Veterinary Nursing Residency Programme

The Veterinary Nurse Residency Programme was developed to support veterinary nurses who want to achieve their Veterinary Technician Specialism (VTS), in a specific discipline in which they already hold extensive experience.

The residents will work within their specific area, alongside boarded specialist veterinarians and other veterinary nurses who are VTS holders. Dedicated time off clinics and mentorship will be given to the successful candidates to ensure they are fully supported during their residency.

The successful candidates will need to extensive experience within their chosen specialty that meet or exceed the requirements of the academy. Please see additional documents for further details of eligibility.

Residents will be involved with teaching and supervision of Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing undergraduates on clinical rotations. Flexibility will be necessary as the post will require participation in the weekends and OOH rota, including twilight and night work.

Benefits and wellbeing

Our people are at the heart of what we do and as your employer we want to ensure we offer flexibility, support and staff development, where possible, through:

Time off

• 5 weeks holiday per year (plus bank holidays)

• Additional holiday entitlement for Long Service

Wellbeing

• On site Wellbeing Champions

• EDI committee

• Employee Forum – to ensure all employees voices can be heard

• Menopause Café

• Wellbeing talks and events

• Cycle to work scheme

• Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and paternity pay (after 2 years’ service), With mentorship you will be expected to meet the application needs of the academy of your chosen speciality and develop on advanced knowledge and skills for your veterinary technician specialism (VTS). You will provide clinical nursing support in your chosen area of specialism for the small animal referral hospital under the direction of the Veterinary Nurse Residency Lead/Head Nurse. Develop knowledge of and assist with clinical governance within the hospital and provide support and guidance for nursing undergraduates during their clinical rotations. Participation in a weekend rota, working early and late shifts with some degree of twilight work., 1. Carry out clinical nursing duties during rotations throughout the Small Animal Hospital, under the direction of the Veterinary Nurse Residency Lead /Head Nurse.

1. Dispensing and administering (under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon) medication to animals and maintaining accurate stock control. Following all protocols relating to drug holding, dispensing and handling; giving clear and accurate instructions to clients when dispensing medication.

2. Maintaining accurate patient records with regards to all clinical notes, treatment, diagnoses, client communication and client /patient information.

3. Ensuring that all procedures and consumables are accurately invoiced on patient’s account for duration of stay.

4. Participating in clinical governance activities for the hospital, including significant event reporting, M&M discussions, clinical audit, evidence-based medicine and reflective learning.

5. Completion of both parts of VTS application e.g. part A & B or part 1 &2, and other CPD as specified during supported off clinic time as part of the Veterinary Nursing Residency Programme.

6. Revision toward final exam as specified during supported off clinic time.

7. Assisting with teaching of Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing Undergraduates during their clinical rotations. Acting as a mentor for Veterinary Nursing Undergraduates.

8. Assisting with Langford Vets Veterinary Nurse Congress.

9. Participating in the nurse rotas, to include different shift patterns: early, mid, late, and nights. Punctuality with all shift patterns is a minimum expected standard. Participation in a weekend rota + bank holidays.

10. Maintaining a good working relationship with all team members.

11. Communicating in an effective and pleasant manner with clients and colleagues.

12. Carry out all other reasonable duties as requested by the line manager.

13. Proactively identify and act upon opportunities for business improvement. Openly identify and discuss problems to implement and sustain improvements that increase the value we deliver to our clients, employees, and students.

• RCVS registered Veterinary Nurse., * RCVS registered Veterinary Nurse.

• 3 years qualified.

• Have at minimum of 3,160 hours* full time (40hours/week) working in small animal internal medicine specialist ward area within the last 3-4 years.

• Already have attended RACE approved 25 hours of dedicated neurology CPD from a board-certified veterinarian or veterinary technician specialist (VTS), within a 5-year period., * RCVS registered Veterinary Nurse.

• 3 years qualified.

• Have at minimum of 3,160 hours* full time (40hours/week) working in emergency and critical care in an emergency practice or a dedicated ICU within the last 3-4 years.

• Already have attended 10 hours of dedicated ECC CPD from a board-certified veterinarian or veterinary technician specialist (VTS), within a 5-year period.

SimplyHealth Cashplan membership

• Free annual flu vaccination

• Free Specsavers eye test voucher

General

• Free onsite parking

• U2 bus service link to Bristol

• Employee discount

• Generous pension scheme – we match up to 8% pension contributions

• Reimbursement of one professional membership fee per year, * 4 years qualified.

• Have at minimum of 3,700 hours* full time (40hours/week) working solely in an anaesthesia department within the last 5 years.

• Already have attended 20 hours of dedicated anaesthesia CPD from a board-certified veterinarian or veterinary technician specialist (VTS), within a 5-year period.

Job outline:

• 40 hours/week on average in the anaesthesia department

• Working early, late and twilight shifts

• Working 1 in 6 weekends

• Access to a period of off clinics time per month

• Will be supported in excelling their clinical knowledge and skills by working alongside VTS(Anesthesia & Analgesia) holders and board-certified veterinarians within the hospital

Expectations:

• April 2025- April 2026

• Gain additional hours (>2,400 hours*) to make a minimum 6,000 hours working in anaesthesia.

• Accrue 40 hours in total CPD in from a veterinary technician specialist or board specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia.

• Working on advancing knowledge and specialist skills

• April 2026-Decemeber 2026

• Continuation on advancement of knowledge and specialist skills

• Start organising pre-application for May 2027

• January 2027-December 2027

• Start collecting cases for case log (60 cases max)

• Deadline for pre-application May 31^st 2027

• Work on advanced skill set and linking it with case log/case reports

• Select 4 case reports and write up

• Deadline for complete application 31^st December 2027

• Will hear end of march if successful

• January 2028-September 2028

• Start revision January 2028

• If successful will be notified end of march 2028

• 3 weeks off for revision

• Exam to be sat in early September 2028

*If applicant has more hours and cpd to submit earlier then they will be sitting their exam in 2027.

Person Specification: Neurology, * 40 hours/week on average in the ICU

• Working early and late shifts

• Working 1 in 6 weekends

• Access to a period of off clinics time per month

• Will be supported in excelling their clinical knowledge and skills by working alongside VTS holders and board-certified veterinarians within the hospital

Expectations

• April 2025- April 2026

• Gain additional hours in internal medicine (>3,160 hours*) to make a minimum 6,000 hours working in internal medicine

• Accrue minimum of 40 hours CPD in from VTS(Neurology) or diplomat in neurology.

• Working on advancing knowledge and specialist skills

• April 2026-April 2027

• Continue gaining hours until 15^th March 2027

• Start collecting cases for case log (75 cases max) from 1^st October 2026

• Deadline for application Part 1 (pre-application) 15^th March 2027

• Work on advanced skill set and linking it with case log/case reports

• Select 4 case reports and write up

• Deadline for Part 2 application 30^th September 2027

• Will hear mid April 2028 if successful

• October 2027-September 2028

• Submitted Part 2 (case logs & reports) 30^st September 2027

• Start revision January 2028

• If successful in Part B will be notified in April 2027

• 3 weeks off for revision

• Exam to be sat in mid September 2028

*If applicant has more hours and cpd to submit earlier then they will be sitting their exam in 2027.

Person Specification: Small Animal Internal Medicine

The ideal candidate will have:

• RCVS registered Veterinary Nurse.

• 3 years qualified.

• Have at minimum of 3,160 hours* full time (40hours/week) working in small animal internal medicine specialist ward area within the last 3-4 years.

• Already have attended RACE approved 25 hours of dedicated small animal internal medicine CPD from a board-certified veterinarian or veterinary technician specialist (VTS), within a 5-year period.

Job outline

• 40 hours/week on average in the ICU

• Working early and late shifts

• Working 1 in 6 weekends

• Access to a period of off clinics time per month

• Will be supported in excelling their clinical knowledge and skills by working alongside VTS(SAIM) holder and board-certified veterinarians within the hospital

Expectations

• April 2025- April 2026

• Gain additional hours in internal medicine (>3,160 hours*) to make a minimum 6,000 hours working in internal medicine

• Accrue minimum of 40 hours CPD in from VTS(SAIM) or diplomat in internal medicine.

• Working on advancing knowledge and specialist skills

• April 2026-April 2027

• Continue gaining hours until 15^th March 2027

• Start collecting cases for case log (75 cases max) from 1^st October 2026

• Deadline for application Part 1 (pre-application) 15^th March 2027

• Work on advanced skill set and linking it with case log/case reports

• Select 4 case reports and write up

• Deadline for Part 2 application 30^th September 2027

• Will hear mid April 2028 if successful

• October 2027-September 2028

• Submitted Part 2 (case logs & reports) 30^st September 2027

• Start revision January 2028

• If successful in Part B will be notified in April 2027

• 3 weeks off for revision

• Exam to be sat in mid September 2028

*If applicant has more hours and cpd to submit earlier then they will be sitting their exam in 2027.

Person Specification: Emergency and Critical Care, * 40 hours/week on average in the ICU

• Working early, late and twilight shifts

• Working 1 in 6 weekends

• Access to a period of off clinics time per month

• Will be supported in excelling their clinical knowledge and skills by working alongside VTS(ECC) holders and board-certified veterinarians within the hospital

Expectations

• April 2025- November 2026

• Gain additional hours in ICU/ECC (>3,160 hours*) to make a minimum 6,000 hours working in ECC/ICU

• Accrue 25 hours CPD in ECC from specialist

• Working on advancing knowledge and specialist skills

• November 2026-October 2027

• Start collecting cases for case log (75 cases max) from 1^st November 2026

• Deadline for application Part A (pre-application) March 31^st 2027

• Work on advanced skill set and linking it with case log/case reports

• Select 4 case reports and write up

• Deadline for Part B application 31^st October 2027

• Will hear mid April 2028 if successful

• October 2027-September 2028

• Submitted Part B (case logs & reports) 31^st October 2027

• Start revision January 2028

• If successful in Part B will be notified in April 2027

• 3 weeks off for revision

• Exam to be sat in mid September 2028