Job Description

Position Summary:

The CSU VTH exists to provide exceptional veterinary care and service to the community while educating the next generation of veterinarians at a tertiary level teaching hospital. Critical Care Services provides medical care for small animals and exotics on an emergency basis and intensive 24-hour care to patients who are admitted for extended treatment. We simultaneously provide clinical instruction to professional veterinary medical students, interns, residents, veterinary technicians, graduate veterinarians, and others; conduct and support clinical research; and provide referral outreach to clients and referring veterinarians.

For full consideration, please apply by 11:59 PM (MT) on September 27, 2026. This position will remain open until filled.

Essential Job Duties:

• Provide comprehensive critical care nursing for small animal and exotic patients, including triage, assessment, stabilization, treatment, monitoring, restraint, and ongoing evaluation of patient status.
• Perform advanced clinical and technical procedures such as venous, arterial, and urinary catheterization; fluid and drug administration; blood sampling and analysis; diagnostic monitoring; emergency anesthesia; thoracocentesis; pericardiocentesis; positive pressure ventilation; and initiation and direction of CPR.
• Assess patient response to therapy, identify clinically significant changes, and recommend or implement appropriate adjustments to treatment plans using approved protocols and SOPs.
• Collaborate with students, interns, residents, faculty clinicians, referring veterinarians, and clients to support diagnosis, treatment planning, and delivery of optimal patient care.
• Provide clinical instruction, mentoring, and feedback to students, trainees, and staff; assist with orientation and training of new personnel; and model high-quality veterinary nursing care.
• Communicate effectively with clients and referring or primary veterinarians to obtain history, provide medical updates, guide decision making, and facilitate coordinated care.
• Organize, prioritize, and direct unit activities during assigned shifts, ensuring timely completion and documentation of treatments and adherence to hospital policies and procedures.

Supervision:

No formal supervisory authority.

Conditions of Employment:

• Pre-employment Criminal Background Check (required for new hires).
• Essential Services Designation.
• Shift Work.
• On-call Status.
• Use, Handling, or Exposure to hazardous materials.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Graduate of accredited veterinary technician program with greater than 2 years’ experience in veterinary medicine.
• Registered as a Veterinary Technician (VT) or Provisional Veterinary Technician (PVT) through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).

SUBSTITUTIONS: Candidates can qualify without graduation from a veterinary technician program if they demonstrate 3+ years of veterinary medicine experience.

NOTE: VETERINARY PRACTICE ACT – Effective January 1, 2024, anyone wanting to use the titles Registered Veterinary Technician, Veterinary Technician, RVT, or VT will have to be certified through the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) AND registered through the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). Please visit the CACVT website for more information: https://www.cacvt.org/registration-faqs.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Two+ years of experience in an emergency and/or critical care position.
• Demonstrated experience providing customer service in a fast-paced environment (e.g.: high traffic, stressful, or rapid problem solving).
• A strong desire to learn and advance medical and technical knowledge base.
• Ability to proactively teach and encourage in a supportive manner.
• Ability to be compassionate and empathetic to clients in emotional situations.
• Demonstrated experience working with a team and managing conflict.
• Strong attention to detail and analytical skills.
• Ability to problem-solve and critically think through situations/scenarios.
• Prioritization and organizational skills.

Salary Range

Required Application Documents

To apply, please upload the following applicant documents. Ensure your materials fully address the required and preferred job qualifications of the position. Please note, applicants may redact information from their application materials that identifies their age, date of birth, or dates of attendance at or graduation from an educational institution.

Employee Benefits

Colorado State University is not just a workplace; it’s a thriving community that’s transforming lives and improving the human condition through world-class teaching, research, and service. With a robust benefits package, collaborative atmosphere, and focus on work-life balance, CSU is where you can thrive, grow, and make a lasting impact.

• Review our detailed benefits information here.

• Explore the additional perks of working at CSU here.

• For the total value of CSU benefits in addition to wages, use our compensation calculator.

• Lastly, click here for more information about why Fort Collins is consistently ranked in the top cities to live in!

Background Check Policy Statement

Colorado State University strives to provide a safe study, work, and living environment for its faculty, staff, volunteers and students. To support this environment and comply with applicable laws and regulations, CSU conducts background checks for the finalist before a final offer. The type of background check conducted varies by position and can include, but is not limited to, criminal history, sex offender registry, motor vehicle history, financial history, and/or education verification. Background checks will also be conducted when required by law or contract and when, in the discretion of the University, it is reasonable and prudent to do so.

EEO

Colorado State University (CSU) provides equal employment opportunities to all applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.