Hospital Veterinary Nurse West Yorkshire

An excellent opportunity has arisen for an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse to join the day team at a large, RCVS-accredited 24/7 Small Animal Hospital and Emergency Service Centre in West Yorkshire. This is a genuine hospital nursing position offering exposure to complex inpatient, surgical, anaesthesia, ECC and referral cases alongside an exceptionally experienced veterinary and nursing team.

Working 40 hours across four days per week with a 1 in 4 weekend rota, the position would particularly suit an RVN with previous hospital, inpatient or anaesthesia experience who wants to continue developing advanced nursing skills within a structured and supportive clinical environment.

Key Highlights

• Permanent, full-time Hospital RVN position.
• 40 hours across 4 days per week.
• Combination of early and late shifts.
• 1 in 4 weekends.
• Weekend rota consists of two 10-hour shifts.
• RCVS-accredited 24-hour Small Animal Hospital and Emergency Service Centre.
• More than 60 colleagues across the wider hospital team.
• Dedicated day and night veterinary and nursing teams.
• First opinion, emergency and referral-level caseload.
• Advanced inpatient and anaesthesia nursing.
• CT scanning and advanced diagnostic imaging.
• Endoscopy and laparoscopic surgery.
• Advanced orthopaedic and soft tissue surgery.
• Schedule 3 development encouraged.
• Extensive in-house nursing expertise.
• Regular in-house CPD and support for further qualifications.
• Free onsite parking.

The Practice

This large, family-run small animal hospital was established in 2012 and has developed into an advanced 24-hour RCVS-accredited Hospital and Emergency Service Centre, providing first opinion care alongside OOH and referral support to 19 surrounding veterinary practices.

The hospital is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week, with veterinary and nursing colleagues onsite around the clock. This allows the nursing team to provide genuine continuity of care for hospitalised and critically ill patients rather than transferring cases elsewhere overnight. Vets4Pets

The wider team comprises more than 60 colleagues, with considerable postgraduate expertise across Emergency & Critical Care, Small Animal Surgery, Internal Medicine, Dentistry, Anaesthesia and Analgesia.

The current clinical team includes an RCVS Advanced Practitioner in Small Animal Medicine, a Veterinary Surgeon with a postgraduate certificate in dentistry and oral surgery, clinicians undertaking postgraduate certificates in medicine and surgery, and dedicated night Veterinary Surgeons with extensive ECC experience. Vets4Pets

There is equally strong nursing expertise. The hospital's Lead Inpatient RVN holds advanced qualifications in Small Animal Nursing, ECC, Anaesthesia and Analgesia, while other RVNs have particular interests and qualifications across anaesthesia, Schedule 3 surgery, inpatient nursing, feline nursing, medical nursing, surgical nursing, behaviour and Emergency & Critical Care. Vets4Pets

For an experienced RVN, this creates an excellent environment in which to learn from colleagues while continuing to build advanced hospital nursing skills.

Facilities and services include:

• CT scanning.
• Advanced ultrasonography.
• Digital radiography.
• Purpose-built dental suite with dental radiography.
• Rigid and flexible endoscopy.
• Dedicated laparoscopy suite.
• Advanced orthopaedic surgery.
• Fracture repair.
• Advanced soft tissue surgery including BOAS procedures.
• Internal medicine referrals.
• Behavioural referrals.
• 24-hour inpatient and emergency care.
• Advanced anaesthesia and patient monitoring.
• Extensive surgical and hospitalisation facilities. Vets4Pets

The Location

Located in West Yorkshire, the hospital is well positioned for candidates travelling from across the Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield and surrounding areas, with excellent access to the wider motorway network.

The practice provides free onsite parking directly outside the hospital, with 24/7 parking access for colleagues working across the hospital's different shift patterns. Vets4Pets

The Role

This is a permanent, full-time position working 40 hours per week across four days, providing a better working pattern than a conventional five-day nursing week.

The rota includes:

• Four working days per week.
• Combination of early and late shifts.
• 1 in 4 weekends.
• Two 10-hour shifts when working the weekend.

This is specifically a hospital nursing position, with RVNs playing a central role in inpatient, theatre, surgical and anaesthetic care.

You'll rotate through different clinical areas and gain exposure to patients ranging from routine first opinion cases through to complex medical, surgical, referral and emergency patients.

Depending on your existing skills and experience, responsibilities and development opportunities can include:

• Advanced inpatient nursing.
• Anaesthesia and advanced patient monitoring.
• Theatre and surgical nursing.
• Emergency and Critical Care.
• Feeding tube placement and management.
• Complex wound management.
• Drain placement and management.
• Caring for complex medical patients.
• Schedule 3 surgical procedures.
• Postoperative recovery and rehabilitation.
• Working alongside referral and certificate-holding clinicians.

Regular in-house CPD is provided and the hospital actively encourages nurses to pursue further qualifications and develop individual clinical interests.

The Candidate

The practice is particularly interested in an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse who can bring a good level of clinical experience to the existing hospital team.

Previous experience within a hospital environment would be advantageous, while strong anaesthesia and/or inpatient nursing experience is particularly desirable.

The role would suit an RVN who wants to progress beyond routine first opinion nursing and become increasingly confident managing complex hospitalised, surgical and emergency patients.

While the main requirement is for an experienced RVN, the practice may also consider a newly qualified nurse with substantial relevant hospital experience gained during training, particularly where they can demonstrate good practical experience in anaesthesia and inpatient care.

You'll need to be compassionate, clinically motivated and comfortable working within a busy multidisciplinary hospital environment where teamwork and communication are essential.

Benefits

• Permanent 40-hour contract.
• Four-day working week.
• 1 in 4 weekend rota.
• Structured early and late shift pattern.
• Extensive hospital nursing experience.
• Regular in-house CPD.
• Support and encouragement towards further qualifications.
• Schedule 3