Night-Time Registered Veterinary Nurse
Gainsborough Referrals – Gainsborough, Lincolnshire
Hours: 40 hours per week
Shift pattern: Monday to Friday, 11:00pm–7:00am (finishing 7am on a Saturday morning)
Salary: £30-35k per annum
Job type: Permanent, full-time
Gainsborough Referrals is an independent small animal referral practice looking for a Registered Veterinary Nurse to provide overnight care for our hospitalised patients.
This is not an emergency or out-of-hours consultation role. The practice will be closed to new admissions overnight, and the nurse will care only for patients that have already been admitted by our daytime clinical team.
The role
The overnight nurse will be responsible for maintaining a calm, safe and comfortable environment for our hospitalised patients. Duties will include:
- Carrying out scheduled patient observations
- Administering prescribed medication
- Monitoring intravenous fluid therapy
- Providing appropriate feeding, toileting and general nursing care
- Recording observations and updating patient records accurately
- Maintaining patient comfort, cleanliness and welfare
- Recognising changes in a patient’s condition
- Contacting the on-call veterinary surgeon where advice or intervention is required
- Providing a clear handover to the daytime clinical team
- Completing light ward-related cleaning and restocking when clinical duties allow
There are no routine emergency admissions, telephone triage duties or client consultations during the shift.
About you
We are looking for someone who:
- Is registered with the RCVS as a Veterinary Nurse
- Is confident monitoring post-operative and hospitalised patients
- Can work calmly and independently
- Has good clinical judgement and knows when to escalate concerns
- Maintains accurate and thorough clinical records
- Is reliable, compassionate and attentive to patient welfare
- Is comfortable working overnight and, for much of the shift, independently
Previous referral or hospital experience would be helpful but is not essential. Appropriate induction, training and clinical protocols will be provided.
Support
Although this is an independent overnight role, the nurse will not be expected to make veterinary decisions alone. An on-call veterinary surgeon will be available for advice and escalation throughout the night, with clear protocols covering patient deterioration and emergencies.
Working with us
Gainsborough Referrals is a friendly, independent referral practice providing specialist and advanced surgical, neurological and diagnostic care. We are a small team and place considerable importance on patient welfare, good communication and supporting one another.
Benefits include:
- A predictable Monday-to-Friday shift pattern
- No routine emergency admissions or client appointments
- Paid RCVS registration
- Workplace pension
- Staff discount
- Comprehensive induction and overnight clinical protocols
- On-call veterinary support throughout each shift
To apply, please submit your CV together with a brief covering letter explaining your experience of caring for hospitalised patients and your interest in permanent night work.
Applicants must be eligible to work in the UK and registered, or eligible to register, with the RCVS.
Pay: £30,000.00-£35,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
