Registered Veterinary Nurse - Small Animal (FTC)

British Veterinary Association; Fishguard; On-site; GBP 25,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A veterinary practice in Fishguard is seeking a dedicated Registered Veterinary Nurse for a fixed-term maternity cover. The role involves nursing care for patients, supporting surgeries, and training student nurses. We offer a competitive salary and benefits including a £1,000 Welcome Bonus, 6.6 weeks annual leave, and a £550 CPD allowance. Join our enthusiastic team in beautiful Pembrokeshire.

Benefits

Welcome Bonus of £1,000

6.6 weeks annual leave

Private Medical Insurance

Cycle to Work scheme

Pension - 5% Employee/3% Employer

Discounted staff pet care

Qualifications

• Experience in nursing care for hospitalized and day patients.
• Ability to perform procedures like nail clipping and dental checks.
• Familiarity with administering medications and vaccinations.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care for hospitalized and day patients.
• Assist during surgeries and procedures.
• Oversee and train ANAs and nursing students.

Skills

Clinical coaching experience

Monitoring anaesthetics

Client consultations

Infection control

Team training

Job description

We are looking for a dedicated Registered Veterinary Nurse to become a part of our existing Nursing team to cover a 12-month fixed term maternity cover period from September 2025 onwards based at our Fishguard Practice. You will be led by our Head Nurse and supported by our effective Nursing Team.

The role involves nursing care for hospitalised and day patients encompassing a broad range of duties. This includes monitoring anaesthetics, client consultations, carrying out procedures like nail clipping and dental checks, administering medications and vaccinations, and assisting during surgeries and procedures. Additionally, nurses help with infection control, stock management, and equipment maintenance. They assist with house visits, oversee and train ANAs and nursing students, dispense pharmaceuticals, use lab equipment, assist with marketing, adhere to health and safety policies, manage waste control, and help solve day-to-day issues as needed by the Head Nurse.

Clinical coaching experience is desirable as the role will include training Student Nurses/ANA's.

We are pleased to offer a Welcome Bonus of £1,000 for this position to eligible candidates.

Rota patterns that work for you

We care about the work/life balance of our people and do our best to ensure your needs are met. The standard shift pattern is 37.5 hours across 5 days 8:30am-5pm each day, plus 1 in 5 Saturdays on a shared rota covered by the whole Nursing Team equally. We make alternative provision for our clients to offer Out of Hours Services but we do continue to offer In Patient Care on a case‑by‑case basis supporting our Vet Team where required.

Join us in a beautiful location

Our practice is based in beautiful Pembrokeshire surrounded by the most stunning coastal and countryside that Wales has to offer – the extent of recreational advantages along with breath‑taking scenery the best location offering 186 miles the longest and oldest established section of the Wales Coastal Path passing by 58 beaches and 14 harbours.

Excellent facilities including our aquatic treadmill for hydrotherapy services as the only Vet led facility in Pembrokeshire.

Our main small animal surgery in Haverfordwest offers surgery, dentistry, internal laboratory, ultrasound, radiography, and endoscopy.

Our Fishguard branch has a unique facility Vet Led base offering our aquatic treadmill for hydrotherapy delivered by hydrotherapy specialists including acupuncture. This is also where our rehab/physio Team are based. We also have an internal laboratory, dentistry, and surgical facilities at this site with use of laser in both sites.

Join our enthusiastic and experienced team

We are a blended team of experienced and talented team members with veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses, and student nurses. The team also includes a Practice Manager, Reception co‑ordinator and our reception team covering the three sites. We have an advanced practitioner in Small Animal Surgery who performs our advanced surgeries once weekly allowing the Vet Team to deal with orthopaedic work and complex soft tissue surgery in house.

One of our Vets is currently undertaking an Exotics Certificate, we are supporting a further Vet to potentially develop their surgical skills, and several our Vet Team being able to perform acupuncture and alternative rehabilitation support.

We enjoy regular social events including our annual Team Building Day in the summer and Christmas get together and there are also other optional get‑togethers all year round previously some of our Clinical Team have provided voluntary support.

Because our employee's matter

We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our people, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive base salary, you will benefit from

Work life balance

• 6.6 weeks annual leave
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service

Wellbeing

• Enhanced family‑friendly policies, including maternity/paternity/adoption/shared parental and surrogacy pay
• Private Medical Insurance
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Initiatives focused on employee wellbeing, including discounted gym membership
• Non‑accidental injury support

Development

• £550 CPD allowance with 24 hours paid pro rata
• Certificate support
• Learning and development opportunities via the IVC Evidensia Academy
• Access to Vetlexicon - our online encyclopaedia provider
• All our Vets & Nurses can apply for research funding
• Infection Prevention and Control Programme
• Quality Improvement Programme

Professional Memberships

• VDS cover
• RCVS fees

Additional

• Pawsome Benefits - reward gateway giving discounts and cashback with 100's of retailers
• Pension - 5% Employee/3% Employer
• Discounted staff pet care