Interested in this role?
We have an exciting opportunity for veterinary nurses with an interest in OOH nursing care to join our Small Animal Hospital team.
Working within a supportive, multi-disciplinary referral environment, you will play a key role in caring for hospitalised patients and providing nursing support across a range of specialist services. This position offers an excellent opportunity to develop and enhance your specialist nursing skills in a busy teaching hospital setting.
The Role
- Weekend and Bank Holiday shifts
- Hours: 08:00 – 20:00 each day
- Patient care for hospitalised small animals
- Support for procedures across the hospital services
- Opportunity to undertake additional overtime shifts within the Small Animal Referral Hospital
We are open to discussions regarding working hours and welcome flexible conversations with candidates.
About You
We are looking for candidates who are:
- Self-motivated and proactive
- Highly organised with excellent time management skills
- Confident working independently and collaboratively within a team
- Passionate about delivering high standards of patient care
What We Offer
- A supportive, multi-disciplinary team environment
- Exposure to a wide range of specialist cases
- Excellent learning opportunities within clinics
- Access to in-house CPD events
- Opportunities to expand clinical and emergency nursing skills
If you are looking to develop your emergency and referral nursing experience within a dynamic teaching hospital environment, we would love to hear from you.
Benefits and wellbeing
Our people are at the heart of what we do and as your employer we want to ensure we offer flexibility, support and staff development, where possible, through:
Time off
- 5 weeks holiday per year (plus bank holidays)
- Additional holiday entitlement for Long Service
Wellbeing
- On site Mental Health Champions
- EDI committee
- Employee Forum – to ensure all employees voices can be heard
- Menopause Café
- Wellbeing talks and events
- Cycle to work scheme
- Family friendly policies, including enhanced maternity and paternity pay (after 2 years’ service)
Health
- SimplyHealth Cashplan membership
- Free annual flu vaccination
- Free Specsavers eye test voucher
General
- Free onsite parking
- U2 bus service link to Bristol
- Annual CPD allowance
- Employee discount
- Generous pension scheme – we match up to 8% pension contributions
- Reimbursement of one professional membership fee per year
How to apply
If this role sounds like the right fit for you, don’t delay, click ‘Apply’ and begin your career with Langford Vets.
Closing date: 6th April 2026 (applications may close early if we receive a high volume)
Interviews: w/c 13th April 2026
Langford Vets is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
Job Description
Responsibilities
Job purpose
Job Title: Weekend Nurse
Reports To: Nursing Manager
Job Purpose:
The main purpose of the post is to provide out of hours nursing support within the Small Animal Hospital. You will be responsible for the nursing care and treatment of patients housed within the Small Animal Hospital, mainly within ICU, alongside the core nursing and ACA team. Support with procedures on patients within the Small Animal Hospital, as requested by the clinicians and nursing team working.
Principal Accountabilities:
- Independently carry out nursing duties within the Small Animal Hospital wards to a high standard, such as monitoring critical care patients.
- Assist with procedures for patients within the Small Animal Hospital.
- Assisting veterinary surgeons, students, and other staff with in-patient care throughout the referral hospital to include restraint and support for clinical procedures and emergency cases, where possible.
- Ensure an effective and efficient handover of in-patients during ward rounds.
- Ensure adequate nursing plans and in-patient records are set up and reassessed as required in relation to the patient’s requirements, under the direction of the veterinary surgeon.
- Ability to demonstrate and perform in-house laboratory tests such as blood profiling and specific gravity.
- Teaching of Veterinary and Veterinary Nursing undergraduates, to include clinical coach training if appropriate.
- Ensuring cleanliness and hygiene are maintained within the hospital.
- Dispensing and administering (under the direct supervision of a veterinary surgeon) medication to animals, maintaining accurate stock control and following all protocols relating to drug holding, dispensing and handling and giving clear and accurate instructions to clients when dispensing medication.
- Maintaining accurate patient records with regards to all clinical notes, treatment, diagnoses, client communication and client /patient information.
- Ensuring that all procedures and consumables are accurately entered onto the patients’ records in order to keep the invoice up to date at all times during their stay.
- Proactively identify and act upon opportunities for business improvement. Openly identify and discuss problems in order to implement and sustain improvements that increase the value we deliver to our, clients, employees, and students.
- Maintaining a good working relationship with all team members.
- Communicating in an effective and pleasant manner with clients and colleagues.
- Carry out all other reasonable duties as requested by the line manager.
Person Specification
Person Specification
The skills, abilities, experience and knowledge outlined below provide a summary of what is required to carry out this job effectively.
Essential |
Desirable |
One year in veterinary practice or ability to prove similar levels of knowledge and experience. |
Advanced Emergency and Critical Care (or similar) |
Able to carry out veterinary nursing duties as listed above |
Clinical Coach |
Confidence and experience in effective handling and restraint of animals |
Interest in advancing own qualifications |
RCVS Registered Veterinary Nurse |
|
Communicating effectively with clients |
|
Ability to work within a team |
|
Ability to act independently |
|
Flexible approach to work |
|
Eligibility to work in the UK |