Senior Surgical RVN

About the Role

Calder Vets Dewsbury is seeking an experienced Surgical Registered Veterinary Nurse to take a prominent role in their busy theatre department. This is a full-time position working 40 hours per week, offering the chance to work with advanced anaesthesia and monitoring equipment whilst supporting a structured surgical programme.

You’ll work alongside a dedicated surgical team including a Lead Surgical Nurse, rotating nurses, student veterinary nurses and patient care assistants. The role involves both circulating and anaesthesia nursing across theatre suites, managing patient preparation, monitoring and recovery, and contributing to the hospital’s wider clinical initiatives. You’ll have exposure to a diverse first-opinion, referral and emergency caseload, providing genuine opportunities for professional development and career progression.

Key Responsibilities

• Prepare theatre suites, equipment and surgical kits for daily procedures
• Serve as both circulating nurse and anaesthesia nurse across theatre cases
• Prepare patients and monitor them throughout anaesthesia and recovery phases
• Maintain accurate clinical records including anaesthetic sheets, kennel sheets and hospitalisation notes
• Complete all safety and anaesthetic machine checks before theatre lists
• Manage surgical kit maintenance, tray lists and storage systems; train new nursing team members
• Report equipment faults and complete maintenance checks
• Uphold high standards of hygiene and infection control protocols
• Participate in daily huddles, team briefings and patient handovers
• Liaise with the Lead Surgical Nurse to keep owners appropriately updated on patient progress
• Support clinical audits, research and development projects
• Engage with practice initiatives including PSS, CFC, DFC, RFC and IIE Silver accreditation
• Support induction and ongoing development of new nursing colleagues
• Attend internal and external CPD and share learning across the team
• Maintain compliance with Health & Safety and GDPR requirements
• Promote and engage with practice systems including Halo

Requirements

• Qualified and RCVS-registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN)
• Ideally 5+ years post-registration experience
• Confident and experienced in anaesthesia and theatre nursing
• Strong team player with excellent communication and organisational skills
• Proactive, enthusiastic and self-motivated approach
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced hospital environment
• Passionate about delivering exceptional patient and client care
• Experience in a hospital or referral setting is desirable but not essential

Clinical Development & Exposure

You’ll gain hands-on experience with advanced anaesthesia and analgesia techniques including CRIs, nerve blocks and epidurals. Training will be provided on state-of-the-art monitoring equipment including blood pressure monitoring, capnography, ECG and arterial blood gas analysis. The diverse caseload across first-opinion, referral and emergency work provides excellent opportunities for professional growth.

Benefits

• Leave: 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• Professional support: RCVS and VDS fees paid; funded external CPD; extensive free online Linnaeus CPD programme
• Career development: Clear progression opportunities within the surgical team and wider practice
• Financial: Staff discount schemes; life assurance; employer contribution pension scheme; e-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Wellbeing: Enhanced sickness pay; enhanced equal family leave; Employee Assistance Programme; Mental Health First Aiders available; eyecare voucher scheme; free annual flu jab; cycle to work scheme
• Other: Recruitment referral reward scheme

About Calder Vets Dewsbury

Calder Vets Dewsbury is part of Linnaeus, a progressive veterinary group owned by Mars Veterinary Health. The practice operates as a busy hospital setting with dedicated surgical facilities, offering first-opinion, referral and emergency care. The team is structured to support both clinical excellence and staff wellbeing, with investment in advanced equipment and ongoing professional development.

Linnaeus is committed to supporting the physical and mental wellbeing of all Associates through a confidential Employee Assistance Programme, Mental Health First Aiders and wellbeing initiatives across all practices and central support teams.