Registered Veterinary Nurse – Small Animal

About the Role

This is a full-time position working 40 hours across 4 or 5 days per week, with no out-of-hours night shifts required. You’ll follow a structured weekly rota covering anaesthesia, inpatient care, nurse consults, and pharmacy duties, starting each day with morning huddles to keep operations running smoothly. The role is genuinely varied—supporting everything from routine procedures to emergency cases—giving you excellent scope to develop your clinical skills within a collaborative, supportive environment.

The only additional commitment is participation in a 1:4 Saturday rota (8:00 AM to 3:00 PM), which is given back as TOIL. Cardigan itself offers an excellent quality of life, with beautiful beaches, strong transport links to Swansea and Cardiff, and a thriving coastal community.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage anaesthesia protocols and inpatient care across the small animal team
• Conduct nursing consultations with patients and clients
• Oversee pharmacy duties and medication management
• Participate in daily morning huddles and structured weekly rotas
• Support routine procedures and emergency cases as part of the team
• Contribute to the delivery of high-quality patient and client care alongside 9 vets, 8 RVNs, a VCA, and 8 Client Care Advisors

Requirements

• Current RVN registration with the RCVS
• Enthusiasm and dedication to small animal nursing
• Ability to work collaboratively within a team environment
• Willingness to participate in Saturday rotas on a 1:4 basis

Benefits

• Flexible working: 40 hours across 4 or 5 days per week, no night shifts
• Leave & wellbeing: 6.6 weeks annual leave (inclusive of bank holidays) plus additional holiday for your birthday; private medical insurance; 24/7 employee assistance programme; enhanced maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Professional development: £550 CPD allowance with 24 hours paid CPD leave; certificate support; access to IVC Evidensia Academy learning and development; Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia; research funding opportunities; Infection Prevention and Control and Quality Improvement Programmes
• Professional support: VDS cover and RCVS fees paid
• Pension & benefits: Company pension scheme with employer contribution; cycle to work and green cars schemes (subject to eligibility); voluntary benefits package; discounts and cashback with hundreds of retailers; discounted treatment for your own pets at IVC Evidensia practices

About the Practice

Priory Vets is a well-established mixed animal practice with 88 years of trusted service to the local community. The small animal teams operate across three surgeries in Cardigan, Preseli, and Aberaeron, while large animal and equine vets provide mobile services to local farms and breeders. The main site in Cardigan is supported by a Clinical Director and Practice Director, ensuring strong clinical and operational leadership.

The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, providing access to extensive professional networks and resources. With a team of 9 vets, 8 RVNs, a VCA, and 8 Client Care Advisors, there’s a genuine commitment to high-quality patient care and colleague wellbeing. The practice explicitly values its people, investing in premises, processes, and professional development as core to its success.