Head Veterinary Nurse (HVN)

Job Description

Introduction
Our Client is an independently owned veterinary practice in Bristol, forming part of a larger family-owned veterinary group. The practice is seeking an experienced Head Registered Veterinary Nurse to lead its established nursing team, offering an excellent opportunity for a confident and motivated RVN looking to take on a leadership position within a supportive clinical environment.

The practice places a strong emphasis on high-quality patient care, teamwork and professional development, providing a modern and recently refurbished working environment where colleagues are encouraged to develop their skills and progress their careers.

Working Hours / Rota
This is a full-time position working four days per week, with nine-hour shifts. The rota includes duty nights on rotation and a 1:4 weekend commitment.

The frequency and specific responsibilities of duty nights have not been provided.

Role Description
The successful Head Registered Veterinary Nurse will be responsible for leading and supporting the nursing team, ensuring consistently high standards of clinical care and client service.

The role will involve overseeing daily nursing activities, supporting clinical procedures and working closely with the veterinary team to maintain efficient practice operations. A key focus will be mentoring and developing Registered Veterinary Nurses, Student Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Care Assistants, helping colleagues build their confidence and clinical skills.

The practice actively encourages professional development, with opportunities to introduce new initiatives, support colleagues working towards additional qualifications and contribute to the continued improvement of nursing standards and clinical workflows.

Team Size
The successful candidate will join an established and supportive multidisciplinary team of Veterinary Surgeons, Registered Veterinary Nurses, Student Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Care Assistants.

The team has a broad range of clinical interests, with several colleagues working towards postgraduate certificates to enhance their expertise and expand the services available within the practice.

The practice promotes a collaborative working environment where knowledge sharing, teamwork and continuous professional development are actively encouraged. Specific team numbers have not been provided.

Practice Details & Equipment
The practice is a modern, purpose-built veterinary surgery in Bristol, offering spacious facilities and advanced clinical equipment to support a varied small animal caseload.

The surgery has recently undergone a refurbishment, with improvements designed to maximise clinical space, enhance workflow and support excellent patient care.

The practice provides veterinary care both during the day and overnight, offering exposure to a broad range of clinical cases. The team benefits from modern facilities and continued investment in equipment, services and professional development.

As part of a wider family-owned veterinary group, the practice also benefits from additional resources and opportunities for career progression.

Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate will be an experienced Registered Veterinary Nurse with strong clinical skills and the confidence to lead and motivate a nursing team.

They should be self-motivated, approachable and enthusiastic about supporting the professional development of RVNs, Student Veterinary Nurses and Veterinary Care Assistants.

Excellent communication skills, strong organisational abilities and a collaborative approach are essential. The practice is particularly interested in someone who can lead by example, maintain high clinical standards and contribute positively to the continued development of the nursing team.

Previous leadership experience would be beneficial, although an experienced RVN with the right qualities and ambition to progress into a Head Nurse position would also be well suited.

This is just some of the information about the job and company, but there will be more questions. Tempus Veterinary Recruitment is happy to get those questions answered for you during the recruiting process. Tempus Veterinary Recruitment is here to make the recruiting process simple and stress free.

Haven’t worked with a recruiter before? Not a problem, key things we want to highlight;

1. All communication is 100% private and confidential.

2. Our service is completely FREE for candidates looking for new roles

3. We have roles that aren’t being advertised, so even if you are actively applying the right role might not be available.