Veterinary Nurse

Job description

The Two Oceans Aquarium’s Curatorial Department is looking for an enthusiastic professional to join our dedicated team. The successful candidate will provide excellent animal care and support the collection, transportation, and release of specimens to and from the Aquarium safely and effectively.

The individual will be responsible for in-patient care of surgical and medical cases, anesthesia, nurse consultations and laboratory work.

Responsibilities include:

• Take instructions from the veterinarian in terms of the organizing of procedures and the administering of medication in cases seen at Two Oceans Aquarium and Broader Waterfront area.
• To ensure adequate stock take and ordering of medication.
• Take part in staff training in terms of nursing in animal health and maintain up to date CPD in related veterinary fields.
• Keep abreast of new developments in terms of medication and diagnostic equipment on the market, by research as well as communicating with representatives of the relevant companies.
• Identify potential opportunities and challenges with regards to duties at TOA, to assist in the formulation/development and implementation of the animal health department.
• Assisting the veterinary team with animal procedures, examinations, routine health walks and surgeries. This entails preparing for procedures, assisting during surgery and medical examinations of patients, making sure that all required procedural documentation for record keeping is maintained, and ensuring that all necessary equipment for such procedures is functioning properly and prepared in advance.
• Manage the animal health clinic/surgery and laboratories to ensure that it is maintained to the best standards.

Animal treatment:

• Work together with the veterinarian and animal care staff to ensure that clinical cases receive the treatment prescribed and also are seen for follow-up examinations when required.
• Dispensing and administering prescribed treatment when necessary.
• Recording changes in treatments and medical condition of animals receiving treatment.
• Making sure that the animals in our care receive preventative medication and examinations on time.

Medical data: Ensure that veterinary data such as medical reports, results and clinical findings are stored appropriately on Zims or other databases.

Laboratory: Ensure that samples submitted to our in-house laboratories (microbiology/cytology) are received and processed
Processes submitted blood samples and ensures that all machines are managed to best standards and maintained as required.

Health and safety: As the departmental hazardous chemical and medication supervisor to ensure that the hazardous chemical substances regulations are implemented properly due to the chemical content of general chemicals and medication.

Requirements

Requirements:

• Veterinary nursing diploma /degree preferred
• Animal health or veterinary technician with appropriate experience will be considered
• Two - five years’ relevant experience in the veterinary industry.
• Exotic/wildlife animal experience will be of benefit. Should be able to work with a wide variety of animals.
• Good communication, presentation, and report-writing skills
• Computer literacy and proficiency in the Microsoft Office software suite.
• Laboratory and staff management experience would be an advantage.

Personal competencies:

• Ability to organize, plan and resolve conflicting needs.
• Ability to co-ordinate a range of complex tasks and projects with multiple goals.
• Ability to establish, monitor, assess and correct operational procedures.
• Ability to communicate with confidence and clarity, through excellent verbal, written and presentation skill.
• High level of integrity and sense of responsibility.
• Able to instill trust.
• Ability to listen objectively, with patience and understanding, responding honestly and carefully when judging others.

Salary: Market related
Starting date: As soon as possible

Preference will be given to candidates who will add to the diversity of our organization. The Aquarium reserves the right not to make an appointment in the event that no suitable candidates apply for the position as advertised.

Posted on 19 May 15:39, Closing date 12 Jun