Registered Veterinary Nurse

Salary: Circa £30,000 DOE
Location: City Vets, Heavitree, Exeter
Job Type: Permanent

Looking for more than “just nursing”?

If you’re an RVN looking for a role where you can develop your clinical skills, gain excellent exposure to a busy main centre and become part of a highly supportive nursing team, this could be the opportunity you’ve been looking for.

At City Vets, our nursing team is at the heart of what we do. We are a progressive, ambitious team who give our nurses the opportunity to take on responsibility, develop their interests and get involved in a much broader range of clinical work than traditional nursing duties.

Our main centre in Heavitree is an RCVS-accredited practice, supported by three nearby branch practices in Alphington, St Thomas and Whipton. Across the group, you’ll have exposure to a large and varied caseload, modern equipment and a team of experienced colleagues who genuinely want to help you progress.

Why City Vets is different for nurses

This is a role where you’ll get excellent exposure to a busy, varied clinical environment.

You’ll work alongside a supportive team of 12 vets, 9 RVNs and dedicated support staff, with experienced lead nurses available to guide and mentor you. For a newly qualified RVN, or someone looking to develop their skills within a busy main centre, this provides the perfect balance of support and opportunity.

Our nurses are trusted to do far more than traditional day-to-day nursing duties. You’ll have opportunities to develop your skills in:

• Stage 1 dental procedures
• Nurse-led outpatient CT
• Advanced imaging and patient preparation
• Anaesthesia and inpatient care
• Dental imaging and procedures
• Nurse-led consultations
• Minor procedures, including lump removals
• Supporting complex and interesting cases
• Exotic patient care

We also have dedicated dentistry expertise within the practice, alongside CT, ultrasound, digital radiography, endoscopy and dental imaging. Our separate wards for dogs, cats and exotics mean you’ll gain exposure to a broad range of patients and clinical presentations.

Interested in exotics? Even better.

If you have an interest in exotic nursing, there is plenty here to get excited about.

We see a varied exotic caseload and have nurses with experience and further qualifications in exotics. You’ll have the opportunity to build your knowledge and confidence with exotic patients while working alongside colleagues who are happy to share their experience.

Our practices are also proud to hold Cat Friendly Clinic accreditation through the ISFM, while St Thomas holds Silver Rabbit Friendly accreditation through the RWAF and Heavitree is a Gold Standard RWAF practice.

A team that wants you to progress

We believe that being supported doesn’t mean being held back.

Our nursing team is structured to give you access to experienced lead nurses and Clinical Nursing Managers, with clear opportunities to develop your skills and progress internally. If there’s an area of nursing you’re passionate about, we want to help you explore it.

Whether your interests lie in dentistry, imaging, anaesthesia, exotics, inpatient care or consultations, we’ll support you to develop your career in the direction that suits you.

We already have multiple nursing certificate holders across exotics, anaesthesia, imaging and dentistry, and we actively support our team with further qualifications and CPD. We offer extensive internal and funded external CPD because we believe investing in our nurses ultimately means better care for our patients.

Great facilities. Great caseload. Even better support.

Our Heavitree main centre is extremely well equipped, with:

• CT scanner
• Ultrasound
• Digital radiography
• Endoscopy
• Dental imaging
• Separate wards for dogs, cats and exotics
• Dedicated dentistry facilities

We also benefit from certificate holders across the wider veterinary team, visiting specialists in cardiology, ophthalmology and physiotherapy, regular CPD events and dedicated input from Cave Veterinary Specialists. We work closely with local referral hospitals, giving our team excellent clinical support when cases require it.

Your wellbeing matters too

We want you to build a rewarding career without sacrificing your life outside work.

Our out-of-hours service is outsourced, helping to protect work-life balance, while inpatient care remains in-house during our normal working arrangements. Weekend duties are shared fairly across the veterinary team.

And then there’s Exeter itself  with the coast, estuary, moors and countryside on your doorstep, alongside a vibrant food scene and excellent transport links to London and beyond.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for an RVN who is:

• Motivated and keen to develop clinically
• Passionate about delivering excellent patient care
• Confident or keen to develop as a consulting nurse
• Interested in learning from a varied and interesting caseload
• A strong team player who enjoys working collaboratively
• Committed to providing an excellent client experience
• Interested in developing additional clinical skills
• Interested in exotics advantageous, but not essential

Whether you’re newly qualified and looking for the right environment to build your confidence, or an experienced RVN looking for greater responsibility and progression, we’d love to hear from you.

What we offer

• Circa £30,000 salary, depending on experience
• 5 weeks’ holiday plus bank holidays and birthday leave
• Relocation support
• RCVS and VDS fees paid
• Employer contribution pension scheme
• Generous staff discount scheme
• Life assurance
• E-car salary sacrifice scheme
• Enhanced equal family leave
• Extensive internal and funded external CPD
• Genuine opportunities for clinical development and progression

Ready to take your nursing career further?

If you’re looking for a role where your skills will be valued, your development will be supported and you’ll have the opportunity to do more, City Vets could be the right fit for you.

Come and join a nursing team where nurses really are our superpower.