Lead Medicine Registered Veterinary Nurse

About us

London Vet Specialists originated as a boutique small animal referral centre in Belsize Park and in Spring 2024, will start a new chapter with a major expansion and relocation 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 and nestled within the bustling and thriving Hammersmith & Fulham neighbourhood. We currently have specialists in multiple disciplines including soft-tissue surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, anaesthesia, cardiology, dermatology & diagnostic imaging and will be additionally incorporating neurology, oncology, orthopaedic surgery & 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. 

Role Overview 

The Lead Medicine RVN will work 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 internal medicine, oncology & cardiology services. You will work enthusiastically with the nursing team to help maintain a happy and efficient working environment. This role requires strong, decisive, clear communication and the ability to inspire and motivate the team in order to deliver the Linnaeus nursing strategy and achieve the hospital’s goals.

Your work will remain primarily clinical, to include wards nursing and care, assisting with imaging and endoscopy procedures, long-term case management, feeding tube, urinary catheter and central line maintenance & care and nurse consultations. As a focused role, we recognise and appreciate your area of special interest & expertise and so your work will be scheduled and prioritised within the internal medicine department; though may be required to help in another area within the capabilities of an RVN on occasion.  

Your leadership responsibilities will include providing line management and training to team members, conducting performance reviews, SOP development and coordination for all relevant personnel working within your team. This position will also share patient flow responsibilities to schedule and coordinate case throughput across all departments of the hospital alongside the other lead nurses.   

Key Responsibilities 

• Provision of a high and sustainable quality of patient care by you and your team, primarily within the internal medicine, oncology & cardiology services. 

• Provide leadership to those working within the internal medicine, oncology & cardiology teams. 

• 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.  

• Maximise efficiency for the internal medicine, oncology & cardiology procedures and cases through the hospital, including sharing patient flow responsibilities across all services such as scheduling of diagnostics, liaising with anaesthesia, theatre and imaging use and adapt as required.     

• Oversee and support medicine, oncology and cardiology inpatient care and the implementation of nursing care plans. 

• Ensure equipment is appropriately maintained and serviced. 

• Ensure effective communication is maintained within the internal medicine, oncology and cardiology teams.  

• Work with the Lead Nurses and HoNS where required to help develop a skills matrix for nursing requirements within internal medicine, oncology and cardiology.

• 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. 

• Use VetSafe reporting to reflect on incidents or near misses where patient care can be improved and encourage its use within your team.

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