Recovery Team Level 2 Veterinary Assistant

Recovery Team Veterinary Assistant Level 2 (VA2)

Help Patients Recover Safely and Get Back to the People Who Love Them

DoveLewis Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Hospital is seeking a Recovery Team Veterinary Assistant Level 2 (VA2) to join a team focused on one of the most important moments in a patient’s journey — recovery.

This role supports surgical and hospitalized patients as they transition safely following anesthesia and procedures. Working alongside Recovery Team Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVTs), veterinarians, surgery teams, and specialty services, Recovery Team VA2s help patients heal comfortably, move efficiently through care, and prepare for successful discharge.

If you thrive in a fast-paced environment, enjoy hands-on patient care, and want to be part of a highly collaborative team focused on exceptional patient experiences, we would love to meet you.

About DoveLewis

DoveLewis is the largest 24-hour veterinary emergency and specialty hospital in the Pacific Northwest and a nonprofit teaching hospital dedicated to compassionate care, clinical excellence, and advancing veterinary medicine.

Our teams care for medically complex patients while supporting the human-animal bond through every stage of treatment and recovery. We believe excellent medicine happens through teamwork, curiosity, and continuous learning.

What You’ll Do

As a Recovery Team VA2, you will play an important role in supporting safe, efficient, and compassionate patient recovery.

Patient Recovery & Nursing Support

• Assist Recovery Team CVTs and veterinarians with recovery of patients following anesthesia and sedation procedures.
• Monitor recovering patients under supervision and communicate concerns related to comfort, pain, mentation, or changes in condition.
• Support patient comfort through positioning, warming, bedding changes, cleanliness, and attentive nursing care.
• Administer approved medications, subcutaneous fluids, and low-risk IV medications within VA2 scope.
• Perform technical skills including IV catheter placement and phlebotomy with supervision as appropriate.
• Assist with inpatient treatments and nursing care to support continuity of care and patient flow.

Surgical & Specialty Team Collaboration

• Work closely with surgery, anesthesia, specialty, and recovery teams to support seamless patient handoffs.
• Safely transport patients throughout the hospital for diagnostics, procedures, hospitalization, recovery, or discharge.
• Help prepare patients for transfer to inpatient teams or discharge.
• Participate in patient rounds and team communication to support continuity of care.

Client Communication & Discharge Support

• Assist with patient discharges, medication preparation, and client education support.
• Complete callback communication to check on patient recovery following discharge.
• Communicate professionally and compassionately with clients regarding recovery and care needs.
• Support communication with referring veterinary hospitals as directed.

Hospital Operations & Team Support

• Maintain clean, organized, and well-stocked recovery and treatment areas.
• Support cleaning and turnover of treatment and recovery spaces to help patients move efficiently through care.
• Prepare and maintain clean kennel environments.
• Assist with laundry, stocking, and general hospital organization.
• Drive the DoveLewis transport van as needed to support patient care.
• Contribute to a collaborative, fast-paced team environment focused on excellent patient outcomes.

What We’re Looking For

• Minimum one year of veterinary experience preferred, including experience with phlebotomy and IV catheter placement, or enrollment in an AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program.
• Strong interest in patient nursing care, surgery, recovery, or specialty medicine.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, team-oriented hospital environment.
• Strong communication, organization, and attention to detail.
• Compassionate approach to patient care and client interactions.
• Valid Oregon or Washington driver’s license required for patient transport responsibilities.

Why DoveLewis?

• Work alongside highly skilled emergency and specialty teams.
• Learn in a collaborative nonprofit teaching hospital environment.
• Gain exposure to advanced veterinary medicine and anesthesia recovery.
• Opportunities for training, growth, and professional development.
• Be part of a mission-driven organization making a meaningful difference in the lives of animals and their people.

If you are passionate about patient care, teamwork, and helping animals recover safely, we encourage you to apply and join the DoveLewis Recovery Team.

How to apply:

To be considered, you must complete the online application and upload a resume. Resumes received without a completed online application will not be considered.

DoveLewis is an equal opportunity employer dedicated to workforce diversity and a drug-free workplace. Pre-employment drug and background screening required.