Registered Veterinary Nurse in Southampton

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners. We are seeking an enthusiastic, team-oriented Registered Veterinary Nurse to join our team at Unicorn Vets on a full-time basis. Unicorn Vets will soon be joining the Orchard Vets family, which is a well-established veterinary practice group with a reputation for excellence and a commitment to providing high-quality care to our community and their pets for over 35 years.

Our practices are well equipped with a range of in-house facilities, including dental radiography, laparoscopy, endoscopy, K‑Laser, Vetscan Imaging and cryotherapy. We also have a local IVC referral centre available to support more complex cases. You will be supported by our dedicated Director of Practice and a friendly, experienced team consisting of Veterinary Surgeons, RVNs, Student Veterinary Nurses, Animal Care Assistants and reception/administrative colleagues across our sites. CPD and ongoing learning are very important to us, and we actively encourage and support further training and development for our nursing team.

This role will be based primarily at our Bassett branch, with some shifts required at our Fair Oak practice to support the wider team and provide continuity across the group.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Registered Veterinary Nurse, you will be an integral member of the clinical team, delivering high-quality nursing care to patients while supporting excellent client experiences. You’ll work collaboratively with veterinary surgeons and the wider practice team, taking responsibility for the nursing care of a range of first-opinion cases, contributing to clinical standards, and supporting the ongoing development of patient care within the practice.

We offer flexible rota patterns within our opening hours of 8 am to 7 pm Monday to Friday, with Saturday mornings (8:30 am – 12:30 pm) on a shared rota. There is no on-call requirement, as our out-of-hours service is covered by Vets Now. We can be flexible around working days if you would rather work 4 longer/5 shorter days.

General responsibilities include:

• Nurse clinics – 6‑month health check, vaccines, nail clips etc.
• Inpatient care
• Anaesthesia
• Theatre work
• Supporting vets with an interesting and diverse caseload

We actively encourage clinical freedom, case continuity and the development of your own interests, with full support from the wider team. This would be an excellent opportunity for someone who is interested in nurse clinics, as there may be a chance in the future to develop the services we offer in specialist areas.

You Might Be a Great Fit If…

We’re looking for a confident and motivated Registered Veterinary Nurse who enjoys working as part of a team and delivering high standards of care. You’ll bring:

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Experience working in clinical practice, with growing confidence in medical and surgical nursing
• Strong communication skills and the ability to build positive relationships with clients and colleagues
• Good organisational skills and the ability to manage workload effectively
• A proactive approach to learning, reflection, and continuous improvement

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your ongoing development and wellbeing. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• A varied and rewarding nursing role within a supportive primary care environment
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities into Senior Nurse, Referral, or leadership roles as well as clinical supervisors, mentors and certificate holders.
• Ongoing learning and development supported by experienced colleagues and practice teams
• A collaborative, values‑led culture focused on care, community, and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• 6.6 weeks' annual leave plus your birthday off
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24hrs paid leave
• Certificate support
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you - including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts/cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world‑class learning resources. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.