Out of Hours – Referral Nurse (12 Month Fixed Term)

About the Role

This is a temporary, full-time position working nights as part of Swift Referrals’ dedicated out-of-hours team. You’ll be delivering advanced nursing care to complex referral and emergency cases within a purpose-built, multidisciplinary hospital that serves dogs, cats, and small pets across the region. The role offers genuine clinical variety—from managing ICU patients and surgical referrals to supporting emergency admissions—all within a collaborative, values-led environment where your expertise is genuinely valued.

Swift Referrals is a cutting-edge facility with MRI, CT scanning, advanced imaging, modern theatres, and dedicated separate wards for different species, plus a large ICU. Working alongside emergency clinicians, veterinary surgeons, and veterinary care assistants, you’ll play a key role in delivering the highest standard of nursing care to first-opinion and referral cases. The practice is part of IVC Evidensia, the UK and Europe’s largest veterinary care group, meaning access to wider learning networks and career development opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver advanced nursing care to complex referral and emergency cases across multiple disciplines including orthopaedics, neurology, internal medicine, and soft tissue surgery
• Manage and monitor ICU patients and hospitalised referrals, ensuring the highest standards of patient care and welfare
• Work collaboratively with emergency clinicians and the multidisciplinary team to support clinical decision-making and improve patient outcomes
• Provide medical and surgical nursing support in a fast-paced, evidence-based referral environment
• Contribute knowledge and experience to the team, supporting colleagues and helping to continually improve service delivery
• Maintain meticulous clinical records and nursing documentation

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Nurse (RCVS registration)
• Significant clinical experience with strong medical and surgical nursing skills
• Proven experience working with complex cases in a referral or advanced-care environment
• Strong communication and teamworking abilities, with the ability to function effectively within multidisciplinary teams
• Commitment to evidence-based practice, clinical governance, and continuous professional improvement

Benefits

• Leave: 6.6 weeks’ annual leave plus additional leave for your birthday; increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Development: £550 CPD allowance per annum, 24 hours paid CPD leave, certificate support, and access to the IVC Evidensia Academy, Vetlexicon online encyclopaedia, and research funding opportunities
• Wellbeing: Enhanced family-friendly policies (maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental, and surrogacy pay), private medical insurance, healthcare cash plan, and employee wellbeing initiatives
• Professional support: VDS cover and RCVS fees covered
• Lifestyle: Cycle to Work salary sacrifice scheme, pension scheme, green cars salary sacrifice, voluntary benefits, and discounted staff pet care
• Career: Clear progression pathways into specialist referral nursing or leadership roles within IVC Evidensia’s 900+ practice network

About the Practice

Swift Referrals is a purpose-built referral hospital in Wetherby specialising in orthopaedics, neurology, internal medicine, and soft tissue surgery. The facility features state-of-the-art equipment including MRI, CT scanning, advanced imaging suites, modern operating theatres, dedicated separate wards for dogs and cats, and a large ICU. With a team of over 80 colleagues, the practice is known for its strong focus on staff wellbeing and consistently positive feedback from team satisfaction surveys.

As part of IVC Evidensia—the UK and Europe’s leading veterinary care group comprising over 900 practices and referral hospitals—Swift Referrals offers nurses career pathways without limits. The organisation invests in learning, innovation, and employee wellbeing, creating environments where teams can grow in confidence, capability, and professional fulfilment at every career stage.