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- Tasks: Lead and support inpatient care while ensuring smooth hospital operations during late hours.
- Company: Independent small animal hospital in Wiltshire with a supportive team culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, CPD budget, wellness programmes, and flexible work-life balance.
- Other info: Join a passionate team focused on professional growth and wellbeing.
- Why this job: Take on a key leadership role and make a real difference in animal care.
- Qualifications: RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse with leadership experience and strong clinical skills.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 36000 £ per year.
We are looking for an experienced, compassionate Registered Veterinary Nurse with proven leadership experience to join our incredible nursing team as a Lead Late Ward Nurse at our well-equipped and thriving independent small animal hospital in Wiltshire. This is a unique opportunity to take on a key leadership role within our hospital, supporting both inpatient care and hospital flow during the critical afternoon and evening period. You will work alongside a highly supportive team and benefit from a varied caseload that offers genuine scope for professional growth and development.
The Role
As our Lead Late Ward Nurse, you will play a central role in ensuring the smooth running of the wards, supporting the discharge team, and preparing the hospital for the out-of-hours period. Working alongside the Lead Ward Nurse, you will take over responsibility later in the day, ensuring continuity of care, strong team coordination, and high clinical standards are maintained through to evening handover. This is a leadership and coordination role with a strong hands-on clinical element. You will not be allocated to a specific ward but will instead:
- Maintain full oversight of all inpatients across the hospital
- Delegate and distribute workload fairly across the nursing team
- Support and guide nurses delivering inpatient care
- Work alongside the Late Ward Nurse to provide hands-on inpatient care, including treatments and monitoring
- Support the Discharge Nurse and ANA to ensure efficient patient flow and high standards of client care
Key Responsibilities
- Receive a full inpatient handover from the day Lead Ward Nurse and maintain oversight of all cases
- Support and coordinate the discharge process, ensuring medications, instructions, and documentation are accurate and timely
- Allocate nursing resources effectively to support both the Late Consulting Vet and the Out-of-Hours Vet
- Ensure smooth workflow between wards, consults, and ongoing inpatient care
A key part of the role is preparing patients for handover to the out-of-hours team. You will be responsible for ensuring:
- All treatments, monitoring, and required checks are completed
- Clinical notes are accurate and up to date
- Medication, fluid, and monitoring records are fully completed
- All necessary paperwork is in place
Any omissions in care or documentation must be identified and followed up appropriately to maintain high standards.
Working Pattern
This is a full-time role of 40 hours per week, working 12:00pm – 8:30pm. Weekend duties follow a 1-in-7 rotation, covering an 8-hour shift on both Saturday and Sunday:
- 7:30am – 4:00pm or 10:00am – 6:30pm
With Monday and Tuesday off in lieu. We have our own dedicated out-of-hours team, so there is no requirement to work OOH.
What We’re Looking For
- RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse
- Previous leadership experience is essential
- Strong clinical knowledge, particularly in inpatient care
- Excellent organisational and prioritisation skills
- Confident delegation and decision-making ability
- Excellent communication skills and a collaborative approach
- Ability to remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment
You will be working closely with the Lead Ward Nurse, Theatre Lead Nurses, and the Nursing Director, so building strong relationships across the team is key.
Your Role in Patient Care
Our nurses play an active role in shaping the care we deliver, and your professional opinion will be valued throughout the patient journey. We fully support Schedule 3 procedures and encourage nurses to utilise and develop their skills.
Training, CPD & Professional Development
- £1000 CPD budget + paid CPD leave
- Fully funded additional CPD (including Schedule 3 training where beneficial)
- Regular in-house training sessions
- Monthly 1:1 mentoring to support development and wellbeing
About Us
We are a fiercely independent practice, with Directors who work within the hospital and know every member of staff personally. With an RVN on our board of Directors, the nursing voice is always represented at management level. We have a clear and supportive management structure, including team leads, managers, and Directors, and we place a strong emphasis on wellbeing and work–life balance. We are proud to have:
- A Social Committee organising events throughout the year
- A Sustainability Committee helping reduce our environmental impact
- A Wellbeing Team focused on mental health and support
How to Apply
For further information or to submit an application (including CV and covering letter), please contact: Lyndsay Hughes
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: £34,000.00-£36,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Company pension
- Cycle to work scheme
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
Licence/Certification: RCVS Registration (required)
Work Location: In person
Senior Registered Veterinary Nurse - Lead Late Ward Nurse in Swindon employer: The Drove Veterinary Hospital
Contact Detail:
The Drove Veterinary Hospital Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Registered Veterinary Nurse - Lead Late Ward Nurse in Swindon
✨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 would handle patient care challenges or team dynamics, and be ready to showcase your leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for animal care! During interviews, share stories that highlight your experience and dedication to improving patient outcomes. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly cares.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our amazing team at the hospital.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Registered Veterinary Nurse - Lead Late Ward Nurse in Swindon
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: When writing your application, let your passion for veterinary nursing shine through. We want to see your love for animal care and how it drives you to excel in this role.
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to highlight your leadership experience and clinical skills. We’re looking for someone who can coordinate a team effectively, so showcase any relevant experiences that demonstrate this.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to tell us why you’re the perfect fit for the Lead Late Ward Nurse position. Be specific about your achievements and how they align with our values and the responsibilities of the role.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets to us quickly and efficiently, plus you’ll find all the details you need about the role there!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Drove Veterinary Hospital
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you brush up on your clinical knowledge, especially around inpatient care. Be ready to discuss specific cases you've handled and how you ensured high standards of care. This will show that you're not just experienced but also passionate about the role.
✨Show Your Leadership Skills
Since this is a leadership position, prepare examples of how you've successfully led a team in the past. Think about times when you had to delegate tasks or resolve conflicts. Highlight your ability to maintain calm and effective communication in a fast-paced environment.
✨Understand the Workflow
Familiarise yourself with the hospital's workflow, especially during the late shift. Be prepared to discuss how you would ensure smooth transitions between shifts and maintain continuity of care. This shows that you’re proactive and understand the importance of teamwork.
✨Ask Thoughtful Questions
Prepare some insightful questions to ask at the end of your interview. This could be about the hospital's approach to professional development or how they support their nursing team. It demonstrates your genuine interest in the role and the organisation.