Theatre Registered Veterinary Nurse - East London

Theatre Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) – East London

12-Month Maternity Cover | Veterinary Hospital | Full-Time

An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) with a passion for surgical nursing and theatre practice to join a busy and highly regarded veterinary hospital in East London on a 12-month maternity cover contract.

This position has become available as a valued member of the nursing team begins maternity leave, creating an excellent opportunity for a skilled RVN to step into a Senior Theatre Veterinary Nurse role within a dynamic hospital environment.

Applications are welcomed from experienced RVNs with strong theatre experience, as well as ambitious nurses looking to take the next step into leadership. Previous senior experience is not essential for candidates who demonstrate a genuine enthusiasm for theatre nursing, excellent organisational skills, and a desire to develop within a theatre lead role.

The Opportunity

This full-time position (40 hours per week) is ideally suited to a Registered Veterinary Nurse who thrives in a surgical environment and enjoys working as part of a large multidisciplinary team. The successful candidate will take responsibility for the day-to-day management and efficiency of the hospital’s four operating theatres, ensuring the highest standards of patient care, safety, and clinical excellence are maintained.

The role offers flexibility across four or five working days per week and includes

• 1:6 weekend rotation with time off in lieu (TOIL)
• 2 bank holidays per year
• Participation in a last resort on-call rota (1:10 weeks)

Key Responsibilities

The Senior Theatre Registered Veterinary Nurse will play an integral role in maintaining theatre standards and supporting the wider nursing team.

Responsibilities will include

• Conducting general anaesthesia (GA) sheet audits
• Completing pre-GA checklist audits
• Delivering GA and theatre training to colleagues
• Maintaining and updating theatre set-up folders
• Ensuring surgical kits are correctly maintained and equipment training is delivered
• Organising and coordinating the daily theatre schedule
• Troubleshooting anaesthesia and theatre-related issues
• Managing the ordering of medical air
• Maintaining surgical stock levels and supplies
• Providing ventilator and ethylene oxide training
• Developing and maintaining theatre standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Delivering endoscope training and overseeing scope maintenance
• Supporting the team through in-house CPD sessions
• Attending and contributing to leadership meetings
• Supporting Charge Nurse cover when required

About the Hospital

This established veterinary hospital provides both first-opinion veterinary care and internal referral services for practices across East, North and Central London, offering exposure to a wide range of interesting and complex surgical cases.

The hospital benefits from outstanding diagnostic and clinical facilities, including

• CT scanner
• Commercial laboratory
• Highly experienced medical and surgical teams
• Advanced orthopaedic, soft tissue, and minimally invasive surgery performed on-site

The successful candidate will join a large, collaborative clinical team consisting of approximately

• 25 Veterinary Surgeons
• 27 Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs)
• 14 Student Veterinary Nurses (SVNs)
• 7 Veterinary Care Assistants (VCAs)
• A dedicated front-of-house support team

Extensive clinical and leadership support is available through an established management structure, including Deputy Head Nurses, a Head Nurse, Head Vet, and Hospital Manager, ensuring strong mentorship and guidance throughout the role.

Location

Located on the outskirts of East London/urban Essex, the hospital offers an ideal balance between city accessibility and nearby countryside surroundings.

The practice benefits from excellent transport connections, with a Central Line station within walking distance, making commuting into London simple and convenient.

Please note

There is no on-site parking available, and public transport is strongly recommended.

Ideal Candidate

This role would suit a Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong theatre experience who is looking to further develop leadership skills in a supportive hospital environment. It represents an excellent stepping stone for an RVN seeking progression into future senior nursing or leadership roles.

Salary & Benefits

Salary

£34,000 – £39,000 per annum, depending on experience.

Benefits include

• 6 weeks annual leave, including bank holidays
• Annual CPD budget plus up to 2 days’ paid CPD leave
• Paid 30-minute lunch breaks
• Access to a private medical healthcare scheme at a reduced rate
• Medical cashback incentives
• Ongoing professional development opportunities
• Supportive and collaborative hospital culture

To apply please contact Luke on 01904 570056 or email a copy of your up-to-date CV to l.stewart@purovets.com

You can also WhatsApp us at WhatsApp - Purovets and we are always happy to answer any questions you may have about our great opportunities.

To view all our vacancies, please visit https://purovets.com/veterinary-jobs/

And don't forget, if this position is of no interest to you but you know someone who may be interested, please pass on our details. We offer £250* for every successful candidate referral. *Terms and conditions apply.

Ref no

JOB-57233