Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

Portland Vets Crawley is recruiting an enthusiastic Registered Veterinary Nurse for a full time position, alongside dedicated RVNs for flexible weekend shifts. The branch is open to regular Saturday cover or occasional Sunday work, with job crafting used to help the role fit around lifestyle.

You will be working in a progressive and supportive environment with top class facilities, including species specific waiting areas, consult rooms and wards for feline, canine and exotic patients. The role may also suit someone who enjoys nurse clinics and wants to help develop the consulting veterinary nurse role at Portland Vets Crawley.

The full time role is 40 hours per week, made up of 8 hour shifts on both weekdays and weekends. Weekend cover is capped at a maximum of 1 in 4, with time off in lieu, and there is a share of future bank holiday shifts with enhanced compensation.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care for hospitalised patients, including monitoring, feeding, grooming and walking.
• Handle and restrain animals confidently, with exotic experience noted as beneficial.
• Assist veterinary surgeons with examinations, surgery, medical and diagnostic procedures.
• Carry out treatments such as injections, tablets, fluid therapy, dressings and first aid.
• Perform in house diagnostic laboratory tests and some minor Schedule III procedures.
• Monitor anaesthesia and support surgical and diagnostic work.
• Run nurse consultations and help educate pet owners on animal health.
• Manage clinical hygiene, infection control, equipment cleaning, sterilisation and stock levels.
• Maintain accurate clinical records, billing and client updates.
• Support client care staff, reception cover, EMS students, new graduates, veterinary nurses and support staff as required.

Requirements

• RCVS VN qualification and registration.
• Ability to work under pressure in a fast paced environment.
• Comfortable working independently and collaboratively as part of a team.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good organisational and multi tasking ability with attention to detail.
• Computer literate, including Microsoft Office and Outlook.
• Exotic experience is beneficial.

Benefits

• FTE salary of £28,392 to £33,280 depending on experience.
• 40 hour full time working week with 8 hour shifts.
• Maximum 1 in 4 weekends for the full time role, with time off in lieu.
• Share of future bank holiday shifts with enhanced compensation.
• 30 minute paid lunch breaks, plus lunch provided on Saturdays.
• 5 weeks annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing after 5 years of employment.
• RCVS and VDS memberships paid.
• Generous CPD budget to develop your area of interest.

About the Practice

Portland Vets Crawley is the newest branch in the Portland family, having opened in October 2025. The wider practice has three other branches in East Grinstead, Edenbridge and Horley, each with its own identity and areas of expertise.

The Crawley branch offers modern inpatient, surgical and diagnostic facilities over four floors, including two theatres with laparoscopic equipment, a separate dental suite with dental X ray, digital X ray, a Siemens CT scanner, an in house laboratory and a tortoise hibernation hotel. Portland Vets describes itself as a family owned, independent small animal veterinary practice focused on high standards of patient and client care, tailored treatment, preventative healthcare, open communication and a workplace culture built around compassion, respect and balance.