Student Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

Join Penmellyn Vets as a Student Veterinary Nurse and begin your journey towards becoming a Registered Veterinary Nurse. You’ll work full-time in a vibrant, six-site practice spanning St Austell, Newquay, Pool, Bodmin, Padstow and St Columb Major, nestled in mid-Cornwall’s beautiful coastline.

This is a structured training role where you’ll develop both clinical and non-clinical skills under the guidance of experienced veterinary surgeons and registered veterinary nurses. You’ll gain hands-on experience across a diverse range of nursing duties, progressing through your training programme while building confidence in daily practice. The practice combines both first opinion and referral services, offering exposure to varied case types and specialist areas including orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery, emergency and critical care, cardiology and medicine.

Key Responsibilities

• Support patient care across the practice’s six sites under supervision of veterinary surgeons and RVNs
• Perform a range of nursing duties including theatre support, clinical assistance, patient monitoring and care
• Contribute to the high standards of the nursing team while working towards RVN qualification
• Develop competency across first opinion and referral caseloads
• Work collaboratively with the wider practice team to deliver animal welfare and client care

Requirements

• A genuine interest in animal care and welfare
• Motivated and committed to learning and professional development
• Proactive and reliable approach, with openness to feedback
• Good communication skills and ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to manage time effectively while balancing work and study commitments

Benefits

• Training and development: Structured support towards RVN qualification with mentorship from experienced practitioners
• Career progression: Clear pathways to develop within primary care, referral and specialist nursing roles
• Learning: Access to IVC Evidensia Academy learning and development opportunities
• Time off: 6.6 weeks’ annual leave plus additional leave on your birthday and increasing allowance through length of service
• Family support: Enhanced maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Wellbeing: Healthcare Cash Plan and cycle to work scheme
• Pension: Company pension scheme
• Perks: Discounted staff pet care, voluntary benefits tailored to suit you, and discounts/cashback with hundreds of retailers

About the Practice

Penmellyn Vets is an established six-site practice based across mid-Cornwall, operating as part of IVC Evidensia, the UK and Europe’s leading veterinary care group with over 900 practices and referral hospitals. The practice combines a central hospital in St Columb Major with satellite surgeries, offering superb facilities and both referral and first opinion services.

The vet team includes certificate holders and advanced practitioners in orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery, emergency and critical care, cardiology and medicine. The nursing team is equally accomplished and supportive. IVC Evidensia is committed to supporting careers without limits—investing in learning, innovation and wellbeing to create environments where teams can grow in confidence, capability and fulfilment at every stage of their career.