Registered Veterinary Nurse – Small Animal

About the Role

Sussex Coast Vets is seeking an enthusiastic Registered Veterinary Nurse to join its well-established multi-site practice serving the Hastings and Bexhill area. This full-time position offers genuine variety: your days will rotate between in-patient care, theatre duties, imaging assistance, lab work, and consulting support. You’ll work with a high caseload across a practice equipped with digital X-ray, Doppler ultrasound, endoscopy, blood analysers, and a full diagnostic and laboratory suite.

This is a 40-hour working week completed over either four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days, with one in four Saturday shifts (hours credited back during the week). The location offers excellent lifestyle balance—you’re right on the East Sussex coast with stunning countryside and vibrant local arts and leisure scenes, plus convenient transport links: Brighton is 45 minutes away, Central London 1 hour by train, and Gatwick Airport 1 hour by car or train.

Key Responsibilities

• Rotate through in-patient nursing care, theatre support, and assisted procedures
• Assist with imaging studies including digital X-ray and ultrasound (Doppler)
• Support diagnostic and laboratory analysis using on-site equipment
• Contribute to consulting room duties alongside the veterinary team
• Maintain clinical excellence and high standards of patient care across a varied caseload
• Collaborate with a team of 3 vets (including certificate holders in surgery, cardiology, medicine, ophthalmology, and exotic interests), 6 nurses, and 6 receptionists

Requirements

• Current RVN registration (or equivalent recognised qualification)
• Demonstrable commitment to clinical excellence and teamwork
• Enthusiasm for varied small animal nursing work
• Professional communication and client care skills

Benefits

• Leave & Flexibility: 6.6 weeks annual leave plus your birthday as a paid day off, with increasing allowance based on length of service
• Professional Development: £550 CPD allowance with 24 hours paid pro rata, certificate support, access to IVC Evidensia Academy, Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia, research funding opportunities, and quality improvement programmes
• Wellbeing & Support: Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay, private medical insurance, cycle to work scheme, discounted gym membership, non-accidental injury support, and wellbeing initiatives
• Professional Support: VDS cover and RCVS fees paid
• Financial & Reward: Competitive base salary up to £35,500 per annum, pension (5% employee/3% employer), Pawsome Benefits (reward gateway with discounts and cashback), and discounted staff pet care

About the Practice

Sussex Coast Vets opened in May 2009 as a single-vet, single-nurse operation and has grown into a thriving multi-site practice serving the Hastings and Bexhill area. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia and maintains a gold-standard approach to patient and client care. The team comprises experienced veterinarians with multiple qualifications across surgery, medicine, cardiology, ophthalmology, and exotic animal interests, supported by a cohesive nursing and reception team.

The practice is committed to investing in its people, premises, and processes. Kind, friendly, and fun describe the team culture—a place where clinical excellence, teamwork, and genuine patient care are at the heart of everything they do.