Senior Registered Veterinary Nurse - HDU & Wards

IVC; High Wycombe; On-site; GBP 23,000 - 38,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

6.6 weeks annual leave

Private medical insurance

Cycle to Work

pension

Relocation allowance

Pawsome Benefits

Learning & development opportunities

Job summary

Hamilton Specialist Referrals is seeking a Senior HDU & Wards Nurse to lead inpatient care with the Clinical Team Leader. The role blends hands-on nursing with team leadership in a fast-paced referral environment.

Ideal candidates are RVNs with strong HDU/ward experience, capable of coordinating patient flow and mentoring staff, on a 4-day rota across 07:00–20:30 with weekend duties.

Qualifications

• Significant experience in HDU/ward settings in a referral or busy hospital.
• Evidence of leadership or senior nursing experience preferred.
• Excellent communication with clinicians and team coordination.

Responsibilities

• Deliver inpatient care across HDU and wards with high clinical and welfare standards.
• Support governance through accurate record-keeping, infection control, and equipment upkeep.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and mentorship to nursing staff.

Skills

HDU/ward nursing

Leadership experience

Communication with clinicians

Team mentorship

Education

RCVS registration

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.

Hamilton Specialist Referrals are seeking a Senior HDU & Wards Nurse to become an integral part of our passionate, friendly team. If you are looking to take the next step in your career, and develop valuable leadership skills and experience, we would love to hear from you.

Make a difference, in a team you are proud to be a part of

We are seeking an experienced and confident Senior HDU & Wards Nurse to join our referral hospital and provide support to our Clinical Team Leader in a leadership role within our inpatient services. This position is ideal for an RVN with strong clinical experience in high-dependency and ward-based nursing who enjoys and mixture of providing hands on clinical care and supporting teams, coordinating patient flow and working closely with clinicians in a fast-paced referral environment.

As a Senior HDU & Wards RVN, you will provide excellent inpatient care and clinical leadership. On a rota with the HDU & Wards Clinical Team Leader you will provide an operational oversight across the HDU and inpatient wards, supporting the nursing team to deliver exceptional standards of care while ensuring safe, efficient workflow throughout the hospital.

Clinically, your role will focus on the recovery and ongoing care of hospitalised patients. You'll collaborate closely with the veterinary team to maintain the highest standards of nursing care. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and takes pride in positively impacting the wellbeing of our patients.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver exceptional patient care across HDU and inpatient wards, maintaining the highest clinical, professional and welfare standards.
• Support clinical governance through accurate record-keeping, infection control, and upkeep of wards and equipment.
• Provide day-to-day leadership and mentorship to the nursing team, fostering development, confidence and clinical excellence.
• Act as a key communication link between nurses, referral clinicians and coordinators to ensure seamless patient care.
• Participate in and support clinician ward rounds, ensuring treatment plans are implemented, monitored and escalated appropriately.
• Coordinate nursing workflow, including rota support, case prioritisation and continuity of care in a high-acuity environment
• Work collaboratively with the Clinical Team Leader, Workflow Coordinator and Patient Coordinator to optimise patient flow, admissions and discharges.

Who we are looking for…

• Registered Veterinary Nurse (RCVS)
• Significant experience working within a referral, busy primary care or out of hours hospital, including HDU or inpatient ward settings
• Confident communicator with the ability to liaise effectively with clinicians, coordinators and multidisciplinary teams
• Organised, calm and adaptable, with strong situational awareness
• Passionate about delivering gold-standard patient care and supporting team wellbeing
• Leadership or senior nursing experience is desirable
• Advanced nursing qualification would be advantageous

Work with an advanced caseload and state of the art facilities

Situated just outside of High Wycombe (J4, M40) Buckinghamshire, we deliver world-class exemplary clinical services, with a clear focus on the people that make that a reality. By nurturing our workforce we are able to offer the very best services to the pets entrusted into our care as well as to their owners.

Hamilton Specialist Referrals was born of the belief that there is room for a new wave of veterinary excellence across the UK. There is a strong focus on providing a personal and reassuring client experience from first contact through to discharge. Excellent clinical care delivered in a friendly and supportive manner to referring vets, is paramount to the team. The hospital is operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is able to offer the most advanced treatment options available for orthopaedic, neurology, soft tissue, and internal medicine cases.

Curating and developing a friendly, close-knit team is a central part of our working environment. Further qualifications and certificates are encouraged and fully supported as we feel strongly about our employees’ right to enjoy work and develop rewarding careers. We have a dedicated team of Specialists, RVNs, and a fantastic support teams.

Working Pattern

This is a full time position across a 4 day working week, between the hours of 07:00 and 20:30 on a rota basis. There is a 1 in 6 weekend rota (Saturday and Sunday), and you would ordinarily work 1-2 bank holidays per year.

Because our employees 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 of up to £37,500 DOE you will benefit from:

Work-life balance

• 6.6 weeks annual leave inclusive of bank holidays
• Increasing holiday allowance based on length of service
• Additional holiday entitlement for your birthday

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

Development

• CPD allowance
• 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

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

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.

£0 - £0 a year

Up to £37,500 DOE