Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

Coombefield Veterinary Hospital is recruiting a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join their main RCVS-accredited hospital site in Axminster, Devon. This is a full-time position working 40 hours per week, including participation in a manageable 1:6 weekend rota. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, the UK and Europe's leading veterinary care group, but operates as a close-knit, friendly team where every voice is heard and valued.

You'll be part of a 12-strong RVN team (including a Head Nurse and Deputy Head Nurse), working alongside 17 vets with special interests in ophthalmology, cardiology, imaging, emergency and critical care, dentistry, and surgery. The workload is busy and varied, offering genuine opportunities to develop your nursing skills across multiple disciplines. The practice has recently introduced staged dental procedures and nurse-led Schedule III procedural afternoons, so you'll have scope to expand your clinical scope.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-quality nursing care across a range of first opinion cases
• Carry out imaging duties and nurse consultations
• Manage kennels and cattery inpatient care
• Scrub into operating theatres and assist with surgical procedures
• Participate in a rotational rota to work across all practice areas and utilise your full nursing capabilities
• Support clinical standards and contribute to ongoing patient care development within the practice
• Work collaboratively with veterinary surgeons and the wider practice team

Requirements

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Experience working in clinical practice with growing confidence in medical and surgical nursing
• Strong communication skills and ability to build positive relationships with clients and colleagues
• Good organisational skills and ability to manage workload effectively
• Proactive approach to learning, reflection, and continuous improvement
• Team-oriented mindset with confidence and motivation to deliver high standards of care

Benefits

• 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus birthday off
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee wellbeing initiatives: Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24 hours paid leave
• Certificate support
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts with hundreds of participating retailers

About the Practice

Coombefield Veterinary Hospital is a 3-site small animal group centred on a large, purpose-built RCVS-accredited hospital in Axminster, Devon, with a branch practice in Seaton. The main site houses two operating theatres, large prep area, dedicated dental suite, imaging suite, separate cattery and kennels, isolation wards, internal laboratory, pharmacy, and five consultation rooms including a dedicated nurse consult room. The practice also runs a separately staffed 24-hour out-of-hours night service called Three Counties Veterinary Emergencies, making it the only RCVS-accredited hospital with round-the-clock care in the area.

The culture centres on inclusivity, respect, and collaboration. The senior leadership team operates an open-door policy with a priority on team wellbeing. New ideas are actively encouraged, and the long-standing nursing and veterinary teams are described as friendly, vibrant, and welcoming. Visiting specialists including RATA regularly deliver orthopaedic surgery.