About the Role
This is a full-time permanent position based at London Vet Specialists, a newly relocated state-of-the-art multidisciplinary referral hospital in Hammersmith, West London. You'll rotate through all specialist disciplines, including orthopaedic and soft-tissue surgery, internal medicine, anaesthesia & analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, oncology, and neurology—no previous referral experience required. The role offers genuine scope to develop your clinical interests and passions within a supportive, well-structured nursing team of 8 multi-disciplinary RVNs supported by 5 Lead RVNs.
The hospital occupies a striking location on the banks of the River Thames in the vibrant Hammersmith & Fulham neighbourhood. You'll be part of Linnaeus, a forward-thinking partnership of primary care and referral practices across the UK and Ireland, known for putting patient care at the heart of everything they do.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide high-quality, sustainable patient care across all specialist disciplines.
- Prioritise inpatient care and implement nursing care plans in accordance with clinical protocols.
- Ensure patient comfort and safety during investigations, hospitalisation, and surgical procedures.
- Assist with consultations and conduct nurse consultations as appropriate.
- Maintain accurate record-keeping, particularly anaesthetic and hospitalisation records in SmartFlow.
- Support stock management within your department and coordinate with pharmacy and purchasing staff.
- Work with the Patient Flow Coordinator and Lead Nurses to plan daily caseloads and escalate concerns.
- Attend team briefings and meetings to ensure effective communication and operational efficiency.
- Liaise with clients regarding patient updates under clinician direction.
- Participate in team reflections on incidents and near misses, including Halo reporting, to continually improve patient safety.
- Support International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) cat-friendly standards across the hospital.
- Support Dogs Trust and British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA) dog-friendly standards.
- Contribute to team committees such as Sustainability, Culture & Wellbeing, and Dog/Cat-Friendly initiatives.
Requirements
- Current RCVS registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse.
- Demonstrated commitment to high standards of patient and client care.
- Strong teamwork, communication, and record-keeping skills.
- Ability to work collaboratively across multiple specialist disciplines.
- Enthusiasm for continuous learning and professional development.
- Previous referral experience is not required.
Benefits
- Salary: £32,000–£36,500 depending on experience.
- 5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays, with additional birthday leave.
- RCVS and VDS fees paid by the employer.
- Enhanced sickness pay.
- Enhanced equal family leave.
- Life assurance.
- Employer contribution pension scheme.
- External CPD funded.
- Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD programme.
- Career progression opportunities.
- Generous staff social calendar.
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) with Mental Health First Aiders.
- Eyecare voucher scheme.
- Free annual flu jab.
- Cycle-to-Work scheme.
About the Practice
London Vet Specialists originated as a boutique small animal referral centre in Belsize Park, North London, and relocated in May 2024 to a new state-of-the-art facility in Hammersmith, West London. The hospital houses a complete complement of specialist-led services: orthopaedic and soft-tissue surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, anaesthesia & analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, oncology, and neurology. The practice is part of Linnaeus, a forward-thinking partnership of highly respected primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, committed to excellence in patient care and supporting the physical and mental health of all team members.