Upenn
Ward Veterinary Assistant
Ryan Veterinary Hospital
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- Seniority
- Mid level
- Country
- US
- Work mode
- On-site / unstated
- First seen by hirly
- 27 Sept 2026
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University Overview
The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn’s distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning. As an employer Penn has been ranked nationally on many occasions with the most recent award from Forbes who named Penn one of America’s Best Large Employers in 2023.
Penn offers a unique working environment within the city of Philadelphia. The University is situated on a beautiful urban campus, with easy access to a range of educational, cultural, and recreational activities. With its historical significance and landmarks, lively cultural offerings, and wide variety of atmospheres, Philadelphia is the perfect place to call home for work and play.
The University offers a competitive benefits package that includes excellent healthcare and tuition benefits for employees and their families, generous retirement benefits, a wide variety of professional development opportunities, supportive work and family benefits, a wealth of health and wellness programs and resources, and much more.
Posted Job Title
Ward Veterinary Assistant
Job Profile Title
Veterinary Nurse Assistant A
Job Description Summary
This position will assist with stocking, lab work, patient restraint, walking of animals, charge capture, admits and discharges in the ward area.
Job Description
Job Description
Veterinary Nurse Assistant A's responsibilities include:
Stocking supplies
Cleaning
Cage set up/breakdown
Make heparinized flushes
Laundry
Cleaning medical equipment (alcohol wipes only; no Rescue)
Pharmacy, clinical lab runs
Walking patients in appropriate areas, double-leashed
Proper labeling and transport of deceased patients to the appropriate cooler
Patient restraint
Proper handling and running of Nova samples, PCV/TP, blood smears, glucometer, and Idexx tests. Bloodwork must always be checked with a nurse after being analyzed.
Prime fluid bags on a cassette. Cannot set up fluid pumps.
Anticipate nurses' needs . This includes setting up for an IV catheter and a blocked catheter setup. Talk with the nurse on duty about their expectations.
Assist nurses with patients triaged to the treatment area who need immediate care.
Assist with discharge of outpatients once properly trained.
ANY changes/abnormalities/questions on patient status must be brought to the attention of nurse.
Veterinary Nurse Assistant B responsibilities include:
Level 1 responsibilities
Room organization
Some supervised medical treatments on stable patients only
Assist nurses with unstable patients
May need to work in any of the 24/7 nursing areas during busy times. (ES, ICU, Wards)
Become familiar with normal and abnormal physical parameters including mucous membranes, capillary refill time, pulses, heart rate, respiratory rate and effort, and lung sounds
Feel comfortable with all monitoring equipment including normal results for the pulse oximeter, ECG set up, doppler/Cardell.
Focus on anticipating nurses’ needs . This includes setting up for an IV catheter, blocked cat set up, fluid bag set up, etc…
All treatments/findings must be checked and approved by nurse on duty.
May perform treatments on stable patients under direct nurse supervision:
TPR, ECG, Doppler, connect/disconnect IVF
Prime IVF bags (cannot start infusions)
No medication administration
Qualifications :
Hours for this position are 5:00 pm - 2:00 am Monday through Thursday.
Veterinary Nurse Assistant A
A High School Diploma and 0-1 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience working in a veterinary setting and experience with patient restraint are required. Candidates should also have experience working with difficult-to-handle patients, the proven ability to multitask, and to follow directions. In addition, candidates should also have strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Veterinary Nurse Assistant B
A High School Diploma and 1-2 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience. Experience working in a veterinary setting and experience with patient restraint are required. Candidates should also have experience working with difficult-to-handle patients, the proven ability to multitask, and to follow directions. In addition, candidates should also have strong interpersonal and communication skills.
Physical Requirements: Ability to stand, kneel, bend, reach for prolonged periods of time. Must be able to lift >25 pounds with minimal assistance.
Job Location - City, State
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Department / School
School of Veterinary Medicine
Pay Range
$15.90 - $19.00 Hourly Rate Salary offers are made based on the candidate’s qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job’s level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics) , citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law .
- Special Requirements
- Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.
University Benefits
Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family’s health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits . You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn’s Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you’re newly hired, you won’t have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That’s why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources
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