Senior Registered Veterinary Nurse - HDU & Wards

Hamilton Specialist Referrals are seeking a Senior HDU & Wards Nurse to become an integral part of our passionate, friendly team. If you are looking to take the next step in your career, and develop valuable leadership skills and experience, we would love to hear from you.

We are seeking an experienced and confident Senior HDU & Wards Nurse to join our referral hospital and provide support to our Clinical Team Leader in a leadership role within our inpatient services. This position is ideal for an RVN with strong clinical experience in high-dependency and ward-based nursing who enjoys and mixture of providing hands on clinical care and supporting teams, coordinating patient flow and working closely with clinicians in a fast-paced referral environment.

As a Senior HDU & Wards RVN, you will provide excellent inpatient care and clinical leadership. On a rota with the HDU & Wards Clinical Team Leader you will provide an operational oversight across the HDU and inpatient wards, supporting the nursing team to deliver exceptional standards of care while ensuring safe, efficient workflow throughout the hospital.

Clinically, your role will focus on the recovery and ongoing care of hospitalised patients. You’ll collaborate closely with the veterinary team to maintain the highest standards of nursing care. This role is ideal for someone who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative environment and takes pride in positively impacting the wellbeing of our patients.

Key responsibilities include:

• Deliver outstanding patient care across HDU and inpatient wards
• Maintain high clinical, professional and welfare standards at all times
• Maintaining accurate clinical records, supporting high standards of infection control, clinical governance and contribute to maintaining our wards and equipment to the highest standard.
• Shared rotation with the HDU/Wards Clinical Team Leader
• Support and guide the nursing team to deliver, outstanding patient care across HDU and inpatient wards
• Contributing to a positive team culture focused on professionalism, communication, and clinical excellence
• Act as a central point of communication between the nursing team and referral clinicians, ensuring clear and effective information sharing
• Participate in and support clinician ward rounds, contributing nursing insight and ensuring treatment plans are implemented and monitored
• Coordinate and support the nursing team with breaks and lunch cover, maintaining continuity of care
• Work closely with the Workflow Coordinator to facilitate the acceptance of referral cases and optimise patient flow
• Liaise with the Patient Coordinator regarding admissions and discharges, supporting smooth transitions and excellent client communication
• Assist with prioritisation of cases in a high-acuity referral setting, escalating concerns appropriately
• Provide day-to-day leadership, mentorship and support to less experienced nurses, promoting development and confidence

• Registered Veterinary Nurse (RCVS)
• Significant experience working within a referral, busy primary care or out of hours hospital, including HDU or inpatient ward settings
• Confident communicator with the ability to liaise effectively with clinicians, coordinators and multidisciplinary teams
• Organised, calm and adaptable, with strong situational awareness
• Passionate about delivering gold-standard patient care and supporting team wellbeing
• Leadership or senior nursing experience is desirable
• Advanced nursing qualification would be advantageous

Situated just outside of High Wycombe (J4, M40) Buckinghamshire, we deliver world-class exemplary clinical services, with a clear focus on the people that make that a reality. By nurturing our workforce we are able to offer the very best services to the pets entrusted into our care as well as to their owners.

Hamilton Specialist Referrals was born of the belief that there is room for a new wave of veterinary excellence across the UK. There is a strong focus on providing a personal and reassuring…