Registered Veterinary Nurse

Job Description

We are currently looking for a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join the team in Glasgow and Lanarkshire.

If this sounds like a role you would be interested in, please read on for more information.

• Hours – Full time – 37.5 hours per week
• Salary – £27,358.50 – £29,835.00 per annum (depending on experience)
• Contract Type – Permanent

About the Scottish SPCA

As Scotland’s animal welfare charity, we have been on-hand to protect animals and prevent cruelty since 1839 – that’s over 186 years of creating a better world for all animals. We’ve grown to become a national charity which celebrates the strength of the human animal bond and enriches the lives of animals and people. We are Scotland’s animal champions.

What does a Registered Veterinary Nurse do?

The Registered Veterinary Nurse will assist the Head Nurse and Lead Veterinary Surgeon as part of the clinic animal nursing team. They will provide a high standard of client facing customer service and clinical care whilst promoting animal welfare and supporting both internal and external Veterinary Surgeons in an RVN led clinic environment. Our clinics in Glasgow and Lanarkshire operate Monday Friday, with no weekend, out of hours or on call.

The RVN will be responsible for undertaking Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre (ARRC) animal assessments, triaging and prioritising their care and ensuring only cases that require veterinary surgeon intervention are escalated appropriately. They will use their clinical expertise to confirm the success of treatment plans, complete routine care and wellness checks, and work with the ARRC teams to minimise time in care and maximise opportunity to find new homes or fosters.

RVNs will also provide supportive care for animals receiving treatment within the Veterinary Department, including the monitoring of animals undergoing surgical procedures and in patients. They will assist the internal and external Veterinary Surgeons in the diagnosis, treatment and care of Scottish SPCA animals.

Overview of main duties and responsibilities

• Work collaboratively with ARRC teams to undertake autonomous patient assessments, applying clinical expertise to prioritise cases in line with animal welfare needs and organisational objectives, with a focus on reducing length of stay.
• Utilise advanced nursing judgement to collaborate with internal and external veterinary surgeons, contributing to the development and review of pragmatic, evidence based treatment plans.
• Model the Society’s core values – Committed, Compassionate, Professional, Expert, Collaborative, and Adaptable – in all aspects of clinical and interpersonal work.
• Use autonomous clinical judgement to triage cases, escalating to veterinary surgeons where necessary, ensuring RVN skills are used to their full professional scope and veterinary surgeon time is optimally protected.
• Act as a positive ambassador for the Scottish SPCA in all professional interactions, supporting public events, media engagements, and fundraising initiatives as required.
• Ongoing demonstration of all RCVS Day One Competences, Skills and Professional Behaviours for Veterinary Nurses.
• Assist external veterinary surgeons and care delivery partners to deliver high quality nursing care during diagnostic procedures and surgeries, including anaesthetic monitoring, radiography, sample collection, surgical prep, and post operative recovery.
• Lead and conduct nurse consultations and outpatient care for the public and foster carers, delivering proactive clinical advice and animal care support with a high level of autonomy and responsibility.
• Share learning with colleagues and assist in the development of all staff at the veterinary clinic by participation in staff training.

What makes a good Registered Veterinary Nurse?

• Qualified RVN: a minimum 1 year post qualification experience would be preferred, but not essential.
• Practical experience working with a range of different animal species including exotics.
• Experience delivering outpatient services and client facing veterinary care.
• Commitment to animal welfare.
• Client and customer focussed ways of working.
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Resilient and calm in the face of difficult situations.
• Willingness to work within group shift pattern.
• Compliant with RCVS CPD Requirements.
• Subject to a Disclosure Scotland standard check.

Please see full Job Description link for more detailed information on the role.

The Scottish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is an Equal Opportunities Employer. We recognise that a diverse and inclusive workforce is essential to achieving our core mission.