At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a passionate nursing team and ensure top-notch patient care.
- Company: Independent veterinary practice with advanced facilities and a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, paid overtime, funded CPD, and generous holiday allowance.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in animal care while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse with leadership experience or potential.
- Other info: Join a progressive practice that values your input and offers career growth.
The predicted salary is between 37000 - 38500 £ per year.
We are an independent, small animal Veterinary Practice seeking an experienced and motivated Head Veterinary Nurse to lead our nursing team and contribute to the continued development of our clinically excellent service. We pride ourselves on delivering high-quality, progressive veterinary care and are exceptionally well equipped, with our own CT scanner, laparoscopic suite, and a dedicated orthopaedics theatre. We have two main Practices (Shaftesbury and Wincanton) with 6 Vets, 10 RVNs, 2 SVNs and 2 Kennel Assistants.
This role would suit a confident RVN who can demonstrate clinical excellence, leadership, and who enjoys being part of a close-knit, supportive team.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:- Lead and support the nursing team to ensure the day is running smoothly
- Supervision of patient care to ensure this is at the highest level
- Actively contribute to advanced clinical work, including imaging, surgery, and anaesthesia
- Maintain and develop nursing protocols, training and compliance
- Supervision and training of clinical support staff, including becoming a clinical supervisor to student veterinary nurses
- Delegation and supervision of duties (e.g maintenance of lab equipment, stock control and ordering)
- Support and mentor student and qualified nurses
- Planning nurse rotas and authorising annual leave
- Work closely with Vets and management team
We provide our own out-of-hours service, and participation in the OOH rota is an essential part of the role. This is a shared rota, currently approximately 1:10, within a supportive and well-organised system. All out of hours work is paid at time and half the hourly rate. This is in addition to the basic salary.
About You:- RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse
- Experience in a senior or leadership role, or a strong desire and capability to step into one
- Excellent clinical skills with a commitment to gold-standard patient care
- Confident communicator with strong organisational and leadership abilities
- Enthusiastic, proactive, and keen to develop both the nursing team and the practice
- Basic salary of £37,000 - £38,500, depending on experience (for a 37-hour week)
- All Saturday morning shifts and out-of-hours (OOH) work are paid at time and a half, in addition to the basic salary, with fixed on-call payments and additional inpatient fees.
- A genuinely supportive, independent working environment
- Funded CPD and encouragement to pursue areas of clinical interest
- Further study to advance your career fully funded by the practice
- 5.6 weeks holiday allowance
- RCVS fees paid
- The opportunity to work in a well-equipped, progressive practice where nursing input is valued
Please send your CV and a short covering letter outlining your experience and interest in the role to mail@longmeadvets.co.uk
Head Registered Veterinary Nurse employer: Longmead Veterinary Practice
Contact Detail:
Longmead Veterinary Practice Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Registered Veterinary Nurse
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the veterinary field, attend local events, and join online forums. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by practising common questions and scenarios specific to veterinary nursing. Think about how you can showcase your leadership skills and clinical excellence during the chat.
✨Tip Number 3
Show your enthusiasm! When you get the chance to meet potential employers, let your passion for veterinary care shine through. Share your ideas on how you can contribute to their team and improve patient care.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to connect with us directly.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Registered Veterinary Nurse
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your CV and cover letter, let your enthusiasm for veterinary nursing shine through. We want to see your commitment to high-quality patient care and how you can contribute to our supportive team.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for this specific role. Highlight your leadership experience and clinical skills that align with what we’re looking for in a Head Registered Veterinary Nurse.
Be Clear and Concise: Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Use clear language to describe your experience and qualifications, making it easy for us to see why you’d be a great fit for our practice.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important details about the role.
How to prepare for a job interview at Longmead Veterinary Practice
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your clinical skills and knowledge about advanced procedures like imaging and anaesthesia. Being able to discuss these confidently will show that you're not just experienced, but also passionate about high-quality patient care.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've led a team or mentored others in the past. This role requires strong leadership, so think about times when you've successfully managed a team or improved protocols. Be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Be a Team Player
This practice values a close-knit team environment, so highlight your ability to work collaboratively with both nursing staff and vets. Discuss how you’ve contributed to a supportive atmosphere in previous roles, as this will resonate well with their culture.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions about the practice's approach to nursing protocols or how they support ongoing training. This shows your genuine interest in the role and helps you gauge if the practice aligns with your career goals.