JOB TITLE: Registered Veterinary Nurse (Wards Focus)

REPORTING TO: Lead Wards RVN, Head of Nursing Services

START DATE: Autumn 2024

HOURS: Full-Time (40-Hours/Week)

SALARY: £32,000-36,000 DOE

London Vet Specialists are recruiting for an enthusiastic Registered Veterinary Nurse with an interest in patient care and wards nursing to join the team as a Wards-Focused RVN in our new hospital in Hammersmith. It’s an exciting opportunity to join LVS as your input will help create and shape our new multidisciplinary referral centre. The ideal candidate will have experience working in a busy hospital environment, with referral experience desired but not essential.

Company Profile

London Vet Specialists originated as a boutique small animal referral centre in Belsize Park, North London and in May 2024, relocated to a new state-of-the-art site in Hammersmith, West London. The hospital boasts an incredible location on the banks of the river Thames, nestled within the bustling and thriving Hammersmith Fulham neighbourhood. We now have a complete compliment of specialist-led services, including orthopaedic and soft-tissue surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, anaesthesia analgesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, neurology emergency and critical care.

Linnaeus is a forward-thinking partnership of highly respected primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, comprising some of the best clinicians in the profession. Linnaeus invest in quality practices who put patient care at the heart of everything they do. Together we provide a growing community of like-minded veterinary professionals who are passionate about what they do.

Overview

The Wards-Focused RVN will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Head of Nursing Services (HoNS), Lead Nurses, Clinical Director and Clinicians across the hospital to ensure the efficient delivery of outstanding patient care within the wards ICU. Your responsibilities will include the provision of high standards of patient and client care, wards nursing and care for inpatients across all disciplines, assisting with procedures and monitoring of sedation anaesthesia. You will also assist with keeping accurate hospitalisation records in the SmartFlow system to ensure our inpatients are appropriately managed during their hospitalisation. You will work enthusiastically with the nursing team to help maintain a happy and efficient working environment.

As a focused role, we recognise and appreciate your area of special interest and so your work will be scheduled and prioritised within the wards; though you may be required to help in another area within the capabilities of an RVN when necessary.

Key Responsibilities

Provision of a high and sustainable quality of patient care, primarily within the wards ICU services.

Demonstrate an excellent work ethic and capability in all nursing duties, including a high level of hygiene and the ability to recognise and undertake relevant actions with regards to infection control.

Prioritise inpatient care and the implementation of nursing care plans.

Maintain patient accommodation and prioritise their comfort during hospitalisation.

Manage inpatient IV catheters, central lines, feeding tubes and urinary catheters.

Implement nutrition plans tailored to the patient.

Ensure accurate record keeping is undertaken, especially regarding anaesthetic and hospitalisation records in SmartFlow.

Assist with stock management within your department and co-ordinate with the pharmacy purchasing assistant.

Work closely with the Lead Nurses and HoNS to plan for the daily case load and highlight any issues or concerns that may arise.

Participate in team briefings and meetings to ensure effective and efficient communication.

Under the direction of the clinicians, contact and liaise with clients to provide/ receive patient updates.

Take part in team reflections of incidents and near misses, to continually improve our patient care and safety, including Halo reporting.

As a cat-friendly clinic, you will support the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) cat-friendly standards across the hospital.

As a dog-friendly clinic, you will support the Dogs Trust and British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA) dog-friendly standards across the hospital.

Seek opportunities to maintain competence in all areas of nursing to ensure a strong level of general nursing capabilities are achieved. Where suitable take part in role swaps to preserve this competence.

Take part in a range of team committees such as our Sustainability, Culture Wellbeing or Dog/Cat-Friendly committees, to both explore areas of personal interest and help to shape our impact, culture and standards as a hospital.

Benefits:

5 Weeks' Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays

Additional Birthday Leave

RCVS VDS Fees Paid

Enhanced Equal Family Leave

Enhanced Sickness Pay

Life Assurance

External CPD Funded

Extensive Free Online Linnaeus CPD Program

Progression Opportunities

Generous Staff Social Calendar

Wellness Program Including:

Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Cycle-To-Work Scheme

Recruitment Referral Reward Scheme

Flu Annual Flu Jab

Eyecare Vouchers

At Linnaeus, we are committed to supporting the physical and mental health of all our Associates. We have an amazing team of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) across our practices and central support office in addition to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme which is available for everyone.

If you would like to apply for this role, please click the Apply Button or for more information, please feel free to reach out directly to our Referral Nursing Talent Acquisition Business Partner – Becca Thompson at [email protected]