Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Emergency Veterinarian Relief

🎯 Role Definition

The Emergency Veterinarian Relief (Relief/Locum Emergency Vet) provides high-quality, short-term emergency and urgent care coverage for veterinary emergency hospitals, 24/7 ER clinics, and mixed-animal practices. This role is responsible for rapid triage, stabilization, diagnostics, emergency surgical and medical interventions, and compassionate client communication during after-hours, weekends, and high-volume shifts. Candidates must demonstrate excellent emergency decision-making, procedural competence (intubation, CPR, emergency surgery, fluid therapy, transfusion), and the ability to integrate quickly into existing teams and electronic medical record systems.

This position is often contracted through hospitals or locum agencies and emphasizes adaptability, independent clinical judgment, and a commitment to best-practice emergency medicine. SEO targets: emergency veterinarian relief, locum emergency vet, emergency vet duties, after-hours veterinary ER, critical care veterinarian.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

General Practice Veterinarian transitioning to emergency medicine
New or recent Emergency/Small Animal Rotating Intern completing internship
Locum/Temporary clinician seeking after-hours shifts

Advancement To:

Lead Emergency Veterinarian / ER Medical Director
Board-Certified Specialist in Emergency & Critical Care (DACVECC)
Regional Locum Chief Veterinarian or Clinical Operations Manager
Hospital Medical Director or Owner of an emergency practice

Lateral Moves:

Urgent Care Veterinarian (daytime urgent care clinics)
Critical Care Clinician or ICU Lead
Telemedicine Emergency Clinician / Virtual Emergency Triage Specialist

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Triage and assess walk-in, referred, and transferred emergency cases quickly and accurately to identify life-threatening conditions and prioritize care using established triage systems.
Stabilize critically ill or injured patients using advanced emergency techniques including airway management, oxygen therapy, mechanical ventilation support, and advanced life support protocols (CPR).
Perform emergency surgical procedures (e.g., exploratory laparotomy, splenectomy, foreign body removal, wound debridement) with sound perioperative decision-making and sterile technique.
Initiate and manage fluid therapy plans, electrolyte correction, and shock resuscitation including monitoring response to therapy and adjusting fluids, vasopressors, and colloids as indicated.
Interpret and act on emergency diagnostic imaging (thoracic and abdominal radiographs) and point-of-care ultrasound (FAST/POCUS) to support rapid clinical decisions.
Order, interpret, and act on laboratory diagnostics (CBC, chemistry, blood gas, coagulation panels, cytology, SNAP tests) to guide emergent treatment and disposition.
Administer and monitor blood product transfusions (whole blood, packed red blood cells, plasma) and manage transfusion reactions and compatibility checks.
Provide emergency airway management including endotracheal intubation, tracheostomy when indicated, and anesthetic stabilization for emergency procedures.
Develop and implement pain management and sedation plans appropriate for emergency cases and evaluate analgesia efficacy throughout care.
Deliver client-centered communication under stress: explain diagnoses, prognoses, procedures, and costs clearly and compassionately; obtain informed consent for emergent interventions.
Coordinate patient transfers and referrals to specialty services or tertiary care centers when advanced diagnostics or long-term intensive care are required.
Document patient encounters comprehensively in the hospital electronic medical record (EMR), ensuring legal and clinical completeness, discharge instructions, and continuity of care notes.
Lead emergency resuscitation teams during critical events, delegating tasks, assigning roles, and ensuring adherence to ACLS-like veterinary protocols.
Manage concurrent emergency caseloads effectively, balancing urgent procedures, triage, and ongoing patient monitoring while maintaining safety and quality of care.
Perform emergency dental procedures and extractions when dental trauma or severe oral disease compromises airway or systemic health.
Implement infection control, biosecurity, and isolation protocols for contagious or zoonotic patients within the emergency setting.
Evaluate and manage toxicology and poisoning cases, administering decontamination, antidotes, and supportive care according to current guidelines.
Supervise and mentor veterinary technicians, junior veterinarians, and veterinary students during shifts, providing on-the-job training in emergency procedures and triage.
Participate in morbidity and mortality reviews, quality improvement initiatives, and case reviews to refine emergency protocols and improve patient outcomes.
Ensure inventory and readiness of emergency equipment (oxygen systems, crash carts, ventilators, anesthetic machines) and medications; report and escalate deficiencies to hospital leadership.
Support on-call and surge staffing during disasters, high census periods, or regional emergencies, demonstrating flexibility for shift times including nights, weekends, and holidays.
Maintain continuing education in emergency and critical care best practices, infection control, anesthesia safety, and new diagnostic/therapeutic modalities.
Promote a culture of safety and empathy by modeling professional conduct with clients, colleagues, and support staff under high-stress scenarios.
Triage and manage large-animal emergency presentations when emergency hospital scope includes equine or farm animal support; coordinate field stabilization and transport logistics where appropriate.

Secondary Functions

Assist with onboarding and orientation for relief staff, providing hands-on walk-throughs of EMR workflow, clinic protocols, and emergency equipment layout.
Participate in cross-coverage planning with hospital leadership to optimize locum schedules, continuity of care, and reduced burnout for permanent staff.
Contribute to clinic-level marketing or client education initiatives related to emergency preparedness, post-op care, and preventive strategies to reduce ER visits.
Support teletriage and virtual consults when integrated into hospital after-hours workflow, documenting recommendations and follow-up plans.
Help maintain hospital accreditation standards, ensuring compliance with state regulations, controlled substance logs, and controlled drug reconciliation during shift handoff.
Engage in peer feedback and case debriefing sessions to enhance team performance and clinical guidelines.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Advanced emergency triage and rapid patient assessment for small and/or large animals
Proficient in emergency surgical techniques including spay/neuter complications, exploratory laparotomy, and wound management
Airway management and anesthetic induction for unstable patients (intubation, ventilator basics)
Mechanical ventilation support and monitoring fundamentals
Proficient with point-of-care ultrasound (FAST, thoracic/abdominal POCUS) for emergency decision-making
Interpretation of thoracic and abdominal radiographs in emergency contexts
Emergency pharmacology: analgesics, sedatives, vasopressors, anti-arrhythmics, antidotes for common toxins
Blood product administration, compatibility testing, and transfusion reaction management
Advanced life support in animals (CPR leadership, resuscitation algorithms)
IV catheter placement, central line basics, and placement of emergency drains/ports
Interpretation and use of point-of-care labs (blood gas analysis, lactate, coagulation panels)
Electronic medical record (EMR) proficiency and accurate, legal medical documentation
Basic suturing and wound closure under emergency conditions
Knowledge of zoonotic disease precautions and isolation procedures

Soft Skills

Calm, decisive clinical decision-making under pressure
Concise and compassionate client communication, especially during critical conversations
Strong teamwork and interprofessional collaboration with technicians, specialists, and support staff
Rapid prioritization and multitasking in a high-volume emergency environment
Teaching and mentoring skills for training technicians, interns, and relief veterinarians
Professionalism and ethical judgment in urgent and emotionally charged situations
Flexibility and adaptability to changing protocols, shift locations, and variable caseloads
Time management and efficiency without sacrificing patient safety
Conflict resolution and de-escalation techniques with distressed clients or staff
Cultural competence and sensitivity to diverse client populations

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) from an AVMA-accredited institution (or equivalent)
Valid state veterinary license and veterinary controlled substances registration where applicable

Preferred Education:

Internship in small animal emergency medicine or rotating internship
Residency or board certification (DACVECC) or advanced emergency/critical care certifications (e.g., ACVECC, EVPC continuing education)
Advanced training in ultrasound, critical care, or anesthesiology

Relevant Fields of Study:

Veterinary Medicine
Emergency & Critical Care
Small Animal Surgery / Internal Medicine
Large Animal Emergency Medicine (if applicable)

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 1–7+ years of clinical veterinary experience, with 1–3+ years specifically in emergency, urgent care, or critical care settings preferred.

Preferred:

2+ years of dedicated emergency/critical care experience in a high-volume ER or specialty hospital
Prior locum/relief experience or demonstrated ability to integrate quickly into new hospital teams
Demonstrated competence in emergency surgery, airway management, and blood transfusions
Experience supervising technicians and mentoring junior clinicians