Registered Veterinary Nurse – Surgical

About the Role

This is a permanent, full-time position within the dedicated Surgical Nursing Team at Wear Referrals, a multi-disciplinary specialist referral hospital in the north east of England. You’ll be part of a well-established surgical unit supporting both Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue departments, working on complex cases including abdominal and thoracic surgery, fracture repairs, cruciate ligament surgery, joint replacements, and advanced wound management.

The hospital operates 24/7, 365 days a year, delivering exceptional referral and ECC care. You’ll work within a rolling rota that includes weekend and bank holiday cover, collaborating closely with the Anaesthesia service, ICU, Neurology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine teams. Regular opportunities to scrub into advanced surgeries are built into the role, with ongoing training and specialist support provided throughout.

Located near the historic university city of Durham, close to Newcastle, and positioned between the north east coast and the Pennines, the practice offers easy reach to the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, and Scotland—ideal if you value both professional development and lifestyle balance.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide complex inpatient nursing care across surgical departments
• Deliver anaesthesia for diagnostic imaging and a wide range of surgical procedures
• Support advanced surgical cases and assist in theatre with specialist surgeons
• Collaborate with ICU, Neurology, Oncology, and Internal Medicine teams
• Contribute to the day-to-day running of both Orthopaedic and Soft Tissue departments
• Participate in ongoing professional development and CPD opportunities

Requirements

• Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) qualification
• Excellent clinical ability and strong communication skills
• Ability to work confidently within a rotating rota including weekends and bank holidays
• Previous referral experience is advantageous but not essential—full training and support provided for RVNs transitioning from primary care

Benefits

• Leave & Time Off: 5 weeks holiday plus bank holidays, plus your birthday day off
• Professional Development: Generous external CPD allowance and funded CPD leave; full encouragement for further academic study
• Wellbeing & Support: Enhanced sick pay, Enhanced Equal Family leave, employee assistance program, free annual flu jab
• Financial & Pension: Competitive salary, employer contribution pension scheme, life assurance
• Professional Support: Payment of RCVS registration fees, professional indemnity cover
• Practical Perks: Staff discount for your own pet’s treatment, uniform and shoe allowance, free onsite parking, e-car salary sacrifice scheme, healthcare and purchasing scheme

About the Practice

Wear Referrals is a specialist veterinary referral hospital part of Linnaeus Veterinary Limited (owned by Mars). The award-winning practice boasts more than 20 specialists across neurology, orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, anaesthesia, oncology, diagnostic imaging, and cardiology. The nursing team comprises over 60 Registered Veterinary Nurses specialising across different disciplines, including a dedicated night nurse team. The hospital also operates a busy primary care out-of-hours emergency service and provides in-house physiotherapy and hydrotherapy.

Wear Referrals is recognised as a leading training practice dedicated to developing talent and promoting from within. As part of the UK’s leading veterinary referral chain and the broader Mars Veterinary Health network, the practice offers genuine opportunities for career progression through clinical specialism or managerial advancement.