Vet Tech Internship

Position Title : Vet Tech Internship

Department : Internship

Supervisor : MJ Fehlhaber, Hospital Keeper

Duration : Minimum of 6 weeks, up to length of semester

The Nashville Zoo Veterinary Department is offering an externship for students currently enrolled to be Licensed Veterinary Technicians working towards a career in exotic animal medicine. This externship is offered for 8 to 10 weeks in the summer, more specifically from June to August.

Purpose

The Veterinary Technician extern assists in every aspect of the medical care of the

Nashville Zoo animal collection including procedures, assessing samples collected

during procedures and animal husbandry of animals in the care of the veterinary

department.

Key Responsibilities

–Work with three full-time veterinarians, three full time licensed veterinary technicians, and two full-time hospital keepers.

• Assist with monitoring on anesthetized animals using pulse oximetry, EKG, blood pressure, and blood gas machines, and to recognize normal and abnormal values.
• Assist veterinary staff in recognizing and correcting animal medical emergencies
• Assist with intensive care for critical animals under the direction of the veterinary staff
• Learn animal handling techniques of exotic animals to assist veterinarians and keepers in administering treatments
• Understand and perform, setup, use and cleaning procedures for all medical equipment and instruments utilized by the veterinarians
• Provide backup laboratory support for medical technicians, including hematology, parasitology, and microbiology
• Assist veterinarians or pathologist in basic necropsy procedures and sample collection
• Assist with day to day operations of the zoo’s medical procedures including preventative and emergency care including examinations, clinical procedures, surgery and necropsy.
• Assist with tasks that keep the hospital function smoothly including stocking of medical supplies, wrapping surgical equipment, and maintaining the cleanliness of the hospital.
• Assist with animal husbandry of hospitalized patients and quarantine animals as needed.
• Responsible for presenting a 30-60 minute presentation towards the end of their externship to the animal care staff on either a current, pertinent topic or on a research project performed by the student.

Qualifications

Desired Skills

Benefits to Intern

Note : Nashville Zoo Internships are unpaid. We are unable to provide housing or reimbursement for travel expenses. Academic requirements for institution credit are the responsibility of the student intern to fulfill. Nashville Zoo will make every effort to support the student in their academic goals as they relate to the internship position outlined in the provided position description.

Please Note : Due to strict animal husbandry guidelines and safety issues, there is no animal contact or inside exhibit work with the animals in the Zoo. Remember, this is for their safety and well-being as well as yours.

Submission Details :

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Salary