Registered Veterinary Nurse/Senior Veterinary Nurse - Vacancy at Forres - (Senior role maternity cover which may lead to permanent)

About Us

At Moray Coast Vet Group, we’re proud to be an independent and employee-owned practice where every team member is valued and has a voice in the way the practice progresses. We are a professional and skilled team with a great sense of humour, community and friendship. With our branches in Forres, Nairn, Lossiemouth, and Balloch, we’re deeply rooted in our community and are known for providing exceptional veterinary care with a friendly, down-to-earth approach.

Our supportive and collaborative team is at the heart of everything we do. Our 19 RVNs and 5 VCAs/ACAs, and 1 student nurse work alongside a fantastic group of vets, practice managers, and receptionists.  We believe in utilising our nurses’ skills to the fullest, and several of our team have gone on to complete additional qualifications and certificates. We love to nurture individual interests. So, if you’re considering pursuing a certificate, you can be confident we’ll support you all the way.

We are an RCVS-accredited practice, and our facilities include in-house blood machines, digital x-ray, dental x-ray, ultrasound, multiparameter monitoring, laser therapy, and scopes (bronchoscope and gastroscope). We even benefit from a visiting CT service at our Forres branch.

The Moray Coast

Life on the Moray Coast offers something truly special, from stunning beaches and scenic walks to cycling, climbing, and open-water swimming. Many of the team love making the most of the outdoors together – whether that’s braving the cold water, heading out for a hike, or winding down with a beach stroll after work. We often organise group walks, cycles, and activities, so you’ll never be short of a buddy for your next adventure. Our team also puts that same energy into regularly organising fundraisers, and we’ve raised impressive amounts for various charities over the years.

About the Role

You’ll be a caring and proactive qualified RVN who thrives on being hands-on, enjoys variety, and wants to make the most of your skills. Teamwork is important to us, so you’ll be friendly, approachable, and supportive, with a willingness to pitch in and (hopefully) a sense of humour to match ours!

Our full-time RVNs have the option of working either:

• A 4-day / 36-hour week, with a fixed day off each week, or
• A 5-day / 40-hour week

Part-time positions will also be considered.

Although seeking an RVN we also currently have an opportunity for a Senior RVN maternity cover role, this role if successful could lead to a permanent Senior position.  

RVN Position

Main duties and responsibilities:

1. Nursing of animals either hospitalised or in surgery to include pre and post op care
2. Assisting with operations – to include anaesthesia and scrubbing into operations
3. Assist veterinary surgeons during consultations
4. Liaising with the veterinary surgeon about inpatient care
5. Laboratory work
6. Radiography taking and processing
7. Updating computer records.
8. Charging hospitalised patients and operations/ procedures.
9. Nurse consults- including post op checks, weigh and worms, discharging operations.
10. Advising clients in person or over the phone.
11. Ensuring adequate supplies of stock
12. Reception duties.
13. Laundry and general housekeeping of practice
14. Ensuring consult rooms are tidy, clean and adequately stocked.
15. Attaching lab reports to the patients file, charging and ensuring the veterinary surgeon is informed.
16. Packaging and sending of laboratory samples
17. Ensuring all dangerous drugs are locked in the safe and recorded in the dangerous drug book.
18. Looking after and maintaining equipment once trained.
19. Sharing out of hours duties as required
20. Opening and closing premises securely
21. Supervising work experience and student veterinary nurses
22. Carrying out any responsibilities as instructed by the Senior Veterinary Nurse

Senior RVN Maternity cover

Job purpose: To provide a comprehensive senior nursing service in relation to a veterinary practice.

Main duties and responsibilities:

1. Share clinical nursing duties including OOH with other team members.
2. Communicate with vets and nurses re daily work plan, new protocols including a morning ward round.
3. Communicate with reception/practice manager re daily progress, work load and surgeries. Plan ahead with large ops or ops for specific vets if out on L/A work.
4. Initiate and chair nurses meeting, communicate and share information from the Directors and Practice Manager.
5. Ensure good team work.
6. Organise and supervise weekly and monthly cleaning rotas for clinical areas.
7. Monitor student nurse training on a daily basis. 
8. Support work experience/induction for school pupils and VN applicants.
9. Assist with rotas for nursing staff
10. Provide leadership and planning. 
11. Spot check dangerous drugs, charging, filing, vet test etc.
12. Assist with maintaining and delivering Health and Safety regulations.
13. Liaise with branches.
14. Bring possible problems to practice managers attention and regularly attend management and focus meetings
15. Maintain and promote nursing clinics
16. Watch for repetitive visits i.e. lack of diagnosis/dissatisfied clients, bring to managers/directors attention if needed.
17. Alert practice manager of any issues with equipment maintenance, servicing or breakdowns.
18. Assist with the equipment maintenance log- recording purchase date/ history of problems/ warranty/ servicing.
19. Any other duties appropriate to the post.

Clinical Coaching

• Provide opportunities for students to access the cases required
• Hold weekly meetings with student
• Provide at least 3 hours a week of tutorials/ working alongside student
• liaise with college about any issues with student
• Provide support to student through their training

We proudly provide our own out-of-hours care for inpatients, giving you the chance to follow cases through and build truly rewarding relationships with patients and clients. Our shared on-call rota is designed to be fair and manageable:

• Currently 1 weeknight every 3 weeks (around 14 - 16 nights per year currently) 
• Currently 1:7 weekends (around 7-8 per year)  – either as the primary nurse (working Saturday and Sunday), or as backup (working Saturday and then back up on call for the rest of the weekend).

Location for this role is mainly at Forres with occasional work at our Nairn branch.

What We’re Offering - £30k Minimum salary

• A salary of £30,027.59 to £38,441.46 (DOE/pro-rata)
• Any overtime from on-call is paid in addition
• Choice of 4- or 5-day week
• 6 weeks holiday allowance, increasing with length of service 
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Generous, flexible CPD budget (with support up to certificate level)
• Employee discount
• Profit share after 1 year of service as part of Employee Owned trust
• A supportive, social team who love to make the most of our beautiful surroundings

If you’re looking for a role where your nursing skills will be fully valued, your professional growth encouraged, and your work-life balance supported, we’d love to hear from you!

Please send application and curriculum vitae to dreid@moraycoastvetgroup.co.uk or alternatively in writing to:

Debbie Reid

Moray Coast Vet Group

14 West Road

Forres

IV36 2GW