Experienced Veterinary Technician - Surgical Specialty

Overview

South Texas Veterinary Surgery is seeking a skilled and compassionate Experienced Veterinary Technician to join our specialized surgical team.

Location: 4522 De Zavala Rd, San Antonio, TX 78249

Pay: $22.00 - $25.00/hr starting, depending on experience & licensing.

STVS is an AAHA-Surgery Specialty accredited, privately owned, referral-only surgical specialty practice seeking a technician with a strong foundation in general practice who is eager to advance their skills in surgery and anesthesia. This role is ideal for someone who cares about quality medicine, thrives in a structured, high-standard environment, and is motivated to grow into an advanced surgical/anesthesia position with hands-on training.

We are committed to delivering exceptional perioperative care, with a strong emphasis on patient safety, advanced anesthesia monitoring, and multimodal pain management to ensure optimal comfort and outcomes for our patients.

In this role, you will work closely with our board-certified surgeon and talented surgical team to support advanced procedures and provide high-level patient care from admission through recovery.

All STVS technicians are expected to maintain a positive, collaborative work ethic across all practices within San Antonio Veterinary Specialists.

What Makes Someone Successful Here:

• Strong attention to detail and commitment to patient safety.
• Eagerness to learn and grow in surgical and anesthesia skills.
• Ability to follow structured protocols consistently.
• Strong interest in anesthesia, analgesia, and multimodal pain management.
• Calm, focused demeanor in a fast-paced surgical environment.
• Strong communication skills and team-oriented mindset.
• Pride in maintaining a clean, organized, and efficient workplace.

Core Responsibilities:

• Provide safe, attentive patient care throughout the perioperative period, including intake, anesthesia, surgery, and recovery.
• Obtain accurate patient histories, vital signs, and maintain detailed medical records using appropriate medical terminology.
• Place IV catheters and administer medications (PO, IV, IM, SQ) as directed.
• Perform and monitor anesthesia with a strong understanding of patient status, anesthetic depth, and potential complications.
• Assist the surgeon with medical exams and post-operative rechecks.
• Support teammates to maintain efficient surgical flow.
• Collect and prepare samples for in-house and reference laboratories.
• Administer medications and treatments, including analgesics, in alignment with established multimodal pain management protocols.
• Accurately calculate and administer medications, fluid rates, and constant rate infusions.
• Provide clear, compassionate communication with clients during discharge and post-operative care.
• Intake and discharge patients, including delivering thorough post-operative instructions in a competent and friendly manner.
• Prepare patients for surgery while maintaining sterility and safety standards.
• Demonstrate proficiency with anesthesia machines and ability to identify if equipment is not functioning appropriately.
• Monitor and record anesthetic parameters throughout surgery with a clear idea of abnormal conditions and anesthetic risks.
• Apply and maintain a variety of bandages.
• Maintain cleanliness and organization of pre-operative areas, O.R., exam rooms, and recovery area.
• Replenish supplies in all areas of the hospital throughout the shift as needed.

Skills to be Developed with Training:

• Develop and implement anesthetic plans for surgical patients based on patient needs and comorbidities.
• Advance proficiency in anesthesia monitoring, including use of ventilators and specialized equipment.
• Gain experience with specialty surgical procedures and instrumentation, including soft tissue and orthopedic cases.
• Scrub in for soft-tissue and orthopedic surgeries as skills progress.
• Develop a deeper understanding of multimodal pain management strategies and their application in surgical patients.
• Perform variety of local and regional blocks.
• Perform instrument care, sterilization, and operating room preparation at a high standard.

Basic Abilities:

• Professional appearance, grooming, and demeanor.
• Reliable attendance, punctuality, and strong time management.
• Ability to follow verbal and written instructions and established protocols.
• Physical ability to lift 40 pounds independently, and physical and manual dexterity to perform specialized technical tasks.
• Ability to walk, bend, stoop, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day.
• Familiarity with canine and feline anatomy and physiology.
• Basic Veterinary medical concepts, including surgical terminology.

Technicians who demonstrate growth and proficiency in advanced anesthesia and surgical skills will have opportunities for increased responsibility and compensation.

Education/licensing:

• Eligibility to work in the United States Required…