Overview
Job details: Posted 22 January 2026. Salary Grade 5, £28,031– £31,236 per annum, pro rata + 6% allowance for weekend working. Location: Glasgow. Job Type: Technical and Specialist. Reference: 189577. Expiry: 19 February 2026 at 23:45.
Job Advert
Full time and part time posts available. These posts are open ended (permanent). Part-time, 0.8 FTE, 28 hours per week (4 days) Monday to Sunday. Full-time, 1 FTE, 35 hours per week, Monday to Sunday.
Please specify in your cover letter whether you are interested in a part-time or full-time position.
Curious about life in a fast-paced referral hospital? Here’s your chance to find out! We’re offering an exciting opportunity for a dedicated and compassionate veterinary nurse to join our dynamic team.
At The Small Animal Hospital, you’ll be part of a collaborative and supportive environment where your clinical skills will be fully utilised and developed. You’ll rotate through a variety of specialist areas including:
- Surgical, medical, and feline wards
- Theatre complex (including anaesthesia)
- Oncology
- Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
- Receiving services (Surgery, Neurology, Internal Medicine)
This role is ideal for a motivated individual eager to deliver exceptional patient care and explore the diverse world of hospital nursing. While previous referral experience is desirable, it’s not essential—we provide comprehensive training and mentorship to help you thrive.
Why join us?
We offer a fantastic benefits package, including:
- 35-hour flexible working week
- 41 days of leave (including public holidays)
- Competitive pension scheme
- 20% staff discount on veterinary services and products
- CPD allowance and subsidised further education
- A supportive and inclusive working environment
- 24/7 confidential employee support service and wellbeing app
- Exclusive staff discounts from high street retailers
Additional Info
- Participation in the Bank Holiday rota is required (with additional pay)
- Weekend working - 1 in 4, with 2 days off during the week.
- We have full-time and part-time (4-day week) positions available; please specify in your cover letter which you are applying for.
Interested?
We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re exploring a new direction or ready to take the next step in your nursing career, get in touch for an informal chat:
sah-nursingenquiries@glasgow.ac.uk
Sharon Smith – 0141 330 5391
Job Purpose
Provide a focus between clients, veterinary surgeons, nursing staff and students. Carry out nursing duties to the highest standard.
Main Duties and Responsibilities
- Nursing: Responsible for providing and overseeing the complete nursing care of patients within a recognised specialism in a busy hospital environment.
- Prioritise patient care and manage an unpredictable and high intensity workload. Problem solve to ensure best patient care outcomes.
- Perform a variety of advanced nursing skills including monitoring and maintenance of general anaesthesia, radiography, Schedule 3 procedures, dispensing controlled drugs (CD) and maintaining the CD register and operating a range of laboratory, monitoring and diagnostic equipment.
- Perform nursing clinical examination to in-patients and for patients arriving for emergency appointments. Provide first aid interventions pending clinician assessment.
- Recognise deterioration and improvement in patient status and know when to adjust care plan requirements and when to communicate changes to the clinician in charge.
- Interpret a range of laboratory test results and know when results need to be immediately reported to clinician in charge of case.
- Disseminate information gathered at daily rounds to team members.
- Responsible for performing and assisting with prescribed treatment regimens under the direction of the clinician or senior veterinary nurse.
- Communicate with external and internal parties including referring vets, clients, clinical pathology laboratory and the postmortem room.
- Respond to advice calls and either deal with the call where appropriate or collect the appropriate information and pass it to the relevant clinician.
- Triage out-of-hours emergency calls and make appropriate decisions regarding emergency cases, liaising with the duty vet as required.
- Coordinate out-patient clinics or clinical investigations and provide expert nursing advice to clients; assist referring vets in managing patients and contacting practices for further information as required.
- Deputise for Senior Nurse when absent as directed by the line manager, supervising area(s) and performing senior nursing tasks as required.
- Maintain stock levels and ensure hospital equipment and instrumentation are maintained and cleaned.
- Ensure deceased patients are dealt with correctly and in accordance with owners’ instructions and hospital policy.
- Provide clinical nursing cover in all areas of the SAH at weekends and Bank Holidays on a rotational basis.
- Maintain high standards of hygiene, cleanliness and organisation.
- Dispense prescribed medications with understanding of VMD regulations and administration issues for commonly prescribed veterinary medicines including controlled and cytotoxic drugs.
- Supervise and direct veterinary care assistants and students within area of responsibility.
- Ensure all tasks are carried out to the highest standard and Health and Safety protocols are adhered to.
- Create accurate client invoices in time for discharge and monitor outstanding invoices; inform finance if large debts arise.
- Maintain RCVS registered status by completing CPD and paying the retention fee.
- Teaching/Training: ongoing supervision and training of non-academic staff and students; assist and support student veterinary nurses with Nursing Progress Log; assess students during DOPs and OSCEs; conduct inductions; supervise staff and students.
- Administration: maintain patient records; ensure Health & Safety regulations are followed; develop protocols and SOPs; perform out-of-hours admin duties; manage quotations and insurance forms; liaise with clients and insurers; assist with staffing levels in case of sickness or absence.
- Research: assist with data collection for teaching and research purposes.
Knowledge/Qualifications
Essential
- A1 RCVS Veterinary Nursing qualification and fully registered.
- A2 Knowledge of many aspects of veterinary nursing, protocols and procedures to ensure the highest standard of care.
- A3 Knowledge of current Health & Safety Legislation.
Desirable
- B1 Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing or Degree in Veterinary Nursing
- B2 Clinical Coach experience or willingness to undertake training.
Skills
Essential
- C1 Evidenced ability to perform a range of nursing skills.
- C2 Evidenced ability to work largely unsupervised.
- C3 Evidenced ability to work well within a team.
- C4 High initiative and forward planning.
- C5 Excellent communication skills.
- C6 Excellent organisational skills.
- C7 Ability to adapt nursing techniques to latest developments.
Desirable
- D1 Good IT skills.
- D2 Ability to operate a range of laboratory and diagnostic equipment.
Experience
Essential
- E1 Ability to demonstrate competencies from previous veterinary nurse roles.
Desirable
- F1 Experience working in a veterinary hospital.
- F2 Experience supervising and instructing veterinary or veterinary nursing students.
Terms and Conditions
Salary will be Grade 5, £28,031 - £31,236 per annum, pro rata + 6% uplift for weekend working.
Full-time and part-time posts available. These posts are open ended (permanent).
Please specify in your cover letter whether you are interested in a part-time or full-time position.
Part-time, 0.8 FTE, 28 hours per week (4 days) Monday to Sunday.
Full-time, 1 FTE, 35 hours per week, Monday to Sunday.
As a valued member of our team, you can expect:
- A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture where talents are developed, nurtured, and success is shared.
- An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full-time staff, pension, benefits and discount packages.
- A flexible approach to working.
- A commitment to support health and wellbeing, including a free 6-month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University.
We are committed to equality, diversity and inclusion. Applications are welcome from across our communities including BAME and other protected groups. Read more on equality and diversity at the University website.
We endorse Athena Swan and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.
Visit our website for more information: https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/
Closing date: 23.45 on Thursday 19 February 2026
