Lead Wards Registered Veterinary Nurse

Location: Greater London

If you are a current Linnaeus Associate, you will need to apply internally. In order to do this, please contact our Talent Acquisition team (details can be found via The Link) and someone will be in touch to discuss and progress your application.

JOB TITLE:

Lead Wards Registered Veterinary Nurse

REPORTING TO:
Head of Nursing Services

START DATE:

Summer 2026

SALARY: £36,500
-41,500 DOELondon Vet Specialists are seeking a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join our team as a Lead Wards RVN in our multi-disciplinary referral hospital in Hammersmith. It’s an exciting opportunity to shape our inpatient care and wards as we continue to grow our team. The ideal candidate will have 2 years of experience in a referral hospital, with a further certificate in Emergency & Critical Care advantageous.

Overview The Lead Wards RVN will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Head of Nursing Services (HoNS), Lead RVNs, Clinical Director and Clinicians across the hospital to ensure the efficient delivery of outstanding patient care, particularly within the wards & ICU.Your work will remain primarily clinical, to include wards nursing and care for inpatients across all disciplines, upholding clinical quality standards in relation to IV catheter, fluid therapy, feeding tube, central line, urinary catheter, wound drain and trach tube maintenance & care, nutritional management, anaesthesia recovery, physiotherapy and critical care nursing.

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 wards department; though may be required to help in another area within the capabilities of an RVN on occasion. The induction period will involve rotating through our services for understanding of hospital workflow and responsibilities.

Your leadership responsibilities will include providing line management and training to team members, conducting performance reviews and inductions, 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 RVNs.You will join the LVS Nursing Leadership Team of 6 referral experienced RVNs, who are responsible for the overall direction, development and leadership of our nursing team, including RVNs, SVNs, PCAs and theatre technicians.

Our Nursing Leadership Team consists of:

Ryan, Head of Nursing Services Amelia, Patient Flow Coordinator Inge, Lead Oncology RVNShannon, Lead Theatre RVNHelen, Lead Twilight RVNAmy, Lead Learning & Development RVNKey Responsibilities Provision of a high and sustainable quality of patient care by you and your team, primarily within the wards & ICU services.

Prioritise inpatient care and the implementation of nursing care plans.

Ensure the comfort and safety of patients undergoing investigations, hospitalisation and surgery.

Take responsibility for the management of infectious cases, including educating other members of the team about infectious diseases, zoonotic diseases and barrier nursing.

Provide leadership within the nursing team, and line management to those working within the wards, ICU & multi-disciplinary teams, to include recruitment, performance management, hosting meetings and rota coordination.

Liaise with our Lead Twilight RVN on management of our wards throughout a 24-hour period, to include SOP development, protocol implementation and policy updates.

Ensure accurate record keeping is undertaken, especially regarding anaesthetic and hospitalisation records in Smart Flow.

Ensure equipment is appropriately maintained and serviced.

Ensure effective communication is maintained within the surgery & anaesthesia teams.

Work with the Lead Nurses, Team Leaders and HoNS where required to help develop a skills matrix for nursing requirements within wards, ICU & OOH (night).Assist with stock management within your department and co-ordinate with the pharmacy & purchasing assistant.

Participate in team briefings and meetings to ensure effective and efficient communication.

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