Registered Veterinary Nurse

About the Role

You’ll be joining a welcoming nursing team of eight RVNs and two SVNs at an independent small animal practice with genuine depth of experience and specialist interests. This is a varied role where you’ll work across the main Bude site and occasional days in Holsworthy, nursing everything from routine consultations and clinics to complex emergency cases and Schedule 3 procedures. With recent investment in laparoscopic equipment, electrochemotherapy and a new lab suite, you’ll have the opportunity to develop your skills across genuinely interesting and diverse cases.

The practice operates a manageable 1:8 weekend rota (with Saturday consults running 9am–1pm) and 5 weeknights over 8 weeks. Part-time positions are also available (2 full days per week plus OOH shifts), and all weekend and weeknight hours are paid with time off in lieu during the week. If there are no inpatients during overnight on-call, you can work from home.

This is a role with strong emphasis on continued professional development—the practice actively supports CPD, certificates and further training, with particular team interests in feline nursing, medical and surgical nursing, anaesthesia, weight management and rehabilitation.

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver high-standard nursing care across routine consultations, surgical procedures, anaesthesia and inpatient management
• Support complex emergency and critical care cases as part of the practice’s 24-hour in-house service
• Rotate between Bude and Holsworthy sites, with majority of time at the main Bude practice
• Contribute to the team’s specialist interests including feline medicine, weight management clinics and rehabilitation services
• Participate in training and mentoring of student veterinary nurses (the practice is an accredited training provider)
• Work flexibly during out-of-hours rota shifts, including weekends and weeknights on a shared rota basis

Requirements

• Current RCVS registration as a Registered Veterinary Nurse
• Strong clinical nursing skills with experience in small animal practice
• Ability to work as part of a collaborative team and support colleagues
• Willingness to develop further knowledge and pursue specialist interests within the nursing role
• Flexibility to work the shared out-of-hours rota (1:8 weekends and 5 weeknights over 8 weeks)

Benefits

• Salary: £26,600–£33,450 per year (pro rata, depending on experience and hours worked)
• Leave: 6.5 weeks holiday including bank holidays
• Professional support: RCVS and VDS professional fees paid; BVA and SPVS practice membership included
• CPD: Professional development fully encouraged and funded, including support for certificates and specialist training
• Pension: Company pension scheme
• Health & wellbeing: Private healthcare and discounted veterinary fees for your own pets
• OOH support: Retainer paid for weeknights and weekends worked; additional £25 per hour for overnight work above routine patient checks; cosy on-site cabin provided for overnight stays
• Flexibility: Time off in lieu given during the week for weekend hours worked; part-time positions considered

About the Practice

Tamar Vets is an independent small animal practice established at the heart of Bude with branch sites in Holsworthy and Hartland. Led by directors Richard and Jon, the practice is committed to personal, compassionate care built on strong relationships with patients, clients and each other. With seven vets on the team with specialist interests in cardiology, orthopaedics, oncology and dentistry, plus modern facilities including recent investment in laparoscopic equipment and electrochemotherapy, the practice delivers a genuinely varied caseload. The team operates its own 24-hour in-house out-of-hours service with nurses on site 24/7.

The practice is an accredited veterinary nurse training provider and has a strong culture of supporting professional development across the whole team. Beyond work, the team is sociable and enjoys regular social activities including pub nights, meals, beach BBQs, quiz nights and community events.