Ward Attendant - Wildlife Clinic

The Department of Infectious Disease and Global Health combines public/population health, international medicine, wildlife and conservation medicine and infectious disease teaching and research. The department's goal is to improve human, animal, and ecosystem health locally, nationally, and internationally.

The Wildlife Clinic is a teaching hospital. All fourth-year students rotate through this section. The Clinic provides diagnostic, surgical, and professional consultation services for diverse wildlife species native to New England and works with local zoos and aquaria. The Clinic serves the six New England states. The mission of the Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University is to:

• Educate and engage veterinary students in the practice of wildlife medicine as well as the larger ethical and conservation issues that impact wildlife individuals and populations
• Provide humane, appropriate, and best achievable medical care and rehabilitation for wildlife patients with the goal of eventual release back to the wild
• Advance knowledge in the fields of wildlife and conservation medicine through high quality research activities with the goal of improving the well-being of wildlife individuals and populations
• Serve as an educational resource for veterinarians, wildlife rehabilitators, government agencies, and the general public

The Ward Attendant supports the Wildlife Clinic by ensuring a clean and neat environment for all wild animal patients. The wildlife ward attendant works with clinical staff assisting with the medical and husbandry needs for different species of wildlife, keeping up with facility maintenance, and will assist veterinary students and volunteers with husbandry needs. In addition, the staff will care for, maintain husbandry needs, and monitor wildlife patients in the nursery during the busy spring and summer season. The attendant will work with clinic staff and have an active role in the training of work-study students, volunteers, and other temporary help in the clinic and in the nursery. Weekend and holiday coverage will be required.

Essential Care as a Ward Attendant will be:

Cleaning

• In accordance with hospital cleaning protocols, maintain a clean and healthy environment for patients housed in the Wildlife Clinic by cleaning and sanitizing hospital facilities. This includes the general cleanliness and maintenance of the entire clinic. Laundry, sweeping, mopping and other general maintenance tasks. Keeping track of animal room inventory, stock items throughout the clinic, clean and sterilize surgical equipment. Maintain an adequate level of supplies. Maintain daily care & cleaning of patients and associated facility. Assist wildlife clinicians, staff and students as needed.
  

Patient Care

• Participate in the care and feeding of the animals, which includes cage cleaning, husbandry, and assisting with medical treatments, and diet preparation as needed. Provide individual patient care per direction of clinician/intern/tech. Some record keeping. Creation of educational materials and clinic resources, as well as updating clinic learning materials as needed.
  

Nursery and Front Desk Coverage

• Work with other Clinic staff to care for, maintain husbandry needs, and monitor wildlife patients in the nursery. Utilize WRMD, the clinic's record keeping software; admittance and disposition of patients; assist with animal placement as needed. If needed, assist with front desk coverage, including answering phone calls from the general public and admitting patients. Must be capable of projecting a professional and knowledgeable manner. Duties will vary seasonally.
  

Training

• Assist Senior staff with the training of new volunteers, students, and temporary help.

Other Duties as Assigned by Supervisors

• Assist Senior staff with special projects on an as-needed basis.
  
  

Basic Requirements:

• Years of related experience required: 3+ of related experience
• Required education: Bachelor's degree
• Special licenses required: Valid US Driver's license
• Required computer/technical skills: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and Adobe Acrobat.
• Other (Describe - i.e., lifting, domestic/foreign travel, foreign language): Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. with or without accommodation; Ability to work independently, under supervision, and as part of a team.
  
  

Preferred Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in related field of study
• Leadership experience
• Ability to work on a team
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Hospital/Clinical experience
• Experience in wildlife education
• Knowledge and state and federal wildlife regulations