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Position Function:

The Animal Health Technician (AHT) assigned to Large Animal Services After-Hours plays a critical role in delivering continuous, high-quality patient care during evening, nights, weekends, holidays, and emergency periods. Unlike daytime clinical positions that have immediate access to faculty clinicians, this position functions as the primary on-site clinical resource during after-hours operations.

The After-Hours Animal Health Technician is entrusted with the assessment, monitoring, and treatment of hospitalized patient while exercising independent judgment regarding patient status, treatment needs, emergency interventions, and the urgency of clinician notification.  This position serves as the direct link between hospitalized patients and the attending veterinarian and is essential to maintaining patient safety, welfare, and continuity of care when veterinary faculty are not physically present in the hospital.

The After-Hours Animal Health Technician position differs significantly from traditional daytime technician positions due to the level of autonomy, responsibility, and clinical judgment required.

Salary Grade:  12

Please see Staff Compensation Structure or Skilled Crafts and Service Maintenance Compensation Schedule for salary ranges.  For salary grade UC, these positions are "Unclassified" and salary ranges are determined by the hiring department.

Area of Specialization:

Large Animal

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Patient care and Medical Decision Support
• Independently monitor hospitalized large animal patients during assigned after-hours shifts.
• Evaluate patient condition and identify changes in health status, behavior, pain level, vital parameters, and treatment response.
• Determine when patient conditions warrant immediate intervention and when escalation to the attending clinician is necessary.
• Communicate detailed patient assessments and recommendations to clinicians during emergencies and significant patient events.
• Administer medications, treatments, intravenous fluids, blood products, and other prescribed therapies.
• Perform nursing care for critically ill, post-operative, and medically complex patients.
• Initiate emergency resuscitation and life-saving treatments as appropriate until veterinary directions are obtained.
• Maintain accurate medical records and treatment documentation.
• Perform routine laboratory testing and patient monitoring procedures as needed.
• Collect diagnostic samples and assist with diagnostic evaluations.

Clinical and Technical Support
• Perform or assist with diagnostic procedures.
• Schedule diagnostic procedures and coordinate use of diagnostic equipment.
• Operate, troubleshoot, clean, and maintain specialized medical equipment.
• Assist and/or support anesthesia during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as assigned.
• Assist in monitoring patients throughout anesthetic and recovery periods.
• Maintain treatment, procedure, and patient care areas.
• Maintain blood bank inventory and donor records.
• Assist with clinical research activities as assigned.

Teaching and Training
• Instruct, evaluate, and assist veterinary students, veterinary technology students, and Animal Health Technicians in technical healthcare procedures.
• Demonstrate proper animal restraint and handling techniques.
• Provide guidance regarding treatment schedules, patient monitoring, and clinical procedures.
• Serve as a clinical resource and mentor for students during assigned shifts.

Animal Handling
• Safely restrain, move, transport, and handle large and companion animals
• Utilize appropriate safety practices to protect patients, staff, and students.
• Assist with patient loading, unloading, transportation, and positioning.

Operational Responsibilities
• Maintain readiness of emergency equipment and treatment supplies.
• Ensure continuity of patient care through effective shift communication and transfer of information.
• Support hospital operations during emergency, weekend, holiday, and after-hours periods.
• Perform related duties as assigned.

• Serves as the sole on-site technical and patient care resource during designated after-hours periods.
• Functions without direct in-hospital clinical faculty oversight.
• Independently assesses patient condition and identifies emerging medical concerns.
• Makes critical decisions regarding the urgency of patient care needs and clinician notification. Serves as the first responder for hospitalized patient emergencies.
• Provides continuous care for critically ill, surgical, neonatal, and intensive-care patients overnight and during weekends.
• Exercises professional judgment in prioritizing multiple patients’ needs during high-acuity situations.
• Maintains operational continuity and patient safety when direct faculty support is not immediately available.
• Acts as the eyes and ears of the attending clinician, providing accurate assessments that directly influence medical decision-making.

This role requires a high degree of clinical expertise, situational awareness, accountability, and independent decision-making that significantly impacts patient outcomes and hospital operations.

Minimum Qualifications:

Trainee Level
High School Diploma or Equivalent. Must possess a veterinary technology or technician degree. Must obtain certification within 1 calendar year of hire.

Level I
High School Diploma or Equivalent. Certification as a Veterinary Technician plus 3 years of related experience.

Level II
High School Diploma or Equivalent. Certification as a Veterinary Technician plus 3 years’ experience as Technician I or 5 or more years’ experience in private practice or specialty practice.

Rank and salary will be commensurate with education and experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in large animal patient care
• Ability to work effectively with clinicians, staff, and students in a teaching hospital environment.
• Demonstrates commitment to professional, respectful communication and positive relationship-building with colleagues, students, clients, and faculty.
• Consistently fosters a collaborative and respectful work environment through professionalism, accountability, and constructive communication.
• Strong interpersonal skills with a commitment to teamwork, professionalism, and maintaining a positive workplace culture.
• Models’ respectful communication and professional behavior; contributes positively to a culture of teamwork, and mutual respect.
• Demonstrates emotional intelligence, professionalism, and collaborative behaviors that support a positive and productive clinical environment.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The individual in this role must possess advanced technical skills, strong critical-thinking abilities, excellent communication skills, and the confidence to make time-sensitive decisions in complex and rapidly changing situations.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to walk, stand, bend, stoop, and restrain large animals for extended periods.
• Ability to use hospital software, computers, and clinical equipment.

Instructions for Applying:

Link to apply:  http://explore.msujobs.msstate.edu/

Applicants must apply online at www.msujobs.msstate.edu. Please include a cover letter and resume along with names and addresses of at least three references.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.