Veterinary Assistant – Surgery

Up to $23.00/hour DOE | Full-Time | Honolulu, HI
Veterinary Emergency + Referral Center of Hawaii (VERC)

Ready to take your Veterinary Assistant skills into Specialty Surgery?

VERC is looking for an experienced Veterinary Assistant to join our Surgery team in Honolulu. You'll work alongside experienced veterinary professionals while building your skills in surgical assisting, anesthesia, patient monitoring, sterile technique, and pre- and post-operative care.

Surgery experience is a plus, but you don't need to know everything on day one. If you have strong hands-on veterinary skills and want to grow in Surgery and Anesthesia, we encourage you to apply.

Why Join the Surgery Team at VERC

This is an opportunity to take the skills you've already built and use them in a specialty environment while continuing to learn.

You'll gain hands-on exposure to:

• Specialty soft tissue and orthopedic surgery
• Anesthesia and advanced patient monitoring
• Surgical preparation and assisting
• Sterile technique and surgical instrumentation
• Pre-operative and post-operative patient care
• Advanced diagnostic and specialty medicine

Whether you're coming from General Practice, Emergency, Specialty, or another veterinary setting, this role can help you take the next step in your clinical career.

In Your Day-to-Day, You Will

• Assist the Surgery team with preparation and care of surgical patients.
• Prepare patients, surgical suites, equipment, and supplies for procedures.
• Assist with patient restraint, venipuncture, IV catheter placement, sample collection, and treatments within your permitted scope.
• Support anesthesia preparation, patient monitoring, positioning, and recovery.
• Assist during surgical procedures while maintaining sterile and aseptic technique.
• Clean, sterilize, organize, and maintain surgical instruments and equipment.
• Provide hands-on nursing care for pre-operative and post-operative patients.
• Monitor patient comfort and recovery and communicate changes to the medical team.
• Assist with diagnostic imaging and other components of surgical case preparation.
• Collaborate with veterinarians, Veterinary Technicians, Veterinary Assistants, and other hospital teams to provide exceptional patient care.

What You Bring

• Previous hands-on Veterinary Assistant, Vet Tech, or veterinary clinical experience.
• Strong animal handling, restraint, and patient-care skills.
• Experience with venipuncture, IV catheter placement, medications, or anesthesia monitoring is preferred.
• Surgery or surgical assisting experience is a plus, but not required.
• Familiarity with aseptic technique, sterile preparation, or surgical instrumentation is a plus.
• Strong attention to detail, communication, organization, and teamwork.
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced veterinary hospital while maintaining high standards of patient care.
• A desire to learn and continue developing your veterinary technical skills.

Veterinary Technician or RVT credentialing is welcome but not required for this Veterinary Assistant position.

Compensation & Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees
• 401(k) retirement plan
• Paid time off
• Life and disability insurance
• VetBloom continuing education
• Continuing Education and professional development opportunities
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Employee pet benefits where eligible
• Career advancement opportunities throughout VERC and Ethos Veterinary Health

Location Highlight

Build your veterinary career in Honolulu while working with a Specialty Surgery team. VERC welcomes veterinary professionals from throughout Oahu, including Honolulu, Pearl City, Aiea, Waipahu, Mililani, Kapolei, Ewa Beach, Kailua, Kaneohe, Hawaii Kai, and surrounding communities.

About Veterinary Emergency + Referral Center

VERC is a 24/7 Emergency & Specialty veterinary hospital providing advanced care to pets and families throughout Hawaii. Our collaborative team brings together Emergency and Specialty veterinary professionals committed to exceptional patient care and continued learning.

About Ethos Veterinary Health

Ethos Veterinary Health, part of the NVA Group, is a network of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals committed to advancing veterinary medicine through exceptional patient care, collaboration, education, and innovation.

Join Us

If you're an experienced Veterinary Assistant or Vet Tech who wants to build your skills in Surgery, Anesthesia, surgical assisting, and advanced patient care, we'd like to meet you.

Apply today and take the next step in your veterinary career with the Surgery team at VERC Hawaii.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ethos Veterinary Health is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are based on qualifications, competence, merit, and business need.