must be flexible with scheduling and able to work some weekends and holidays.
• This is a strenuous job that requires a lot of lifting, cleaning, and constant motion.
• Depending on the functional area of assignment, tasks may involve extended periods of time at a keyboard or workstation and/or extended periods of time standing and/or walking.
• May include some climbing, balancing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling.
• Some tasks involve the periodic performance of moderately physically demanding work, usually involving lifting or carrying moderately heavy animals (up to 50 pounds).
• Answer phones and perform other duties as needed by the hospital.
• Other duties and responsibilities as assigned by Manager or practice.

Additional Information:

The list of essential functions and additional functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this position. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a required assignment for the position.

Bluegrass Equine Surgery (BES) is an equine veterinary practice providing exceptional client service and primary medical care in the central Kentucky region. We are building a new, diverse, supportive, and driven team.

BES is seeking to immediately fill the position of Equine Barn/Recovery Tech.

• Hours: Seasonal, Part-Time, Tuesday/Thursday/Friday 9a.m. - 7p.m.
• Reports to: Barn Foreman, Surgery Operations Manager
• Department: Surgery
• Location: Hospital
• Compensation: Hourly, 15.00-17.00 hour based on experience

The BES Barn Technician/Horse Handler assists the patient with all aspects of surgical prep and recovery

DUTIES

Medical

• Load and unload horses from trailers
• Admit and discharge patients
• Hande mares, foals, yearlings and racehorses in a medical facility
• Monitor hospitalized and surgery patients
• Monitor all post-op meds and bandaging
• Communicate with barn foreman, surgery ops manager daily
• Restrain patients as needed
• Take vital measurements on patients
• Take patients outside when needed
• Feed patients as needed
• Hold for x-rays
• Help keep barn and surgery area clean, including stalls
• Model professionalism and ethical practices

Other

• Promote cooperative working environment among staff members; understand the value of teamwork; show enthusiasm and willingness to perform as necessary to help the practice function as a unit
• Understand and carry out oral and written directions
• Promotes continuous quality improvement
• Performs other duties as assigned

EXPERIENCE

• Horse handling experience required, foal and yearling experience preferred.
• Ability to read horse body language and perform advanced handling of horses and foals
• Self-motivated lifelong learner
• Works well independently and as part of a team

PERSONAL

• Feel and express a genuine liking for animals and for working in an animal-care environment.
• Work under the broad general administrative supervision of the owners and doctors, and use sound personal judgment in selecting methods, establishing priorities, and arriving at conclusions
• May be required to work uncommon hours, overtime, and be subject to recall in emergency situations
• Be flexible in attitude and work habits
• Lift and carry up to 25 pounds