VETERINARY ANESTHESIA TECHNICIAN4286F3 Pay Grade: 22 DEFINITION OF WORK Summary This is specialized technical veterinary work administering anesthetics and monitoring, interpreting, and regulating medical equipment used for anesthetized and critical care animals. Work involves preparing and administering prescribed anesthetics prior to, during and following surgery; and monitoring and balancing vital signs during surgery, recovery, in intensive care unit or emergency room using a variety of medical equipment. Work also includes instructing professional veterinary medicine students, other technicians and faculty in the operation of medical monitoring equipment used during surgery and recovery; and performing medical equipment maintenance. Standard Classification Factors Supervision Received - LEVEL B: "Under general supervision…" Employees working under general supervision usually receive some instructions with respect to the details of most assignments but are free to develop their own work sequences within established procedures, methods and policies. They are often physically removed from their supervisor and subject to only periodic checks. Difficulty - LEVEL C: Considerable… Duties which require a high degree of concentration because of the many factors which must be considered and weighed before a decision can be reached. Usually positions that require planning, developing, and coordinating programs and directing fairly large groups of people fall into this category. Complexity - LEVEL D: Work is of a diversified nature that usually involves multiple unrelated steps. Analytical thought is necessary for dealing with complex data and situations. Work often involves a variety of unrelated processes and may require planning or carrying out a sequence of actions or both. Several alternatives usually exist at this level for approaching problems or situations. Workers at this level exercise a considerable amount of independent judgment. Work is controlled by occasional review and by reporting to or consultation with supervisors or superiors. When guidelines exist at this level, they are usually broadly defined or technical requiring careful analysis and interpretation. Consequence of Actions or Decisions - LEVEL D: Consequences of actions or decisions at this level are significant as the work may be rarely if ever reviewed, making errors difficult to detect. Errors may cause major program failure or a high degree of confusion. Injuries to others due to errors are serious or incapacitating or both and costs due to errors are substantial. Contacts - LEVEL B: The purpose of the contact is to plan, coordinate and advise on work efforts, interpret guidelines or instructions, elicit opinions or give guidance on the basis of facts to resolve common issues or problems when the information is not sensitive in nature or the individuals or groups are working toward mutual goals and have basically cooperative attitudes. Well developed communication skills are required. Physical Demands - LEVEL C: The work requires moderate physical exertion. Environmental Conditions - LEVEL C: The work environment involves hazards, risks or discomforts typical of working with or around machinery with exposed moving parts, irritant chemicals, heavy equipment or abusive or hostile clientele and patients. Exposure to disagreeable weather conditions and extreme levels of temperature, ventilation, lighting and sound are normal. Protective clothing or gear and specific safety standards or procedures may be required. Serious injury is possible. Supervision/Leadership - LEVEL A: No supervisory or leadership responsibility; may explain work instructions or assist in training others. Distinguishing Features Differs from the Veterinary Technician II where technical or supervisory animal care excludes administering anesthetics, monitoring anesthetized animals and interpreting and responding to electronic medical equipment data on patient status. EXAMPLES OF WORK PERFORMED Anesthetizes animals; connects biomedical monitors and patient care devices; monitors biomedical equipment to balance patient vital signs throughout entire anesthetic delivery and recovery process. Checks out, calibrates and sets up all physiological monitoring and anesthetic delivery equipment for use. Oversees and trains professional students, directs biomedical instrumentation and critical care work in areas such as operating room and intensive care unit. Serves as member of "code blue" team by operating cardiac defibrillator and other emergency resuscitation equipment. Performs troubleshooting, preventive and unscheduled maintenance, calibration and safety inspections of biomedical equipment; records biomedical data, maintenance and repair activities. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, AND SKILLS Knowledge *Knowledge of the principles and techniques of applied electronics. *Knowledge of physiology, pharmacology, anesthetic uptake, distribution and action, and mammalian anatomy. *Knowledge of the operation, maintenance and repair of biomedical equipment and anesthetic delivery devices. Abilities *Ability to interpret and relay data from biomedical equipment. *Ability to think and act quickly and logically under extreme stress in response to rapidly changing data output or physiological signs. *Ability to supervise and train professional veterinary students. *Necessary at Entry MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS: One year of experience in administering anesthetics to humans and/or animals. Education in anesthesiology may be substituted for experience as determined relevant by the agency. NC: 07/95 |