We have an exciting opportunity for a registered veterinary nurse to join our night team in providing exceptional overnight care to our patients.
The successful candidate will have a passion for ward nursing and inpatient care and will be responsible for delivering bespoke care plans to our referral patients following orthopaedic, soft tissue or neurosurgery. As a night nurse at Kentdale Referrals you will work alongside a patient care assistant, with a Veterinary Surgeon available for on-call support if required.
You will work closely with all team members to ensure the smooth running of all clinical areas and kennels and will have clear communication lines with all other teams to ensure the practice is providing outstanding patient and client care.
Main purpose & goals
- Ensure the highest standard of care is provided 100% of the time to 100% of our patients.
- Achieve the above whilst bearing in mind that the practice is a business and therefore costs need to be carefully monitored and managed sensibly at all times.
- Maintain accurate client and patient records.
- Provide an efficient, courteous, and helpful service to all clients, suppliers and external contacts, under all conditions at all times.
- Participate with the admission and discharge process of patients, the accuracy of which is of vital importance.
- To demonstrate a commitment to continued professional development.
- Liaise between the nursing team and other teams within the practice to ensure effective lines of communication at all times.
- Promote our services, employees and products, both in and out of the practice at all times.
- Understand and implement practice and group policies.
- Take an active role in the training programme of veterinary nurses and animal care/ kennel assistants.
Hours are as follows: 8pm – 8am this is based on a rolling pattern of 4 nights on (Monday - Thursday) with 10 nights off, averaging 22 hours/ week.
Key responsibilities
- Undertake all general nursing duties within the practice and provide assistance to all veterinary surgeons when required.
- To carry out and be accountable for any specific tasks or responsibilities allocated by the Clinical Nursing manager, Practice Manager.
- Ensure you are organised and well prepared for the patients coming into the practice and you provide support where necessary to cover low staffing periods.
- Administer treatment (e.g injections, medications, fluid therapy, dressings and euthanasia as directed) and dispense medication as instructed by the veterinary surgeon all in accordance with professional guidelines and practice policies.
- Ensure you keep accurate records with regards to medical records, anaesthetic sheets, hospitalisation forms etc.
- Care for all in-patients including pre-op care/medication, monitoring and recovery and post op care/medication.
- Ensure effective stock rotation/replenishment where applicable.
- Participate in any out of hours nursing rota as agreed on a shared rota system
- Support with reception duties where necessary, reporting on progress of in-patients to clients by telephone as needed.
- Participate in the cleaning and maintenance of the premises and patient areas and particularly the clinical areas with regular cleaning/routine care of all equipment to include the correct methods of sterilisation and reporting any faults or damage.
- Provide support and assistance to the Clinical Nursing Manager and Practice Manager as required.
- Assist the practice with any marketing initiatives which may include occasional open evenings or open days.
- Understand health and safety risks and read all information supplied to ensure the correct use of anaesthetic machines and scavenger units, regular cleaning, maintenance and servicing of equipment etc.
- Familiarise yourself with the Health and Safety Policies and refer any concerns to the Clinical Nursing Manager.
- Welcome and support any visiting veterinary surgeons, students and work experience employees to ensure safe methods of working.
- Attend regular meetings with the Clinical Nursing Managers and other employees to ensure you are working effectively and efficiently as a team.
- Participate in relevant CPD appropriate to your role plus any training in-house, ensuring posttraining feedback forms are completed and where appropriate information is shared with team members.
Why Linnaeus?
We are proud to be Linnaeus, part of Mars.
Linnaeus is a forward-thinking group of highly respected primary care and specialist referral practices in the UK and Ireland. Being family owned and part of Mars Veterinary Health, the largest veterinary company in the world, allows us to focus on advancing the veterinary profession to provide industry-leading pet care and unique career opportunities for our people.
- We pride ourselves in offering high-quality excellence of service and clinical care for our clients and their pets
- We lead on sustainability and collectively drive positive change for people, pets and the planet
- We prioritise your mental health and wellbeing – valuing equity, diversity and inclusion
- We support your personal and professional development with best-in-class career frameworks and training programmes. We will empower and support you to grow your career from day one.
We team up within our Mars family in partnership for a stronger future.
Linnaeus is an equal-opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment. We treat each other fairly and equitably and we are committed to fostering a culture that is inclusive and diverse for all our Associates.
At Linnaeus, A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS starts with a better world for our people.