Registered Veterinary Nurse – Wards & Theatre

About the Role

This is a full-time permanent or fixed-term position based at Dick White Referrals (DWR) in Newmarket, Cambridge – one of Europe’s largest specialist multi-disciplinary veterinary referral centres. You’ll work a 40-hour week across alternate rotations in both wards and theatre, operating within state-of-the-art facilities equipped for surgical and diagnostic excellence.

The role alternates between two distinct environments: during wards rotations, you’ll provide inpatient nursing care across multiple disciplines (Surgery, Neurology, Oncology, Cardiology, Medicine, Dermatology, Feline, and Ophthalmology), working in small teams to ensure excellent patient care and clear communication. During theatre rotations, you’ll manage sedation and anaesthesia monitoring, perform surgical preparation and assistance, handle specialist equipment including laparoscopy and fluoroscopy, and maintain meticulous records. Each day brings variety and challenge – nursing at DWR is demanding and busy, but deeply rewarding.

Key Responsibilities

• Undertake nursing duties in both wards and theatre-based settings, alternating weekly
• Administer prescribed treatments and medications under MRCVS direction
• Provide care and monitoring of inpatients, including critical care and infectious cases
• Admit patients from the referring MRCVS within the purpose-built inpatient hub
• Independently perform nursing tasks including patient handling and restraint, blood sampling, IV catheter placement, feeding tube and chest drain management, and urinary catheter care
• Calculate and administer drugs accurately in various forms, and dispense medications in line with professional guidelines
• Maintain high standards of hygiene and demonstrate excellent infection control practices
• Monitor and support patients under general anaesthesia and sedation
• Provide pre- and post-operative nursing care including recovery support
• Maintain accurate clinical records, anaesthetic documentation, and hospitalisation records
• Participate in ward rounds, team meetings, and briefings with clear professional communication
• Assist with stock management and sterilisation equipment maintenance
• Perform circulating and scrub nurse roles during surgical procedures
• Prepare surgical patients thoroughly and efficiently
• Undertake continuing professional and personal development, including required in-house training
• Support colleagues including PCAs and SVNs as required
• Comply with Health & Safety legislation and DWR policies
• Participate in the theatre on-call rota, including evenings, weekends, and bank holidays

Requirements

• Essential:
  • Registered Veterinary Nurse qualification
  • Previous veterinary nursing experience
  • IT literate
  • Highly organised with multitasking ability
  • Ability to manage time and workload effectively
  • Confident, effective communicator who builds rapport quickly
  • Ability to work with multiple stakeholders at all levels
  • Excellent all-round nursing skills
  • Passion for outstanding client and patient care
  • Team player with enthusiasm and positivity
  • Ability to use initiative and challenge the status quo
• Preferred:
  • Dip AVN (Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing)
  • ECC (Emergency & Critical Care) qualification
  • Veterinary Technician Specialist qualification
  • Referral nursing experience

Benefits

• Competitive salary: £28,500–£32,000 per annum depending on experience, plus on-call bonus
• Organised in-house CPD programme
• Dedicated CPD allowance
• Pension scheme
• Generous leave allowance
• Private Medical cover access
• Personal Health Insurance
• Life Assurance
• Childcare Vouchers
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Enhanced family leave (inclusive of all family structures)
• Enhanced sick leave
• Access to confidential Employee Assistance Programme
• Mental Health First Aider support across the organisation
• Opportunity to progress to Clinical Supervisor/Mentor roles
• Pathway to ECC wards rotations following training completion

About the Practice

Dick White Referrals (DWR) is one of Europe’s largest specialist multi-disciplinary veterinary referral centres, housed in purpose-built facilities with state-of-the-art surgical equipment and diagnostic capabilities. The practice accepts referrals across several specialisms: Anaesthesia, Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, Dermatology, Diagnostic Imaging, Emergency and Critical Care, Internal Medicine, Neurology and Neurosurgery, Oncology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Physiotherapy, and Soft Tissue Surgery. Many clinicians are nationally or internationally recognised specialists. DWR operates comprehensive clinical and non-clinical development programmes with a strong emphasis on training, CPD, and career progression. The practice is part of Linnaeus, a company of Mars Veterinary Health.