Multi-disciplinary Registered Veterinary Nurse – Wards and Theatre

About the Role

Dick White Referrals (DWR) is recruiting a passionate RVN to join their Wards and Theatre Nursing Team in a busy, purpose-built specialist practice. You’ll work on an alternating weekly rota between ward-based inpatient care and theatre nursing, gaining exposure to a wide variety of cases across all specialisms. This is a full-time permanent position with 40 hours per week spread across 5 x 8-hour shifts (06:30–19:00, Monday to Friday), plus participation in the theatre on-call rota including evenings, weekends and bank holidays.

Each day brings different challenges: during wards rotations, you’ll provide nursing care to inpatients across surgery, neurology, ophthalmology, medicine, oncology, cardiology and dermatology. In theatre, you’ll monitor anaesthesia and sedation, prepare patients, assist surgeons, handle specialist equipment (laparoscopy and fluoroscopy), and maintain meticulous records. The role suits newly qualified RVNs keen to develop in a referral setting, as well as experienced nurses who enjoy a fast-paced, varied environment. Training will be provided in both areas, with the opportunity to progress onto ECC wards rotations, mentorship roles or championship positions.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake nursing duties in both wards and theatre-based settings across all specialisms
• Administer treatments and medications as prescribed by the MRCVS
• Monitor and provide care for inpatients, including some critical care and infectious patients
• Admit patients to the purpose-built inpatient hub
• Independently perform patient handling, restraint, blood sampling, IV catheter placement, feeding tube and chest drain management, and urinary catheter care
• Accurately calculate and administer medications in various forms; dispense drugs in line with professional guidelines and practice policy
• Monitor patients under general anaesthesia and sedation; provide pre and post-procedure and recovery care
• Maintain accurate clinical records, anaesthetic and hospitalisation documentation, and invoicing
• Participate in ward rounds, team meetings and briefings; communicate clearly with colleagues across all levels
• Perform circulating and scrub nurse roles during surgical procedures
• Prepare patients for surgery thoroughly and promptly
• Assist PCAs and SVNs as required
• Manage stock and sterilisation equipment; use and maintain diagnostic and surgical equipment
• Undertake continuing professional development and required in-house training
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and infection control
• Comply with Health & Safety legislation and DWR policies; undertake other reasonable duties as practice needs dictate

Requirements

• Essential: Registered Veterinary Nurse qualification; previous veterinary nursing experience
• Preferred: Dip AVN, ECC or Veterinary Technician Specialist qualification; referral nursing experience
• IT literacy and highly organised with strong multitasking ability
• Ability to manage time and workload effectively across multiple stakeholders
• Confident, effective communicator with strong rapport-building skills
• Excellent all-round nursing skills and passion for outstanding patient and client care
• Team player who thrives in a supportive environment; able to use initiative and challenge the status quo
• Enthusiastic, positive, determined, articulate and confident; desire to progress and expand knowledge and skills

Benefits

• Salary: £28,500–£32,000 per annum depending on experience, plus on-call bonus
• Organised in-house CPD and dedicated CPD allowance
• Generous leave allowance and enhanced sick leave
• Pension scheme
• Private Medical cover and Personal Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Childcare Vouchers
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Enhanced equal family leave

About the Practice

Dick White Referrals is one of Europe’s largest specialist multi-disciplinary veterinary referral centres, offering outstanding clinical care in state-of-the-art facilities. The practice accepts referrals across anaesthesia, cardiology and cardiac surgery, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, neurology, neurosurgery, oncology, orthopaedic surgery, physiotherapy and soft tissue surgery. Many of the clinicians are nationally or internationally recognised specialists, and the practice has comprehensive clinical and non-clinical training, development and CPD programmes.

Dick White Referrals is part of Linnaeus, a forward-thinking partnership of primary care and referral practices across the UK and Ireland. Linnaeus is committed to excellence and its purpose: ‘A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS’. The group supports associates’ physical and mental health through Mental Health First Aiders and a confidential Employee Assistance Programme.