Referral Veterinary Nurse

Highland Vet Referrals; Inverness; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Relocation allowance

£2000 welcome bonus

6.8 weeks' annual leave

Birthday leave

Job summary

Highland Vet Referrals is seeking an enthusiastic Referral Veterinary Nurse to join our team in Inverness. You will work within a referral hospital environment delivering advanced nursing care across orthopaedics, soft tissue surgery, internal medicine, cardiology, dermatology, pain management and ECC.

You will be supported by our dedicated VCAs and have access to on-site CT, ultrasound, DR X-ray, IDEXX lab suite, and coagulation testing to provide top-tier patient care.

Qualifications

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS.
• Experience in clinical practice with anaesthesia and inpatient care.
• Experience with complex cases in a referral or advanced-care environment would be advantageous.
• Strong communication skills and ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams.
• Commitment to evidence-based practice, clinical governance, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Carry out advanced nursing procedures such as intensive monitoring, wound management, and specialised imaging.
• Support complex surgeries.
• Provide critical care for patients.
• Assist with advanced diagnostic tests.
• Administer/perform laser treatment.
• Support with complex medication regime.
• Monitor patients with serious or chronic conditions, delivering tailored nursing care.
• Provide detailed aftercare instructions and support for owners of animals with long-term or complex conditions.

Skills

RCVS registration

Strong communication

Team collaboration

Job description

At inspiring vet care, our people are at the heart of everything we do. As the UK’s number one vet care provider, we're trusted with the care of over 2 million animals, delivering our purpose of healthier animals and happier owners.

We are seeking an enthusiastic, team orientated Referral Veterinary Nurse to join our fantastic team at Highland Vet Referrals - offering a relocation allowance, welcome bonus* and no weekends or OOHs!

Highland Vet Referrals, founded in 2022, is an exciting and rapidly growing referral practice delivering a wide range of specialist surgical and medical services across the stunning Highlands and Islands. We’re on the lookout for a passionate RVN to join our warm, supportive team - backed by our dedicated VCAs - so you can focus on what matters most: providing exceptional care to our patients. You'll have the opportunity to work with the latest tech including onsite CT, ultrasound, Scoping, DR Xray, a full IDEXX lab suite with EPOC, and in-house coagulation testing - giving you the tools to provide top-tier care.

The Capital of the Highlands, Inverness offers a lively urban lifestyle with cafes, restaurants, live music, and the renowned Eden Court venue. If you like the outdoors there is a huge variety of activities, hill walking, wild swimming, mountain biking, paddleboarding in lochs and rivers. Escape from the hustle and embrace what our stunning local area has to offer! In addition, Inverness is family friendly boasting great schools, many parks, a good leisure centre, and an ice rink.

About Our Caseload:

Orthopaedics and Soft Tissue Surgery:

Caring for patients undergoing anything from routine lump removals to complex orthopaedic, soft tissue, and spinal surgeries. You will work closely with our experienced surgeon and play a vital role in ensuring the highest standards of patient care throughout their surgical journey.

Internal Medicine & Cardiology:

Assisting our Medicine Vet with a diverse range of non-surgical cases, making use of our advanced diagnostic facilities, including ultrasound, CT, and endoscopy.

Dermatology:

In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to work alongside our visiting European Specialist Dermatologist, gaining hands‑on experience in dermatological procedures such as intradermal allergy testing, skin scrapes, and blood tests.

Pain Management:

Supporting our Pain Management Vet, who works closely with owners to tailor treatment plans using tools such as acupuncture, medication, and home environment adaptations to maximise patient comfort.

ECC:

Delivering advanced nursing care to complex and critical cases through our referral services and also through our emergency care provider, Highland Vet Emergencies.

How You’ll Make a Difference

As a Referral Nurse, you will deliver advanced nursing care to complex cases within a referral hospital environment, supporting patients, clients, and clinical teams across a range of disciplines.

You’ll work as part of a knowledgeable team, contributing to high standards of nursing care, supporting clinical decision-making, and sharing your experience and knowledge with colleagues to continually improve patient outcomes and service delivery.

If you want to work in an environment where your compassion and nursing skills make a genuine difference every day and be part of a warm, supportive team that truly values you and the work you do, we'd love to hear from you.

Working Pattern

• 40 hours per week over 5 days
• Varied shift times within the hours of 07:30-20:30
• No weekends or out of hours

Key Responsibilities

• Carry out advanced nursing procedures such as intensive monitoring, wound management, and specialised imaging.
• Support complex surgeries
• Provide critical care for patients
• Assist with advanced diagnostic tests
• Administer/perform laser treatment
• Support with complex medication regime
• Monitor patients with serious or chronic conditions, delivering tailored nursing care
• Provide detailed aftercare instructions and support for owners of animals with long-term or complex conditions.

You Might Be a Great Fit If...

We welcome RVNs of all backgrounds and experience levels to apply. If this is your first step into a referral practice, this is a great opportunity to grow your confidence and skills while being supported to reach your professional goals. However we also have a varied and interesting caseload that would support the ongoing development for a more experienced RVN too.

• Registration as a Veterinary Nurse with the RCVS
• Experience in clinical practice with solid foundational nursing skills in anaesthesia and inpatient care
• Experience working with complex cases in a referral or advanced-care environment would be advantageous
• Strong communication skills and the ability to work effectively within multidisciplinary teams
• A commitment to evidence-based practice, clinical governance, and continuous improvement

How We’ll Support You

At inspiring vet care, we’re committed to supporting your development in a referral setting. When you join us, you’ll benefit from:

• A referral nursing role delivering complex and rewarding caseloads across multiple disciplines
• Access e-learning courses and practical workshops through our dedicated Nurse Academy to improve your clinical knowledge and technical skills
• Clear career pathways with progression opportunities into specialist referral nursing or leadership roles
• Ongoing learning and development to support advanced clinical and professional growth
• A collaborative, values-led culture focused on care, learning, and continuous improvement

What We Offer Our Team

• Relocation allowance
• £2000 welcome bonus (subject to eligibility)
• 6.8 weeks' annual leave
• Additional annual leave for your birthday, which will be added to your holiday allowance
• Increasing annual leave accrued through length of service
• Enhanced family-friendly policies, including maternity, paternity, adoption, shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Employee wellbeing initiatives including Healthcare Cash Plan and Cycle to Work scheme
• £550 CPD allowance plus 24hrs paid leave
• RCVS and VDS fees covered
• Pension scheme
• Discounted veterinary care
• Voluntary benefits: choose from a range of benefits to suit you, including Green Cars salary sacrifice scheme and access to discounts and cashback with hundreds of participating retailers

We’re committed to supporting our people through career development opportunities, wellbeing initiatives and access to world‑class learning resources.

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to take the next step in your career, inspiring vet care offers the support, opportunity and community to help you grow.

Up to £32,420 DOE