Surgical/ECC Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

Penmellyn Vets is seeking an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse to join their main St. Columb Major Hospital on a 12-month fixed-term contract beginning June 2024. This role blends surgical and emergency & critical care (ECC) nursing, working twilight shifts across approximately 35.5 hours per week (3–4 shifts) with genuine flexibility built in.

Based at the practice’s primary hospital—which also houses their out-of-hours service—you’ll be part of a well-established team in Mid-Cornwall serving a community known for its beautiful coastal location. The practice operates five additional branch surgeries across the area, giving you insight into a multi-site operation while focusing your day-to-day work in a modern, well-equipped hospital environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver surgical nursing support for a range of small animal procedures, ensuring meticulous patient preparation, theatre management, and post-operative care
• Provide emergency and critical care nursing during twilight shift hours, responding to acute patient needs with competence and composure
• Assist in the practice’s out-of-hours service, supporting emergency cases referred internally
• Work collaboratively with the surgical and ECC teams, contributing to clinical protocols and patient welfare standards
• Maintain detailed patient records and contribute to the practice’s quality and infection prevention programmes
• Support training and mentoring of junior nursing staff where appropriate

Requirements

• Current RCVS Registration as a Veterinary Nurse (RVN)
• Proven experience in surgical nursing and/or emergency & critical care environments
• Strong knowledge of anaesthetic protocols, surgical instruments, and ECC patient management
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills
• Ability to remain calm and focused during high-pressure situations
• Commitment to continued professional development and best practice standards

Benefits

• Leave & Work-Life Balance: 6.6 weeks annual leave with increases based on service length, plus your birthday as a paid day off
• Wellbeing Support: Enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay; Private Medical Insurance; Cycle to Work scheme; discounted gym membership; non-accidental injury support
• Professional Development: £550 CPD allowance; certificate support; access to the IVC Evidensia Academy; Vetlexicon online resource; research funding opportunities; Infection Prevention and Control and Quality Improvement programmes
• Professional Memberships: VDS cover and RCVS fees paid
• Additional Benefits: Pawsome Benefits (discounts and cashback with 100+ retailers); pension (5% employee/3% employer contribution); discounted staff pet care

About the Practice

Penmellyn Vets is an established, thriving small animal practice based in Mid-Cornwall with a strong reputation throughout the local community. Operating from a main hospital in St. Columb Major plus five branch surgeries, the practice combines traditional values with modern facilities. The hospital location is where the practice’s out-of-hours emergency service is run, ensuring a consistent flow of complex cases and collaborative working with specialist teams.

As part of IVC Evidensia (part of Mars Veterinary Health), Penmellyn Vets is supported by group resources and professional development frameworks while maintaining its independent, community-focused identity. The team is committed to exceptional patient care, staff wellbeing, and continuous improvement in clinical practice.