About the Role
Shield Vets is seeking an enthusiastic Registered Veterinary Nurse to join their team on a part-time basis, working 26.5 hours per week across two conveniently located practices (just 10-15 minutes apart) on the South Coast. With easy access to the New Forest and excellent road and rail links to London, this role offers the perfect balance of professional opportunity and lifestyle appeal.
You'll be part of a diverse clinical team: eight RVNs (mix of full-time and part-time), one SVN, and veterinary surgeons ranging from newly qualified to those with over 30 years' experience. Your nursing shifts run Monday, Thursday, and Friday with flexible daily times (7:45am–4:45pm, 8am–5pm, or 10am–7pm), plus a manageable 1:4 Saturday rota (8am–12pm). This is genuine primary care nursing in a supportive environment backed by an excellent reception team.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist veterinary surgeons with clinical procedures and treatments
- Conduct independent nurse consultations
- Provide high-quality inpatient care and monitoring
- Monitor anaesthesia during surgical procedures
- Deliver nursing care for a range of first opinion small animal cases
- Contribute to clinical standards and ongoing development of patient care
- Work collaboratively across both practice sites
Requirements
- Current registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
- Clinical experience with growing confidence in medical and surgical nursing
- Strong communication skills and ability to build positive relationships with clients and colleagues
- Good organisational skills and effective workload management
- Proactive approach to learning, reflection, and continuous improvement
- Team-oriented mindset with confidence in delivering high standards of care
Benefits
- 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off
- Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
- £550 CPD allowance plus 24 hours paid CPD leave
- RCVS and VDS fees covered
- Certificate support for professional development
- Enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay)
- Private Medical Insurance
- Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
- Pension scheme
- Discounted veterinary care
- Voluntary benefits including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to hundreds of retail discounts
- Clear career pathways into Senior Nurse, Referral, leadership, and specialist mentor roles
- Ongoing learning and development supported by experienced colleagues
About the Practice
Shield Veterinary Centre is a dedicated small animal practice with a team of highly experienced vets and nurses committed to the long-term health and well-being of their patients. Based in Bishop's Waltham, Southampton, they care for dogs, cats, rabbits, and a wide range of other small animals. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, the UK and Europe's leading veterinary care group comprising over 900 practices and referral hospitals united by a shared purpose of happier animals and happier owners.
IVC Evidensia is committed to building careers without limits, supporting teams to make greater clinical impact, access career opportunities, and play active roles in their professional communities. The culture emphasises investment in learning, innovation, and wellbeing, creating environments where teams grow in confidence, capability, and fulfilment at every career stage.
