About the Role
You'll join a friendly, nurse-led inpatient team at Eastcott Vets, a leading referral and primary care hospital. This role combines the best of both worlds: you'll maintain your core GP nursing skills while gaining exposure to complex, multi-disciplinary referral cases in an integrated wards and ICU setting. The rota is published 8 weeks in advance, giving you excellent visibility of your schedule.
Working 40 hours across typically four 10-hour days, you'll rotate through early shifts (7am–5pm), mid shifts (8:30am–6:30pm or 10am–8pm), and late shifts (12pm–10pm), with a 1 in 8 weekend commitment and time off in lieu the following week. Paid lunch breaks are included: 1 hour for 10-hour shifts, 30 minutes for 8-hour shifts. This is a full-time permanent position ideally suited to nurses with at least 1 year post-qualification experience, though the team remains open to less experienced candidates who are the right fit.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide high-quality inpatient nursing care across wards and ICU departments
- Work with patients from multiple surgical and medical disciplines: neurology, soft tissue, orthopaedics, dentistry, ophthalmology, internal medicine, and cardiology
- Rotate through general ward and ICU shifts, applying your skills to both primary care and complex referral caseloads
- Contribute to a collaborative team environment by sharing ideas and advocating for your patients
- Participate in ongoing professional development and clinical skill progression
- Support the smooth running of the department as part of a balanced, experienced nursing team
Requirements
- Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) qualification
- Minimum 1 year post-qualification experience (particularly valued if from primary care)
- Keen interest in inpatient care and ICU/emergency medicine development
- Proactive, forward-thinking approach with motivation to develop clinical skills
- Ability to work shifts including early mornings, late finishes, and weekends
- Referral experience beneficial but not essential
Support & Induction
- Structured induction plan with gradual progression onto full shifts
- Two weeks of shadowing, including at least one week with dedicated ward/ICU nurses
- Early one-to-one check-ins with skills list support
- Mentorship from a balanced team with 1–7 years post-qualification experience
Benefits
- 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays and birthday day
- Life Assurance: 4× salary
- Pension Scheme: 3% employer / 5% employee (salary sacrifice)
- Enhanced equal family leave and enhanced sickness policy
- e-Cars salary sacrifice scheme and Cycle to Work scheme
- Pet Insurance discount
- RCVS and VDS fees paid
- CPD allowance and allocated CPD days
- Access to extensive clinical and non-clinical learning and development programmes
- Benefits Hub discount platform
- Reduced gym membership (Pure Gym)
- Associate Assistance Programme, Eye Care Scheme, Headspace app, and Annual Flu Voucher
About the Practice
Eastcott Vets is part of Linnaeus, a forward-thinking partnership of highly-respected primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, and is owned by Mars Veterinary Health—the largest family-owned veterinary company in the world. Being privately owned, Linnaeus is driven by purpose rather than short-term profits, with over 6,000 Associates empowered to speak up, step up, and deliver quality services.
The practice is committed to fostering an inclusive, diverse culture where Associates can be authentic and perform at their best. Two values unite the team: a commitment to excellence in everything they do and a passion to achieve their purpose—A Better World for Pets. You'll have access to a vast network of specialists, worldwide development opportunities, and a comprehensive wellbeing package prioritising physical and mental health.
