Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

This is a fixed-term contract (until September 2026) to cover maternity leave at a thriving small animal practice in picturesque Poole, Dorset. You’ll work part-time (28.5 hours per week) with no out-of-hours duties and no weekend routine—a genuine rarity in veterinary nursing. The practice sits minutes from the sea, with easy access to the Jurassic Coast, New Forest, and all the coastal lifestyle benefits that make Dorset special.

The role offers flexibility: hours can be spread across 3, 4, or 5 days per week with shift patterns discussed individually. Some shifts run until 7pm; others start at 8 or 8:30am. You’ll enjoy closed bank holidays and a team that genuinely values work-life balance.

Key Responsibilities

• Consulting with clients and patients
• Reception and client-facing duties
• Theatre work and surgical nursing
• Inpatient care and monitoring
• Contributing to the RCVS-accredited practice’s high clinical standards

Requirements

• Current RCVS registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse
• Experience in small animal practice

Benefits

• Salary: up to £33,230 (pro rata)
• CPD allowance: £600 per annum pro rata, with support for additional qualifications and career development
• 6.6 weeks paid holiday per year including bank holidays (pro rata)
• RCVS membership fees paid plus one additional professional membership subscription
• Health Shield: comprehensive contributions for health and wellbeing (dentistry, sports massage, and more)
• VDS cover provided
• Discounted health insurance and veterinary fees for staff and family
• Buy and sell holiday scheme
• Life insurance
• Company sick pay
• Extensive staff discount and money-off shopping voucher scheme
• No out-of-hours on-call duties

About the Practice

Natterjacks Vet operates two thriving small animal practices in Poole and Bournemouth, both minutes from the beach. The Poole branch is RCVS-accredited and equipped with modern facilities including an in-house CT scanner. The team is known for creating a genuinely friendly, supportive workplace where clinical excellence and team morale go hand in hand.

As part of the VetPartners group, Natterjacks benefits from corporate backing whilst maintaining its own strong identity and culture. The practice was recently named Employer of the Year by the Press Business IQ Awards. Staff consistently highlight the exceptional team spirit, the trust vets place in nursing staff to perform Schedule 3 tasks independently, and the vibrant social culture—from nights out to paddleboarding groups to dog-walking friendships.