Twilight Theatre Nurse

Overview

Twilight Theatre Nurse opportunity at Langford Vets Small Animal Referral Hospital on a 12-month fixed-term contract. The role is based in specialist theatres, with out-of-hours work across the week. It is primarily theatre-based but includes nurse coverage in ward areas when required, across feline, canine medicine, neurology, surgery and intensive care wards.

You'll work in a state-of-the-art hospital and theatre alongside orthopaedic, soft tissue, neurology and cardiology specialists. As a theatre nurse you will scrub into procedures, assist surgeons, and receive training in Schedule 3 procedures such as suturing and interoperative radiography for complex cases (previous experience not essential).

The ideal candidate will have a passion for theatre work, especially in emergency surgery, with at least 1 year of qualified veterinary nursing experience (ideally in a referral environment) and exposure to out-of-hours/night work. Student teaching is a key part of our nursing roles at Langford, so teaching and supervision experience is valued.

31 hrs/wk on average, 7 nights on, 7 nights off. Monday–Friday: 8-hour twilight shifts with a 30-minute lunch break. Saturday and Sunday: 11-hour night shifts with a 1-hour lunch break. The role includes bank holidays and some on-call work.

From Ems Chambers, Twilight Theatre Nurse: “I like being a theatre nurse at Langford because every day is different. Out of hours there is the opportunity to assist surgeons and anaesthetists with a variety of complex cases. I am involved from induction to recovery and value the supportive team and engaging environment.”

Our people are at the heart of what we do. 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
  • Simply Health 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 – employer contributes up to 8%
  • Reimbursement of one professional membership fee per year

If this role sounds like the right fit for you, click ‘Apply’ and begin your career with Langford Vets.

Closing date: Friday 20 February 2026

Interviews: w/c 23 February 2026

Langford Vets is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.

The main purpose of the post is to provide out-of-hours theatre support within the Small Animal Referral Hospital. You will assist with surgical procedures, administer nursing care to animals, promote client communication and work within the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Nurses.

• Provide specialist nursing support for all surgical activities (Soft Tissue, Neurology, Orthopaedics, Cardiology) as circulating and scrubbed nurse.
• Assist veterinary surgeons, students and staff with in-patient care, including restraint and support for clinical procedures and emergency cases.
• Prepare for and assist with delivery of anaesthesia, including machine checks, breathing system selection and safety checks, patient restraint and IV catheter placement.
• Prepare patients for surgical procedures and ensure hospital protocols are followed.
• Prepare theatres and surgical trolleys, select instruments and consumables, coordinate with the clinician in charge, ensure diathermy/suction and pre-operative X-rays are available as required.
• Sterilise and maintain surgical instruments and equipment; operate instrument disinfection, autoclave and sterilising units; wrap single instruments/kits and consumables to ensure effective sterilisation.
• Provide nursing care in the immediate post-operative recovery period.
• Maintain accurate patient records for…