Job Description

New Graduate Veterinary Technicians/Nurses

This role is responsible for all aspects of patient care in the large animal hospital, including performing treatments, basic procedures, emergency management, and teaching.

A Day in the Life: A New Veterinary Technician at Ryan Hospital

It's your first week at Penn Vet's Ryan Hospital, and your nerves are real—but so is the excitement. You've just graduated from tech school, passed the VTNE, and now you're standing in the middle of one of the busiest veterinary teaching hospitals in the country. You were ready for the challenge—and Ryan Hospital is ready for you.

Your shift starts at 7:00 AM. You grab a cup of coffee and meet up with your assigned mentor, a mid-career veterinary technician who remembers exactly what it was like to be in your shoes. You head to rounds together and start reviewing the caseload for the day.

You help place IV catheters, prep medications, monitor vitals, and observe as a senior tech calmly walks through RECOVER protocols during an emergency. You're not just watching—you're learning by doing, building confidence with each skill.

A little later, you assist with patient treatments. You carefully check fluid lines and administer medications, asking questions and getting real-time feedback from your team. A student asks for help with restraint, and you're able to step in. You're starting to feel like you belong here.

By lunch, you're grabbing a bite with your coworkers. You talk about the incredible variety of cases you've already seen—parvo puppies, trauma patients, a diabetic cat in crisis. This isn't your typical GP caseload you've been accustomed to, but you know this is exactly where you're supposed to be.

Your mentor checks in mid-afternoon to go over your training goals. You're surprised how much you've already done—and how supported you feel. There's a clear path forward, with options to rotate through departments, get CE credits, and even pursue VTS certification if that's where your passion leads.

At the end of your shift, you're tired—but proud. You've made a difference. You've learned from the best. And you know that tomorrow, you'll grow even more. This isn't just a job. It's a launch pad for your veterinary nursing career.

Why Start Your Career at Ryan Hospital?

• Mentorship & onboarding designed for new graduates
• Access to specialty services, including Emergency, ICU, Surgery, Neurology, Anesthesia, and Internal Medicine
• Exposure to a wide range of cases and procedures—over 34,000 visits per year
• Supportive, inclusive team culture where questions are encouraged and growth is expected
• Professional development, CE reimbursement, and career planning resources
• Pathways toward Veterinary Technician Specialty (VTS) certification
• Work-life balance with flexible scheduling, generous PTO, and health benefits
• The opportunity of working at a top-tier academic veterinary hospital

What You Need to Apply

• Recent graduate of an AVMA-accredited Veterinary Technology program
• Eligible for Pennsylvania veterinary technician licensure
• Curiosity, compassion, and a drive to grow in a fast-paced, teaching-focused environment

Take the First Step Toward Your Future

You bring the passion. We'll help you build the skills. Start your career at a hospital that invests in your success from day one.

Job Location - City, State

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Department / School

School of Veterinary Medicine

Pay Range

Salary offers are made based on the candidate's qualifications, experience, skills, and education as they directly relate to the requirements of the position, and in alignment with salary ranges based on external market data for the job's level. Internal organization and peer data at Penn are also considered.

Equal Opportunity Statement

The University of Pennsylvania is an equal opportunity employer. Candidates are considered for employment without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, religion, creed, national origin (including shared ancestry or ethnic characteristics), citizenship status, age, disability, veteran status or any class protected under applicable federal, state or local law.

Special Requirements Background checks may be required after a conditional job offer is made. Consideration of the background check will be tailored to the requirements of the job.

University Benefits

• Health, Life, and Flexible Spending Accounts : Penn offers comprehensive medical, prescription, behavioral health, dental, vision, and life insurance benefits to protect you and your family's health and welfare. You can also use flexible spending accounts to pay for eligible health care and dependent care expenses with pre-tax dollars.
• Tuition : Take advantage of Penn's exceptional tuition benefits. You, your spouse, and your dependent children can get tuition assistance here at Penn. Your dependent children are also eligible for tuition assistance at other institutions.
• Retirement: Penn offers generous retirement plans to help you save for your future. Penn's Basic, Matching, and Supplemental retirement plans allow you to save for retirement on a pre-tax or Roth basis. Choose from a wide variety of investment options through TIAA and Vanguard.
• Time Away from Work: Penn provides you with a substantial amount of time away from work during the course of the year. This allows you to relax, take vacations, attend to personal affairs, recover from illness or injury, spend time with family—whatever your personal needs may be.
• Long-Term Care Insurance: In partnership with Genworth Financial, Penn offers faculty and staff (and your eligible family members) long-term care insurance to help you cover some of the costs of long-term care services received at home, in the community or in a nursing facility. If you apply when you're newly hired, you won't have to provide proof of good health or be subject to underwriting requirements. Eligible family members must always provide proof of good health and are subject to underwriting.
• Wellness and Work-life Resources : Penn is committed to supporting our faculty and staff as they balance the competing demands of work and personal life. That's why we offer a wide variety of programs and resources to help you care for your health, your family, and your work-life balance.
• Professional and Personal Development: Penn provides an array of resources to help you advance yourself personally and professionally.
• University Resources: As a member of the Penn community, you have access to a wide range of University resources as well as cultural and recreational activities. Take advantage of the University's libraries and athletic facilities, or visit our arboretum and art galleries. There's always something going on at Penn, whether it's a new exhibit at the Penn Museum, the latest music or theater presentation at the Annenberg Center, or the Penn Relays at Franklin Field to name just a few examples. As a member of the Penn community, you're right in the middle of the excitement—and you and your family can enjoy many of these activities for free.
• Discounts and Special Services : From arts and entertainment to transportation and mortgages, you'll find great deals for University faculty and staff. Not only do Penn arts and cultural centers and museums offer free and discounted admission and memberships to faculty and staff. You can also enjoy substantial savings on other goods and services such as new cars from Ford and General Motors, cellular phone service plans, movie tickets, and admission to theme parks.
• Flexible Work Hours: Flexible work options offer creative approaches for completing work while promoting balance between work and personal commitments. These approaches involve use of non-traditional work hours, locations, and/or job structures.
• Penn Home Ownership Services: Penn offers a forgivable loan for eligible employees interested in buying a home or currently residing in West Philadelphia, which can be used for closing costs or home improvements.
• Adoption Assistance: Penn will reimburse eligible employees on qualified expenses in connection with the legal adoption of an eligible child, such as travel or court fees, for up to two adoptions in your household.

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