Veterinary Nurse (Anaesthesia)

University of Glasgow; Glasgow; On-site; GBP 28,000 - GBP 32,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading veterinary hospital in Glasgow seeks a dedicated Veterinary Nurse with a strong interest in referral anaesthesia. Responsibilities include providing nursing care in a fast-paced environment, monitoring patients, and executing nursing skills. The ideal candidate will be RCVS registered, have excellent communication skills, and a passion for animal care. This opportunity offers a supportive working environment with training and opportunities for development, alongside a competitive benefits package including 41 days of leave and a flexible working week.

Benefits

35-hour flexible working week

41 days of leave including public holidays

Competitive pension scheme

20% staff discount on veterinary services

CPD allowance and subsidised further education

24/7 confidential employee support service

Wellbeing app

Qualifications

• Must be registered with RCVS as a Veterinary Nurse.
• Knowledge of current Health & Safety Legislation required.
• Desirable experience with supervising veterinary students.

Responsibilities

• Provide complete nursing care of patients in a busy hospital.
• Monitor and maintain general anaesthesia and perform Schedule 3 procedures.
• Communicate effectively with clients and referring vets.

Skills

Evidenced ability to perform a range of nursing skills

Excellent communication skills

Excellent organisational skills

Ability to work largely unsupervised

Ability to work well within a team

Education

RCVS Veterinary Nursing qualification and fully registered

Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing or Degree in Veterinary Nursing

Tools

Laboratory and diagnostic equipment

Job description

Job Advert

Passionate about referral anaesthesia in a fast-paced hospital environment?

We’re seeking a dedicated and compassionate veterinary nurse with a strong interest in referral anaesthesia to join our Small Animal Hospital team.

This role is primarily anaesthesia-focused, working within a busy referral theatre/treatment area complex alongside specialist clinicians on a wide range of advanced cases. Responsibilities include peri‑anaesthetic care, patient monitoring, analgesia, and recovery nursing.

To maintain a broad clinical skillset, the role includes some rotation through key hospital areas and weekend work as part of the nursing rota.

Referral or anaesthesia experience is desirable but not essential — training, mentorship, and ongoing development are provided. This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated nurse looking to develop or further a career in referral anaesthesia.

Why join us?

We offer a fantastic benefits package, including:

• 35‑hour flexible working week
• 41 days of leave (including public holidays)
• Competitive pension scheme
• 20% staff discount on veterinary services and products
• CPD allowance and subsidised further education
• A supportive and inclusive working environment
• 24/7 confidential employee support service and wellbeing app
• Exclusive staff discounts from high street retailers

Additional Info

• Participation in the Bank Holiday rota is required (with additional pay)
• Weekend working – 1 in 4, with 2 days off during the week.

Interested? We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re exploring a new direction or ready to take the next step in your nursing career, get in touch for an informal chat:

[e-mail]
Sharon Smith – 0141 330 5391

Job Purpose

To carry out nursing duties to the highest standard in accordance with hospital systems of work to ensure all animal needs are met and excellent standards are maintained within the Small Animal Hospital. Provide a focus between clients, veterinary surgeons, nursing staff, and students. Contribute to the examination, treatment, and care of both in and out‑patients to facilitate the smooth running of the Hospital.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Responsible for providing and overseeing the complete nursing care of patients within a busy hospital environment. Prioritising patient care and managing an unpredictable and busy workload. Problem‑solving to ensure the best patient care outcomes.

2. Perform a variety of advanced nursing skills including but not limited to monitoring and maintenance of general anaesthesia, radiography, Schedule 3 procedures, dispensing controlled drugs (CD) and maintaining the CD register and operating a range of laboratory, monitoring and diagnostic equipment.

3. Perform nursing clinical examinations for in‑patients and for patients arriving for emergency appointments. Provide first aid interventions pending clinician assessment. Recognise deterioration and improvement in patient status and know when to adjust care plan requirements and when to communicate changes to the clinician in charge. Disseminate information gathered at daily rounds to team members.

4. Communicate with external and internal parties including referring vets, clients, clinical pathology laboratory and the postmortem room. Respond to advice calls and either deal with the call where appropriate or collect the appropriate information and pass it to the relevant clinician. Triage out‑of‑hours emergency calls and make appropriate decisions regarding emergency cases, liaising with the duty vet as required.

5. Responsible for ensuring stock levels of drugs and consumables are maintained, ensuring the best value source is used for drug supplies and add new stock items to the computer pricing system. Maintain appropriate stock levels in the clinic, theatres and stable areas. Maintain both the pharmacy records and Controlled Drug registers.

6. Dispense prescribed medications and have a good understanding of VMD regulations and administration issues for commonly prescribed veterinary medicines including controlled and cytotoxic drugs.

7. Ensure hospital equipment and instrumentation are handled correctly, cleaned, and maintained to ensure they are kept in good working order. Maintain a high standard of hygiene, cleanliness and organisation throughout area(s) of responsibility.

8. Ensure patients are dealt with correctly and in accordance with the owners’ instructions and hospital policy.

9. Ensure all tasks are carried out to the highest standard and that Health and Safety protocols are adhered to.

10. Create accurate and complete client invoices in time for patient discharge to ensure prompt payment is received. Monitor outstanding invoices and bring large outstanding debts to the attention of finance administrators.

11. Maintain RCVS registered status by completing approximately 15 hours CPD each year and by ensuring RCVS retention fee is paid in a timely manner.

12. Ongoing supervision, assessment and training of non‑academic staff and students to develop their skills and ensure patient well‑being at all times. This includes performing staff and student inductions when they first enter an area of responsibility.

13. Any other tasks within the level of responsibility to their role as deemed suitable by their line manager.

Knowledge, Qualifications, Skills and Experience

Knowledge/Qualifications

Essential

A1 RCVS Veterinary Nursing qualification and fully registered.

A2 Knowledge of many aspects of veterinary nursing, protocols and procedures to ensure the highest standard of care.

A3 Knowledge of current Health & Safety Legislation.

Desirable

B1 Diploma in Advanced Veterinary Nursing or Degree in Veterinary Nursing.

B2 Clinical Coach experience or be willing to undertake this training if required.

Skills

Essential

C1 Evidenced ability to perform a range of nursing skills.

C2 Evidenced ability to work largely unsupervised.

C3 Evidenced ability to work well within a team.

C4 High degree of initiative and forward planning.

C5 Excellent communication skills.

C6 Excellent organisational skills.

C7 Evidenced ability to adapt nursing techniques/skills to incorporate latest developments.

Desirable

D1 Good IT skills.

D2 Ability to operate a range of laboratory and diagnostic equipment.

Experience

Essential

E1 Ability to demonstrate the competencies required to undertake the duties associated with this level of post having acquired the knowledge and skills in a previous veterinary nurse role.

Desirable

F1 Experience of working in a veterinary hospital.

F2 Experience supervising and instructing veterinary or veterinary nursing students.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 5, £28,031 - £31,236 per annum + 6% allowance for working weekends.

This post is full time (shifts Monday to Sunday) and open ended.

As a valued member of our team, you can expect:

1 A warm welcoming and engaging organisational culture, where your talents are developed and nurtured, and success is celebrated and shared.

2 An excellent employment package with generous terms and conditions including 41 days of leave for full time staff, pension - pensions handbook https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/payandpensions/pensions/, benefits and discount packages.

3 A flexible approach to working.

4 A commitment to support your health and wellbeing, including a free 6‑month UofG Sport membership for all new staff joining the University https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/staff/healthwellbeing/.

We believe that we can only reach our full potential through the talents of all. Equality, diversity and inclusion are at the heart of our values. Applications are particularly welcome from across our communities and in particular people from the Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) community, and other protected characteristics who are under‑represented within the University. Read more on how the University promotes and embeds all aspects of equality and diversity within our community https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/.

We endorse the principles of Athena Swan https://www.gla.ac.uk/myglasgow/humanresources/equalitydiversity/athenaswan/ and hold bronze, silver and gold awards across the University.

We are investing in our organisation, and we will invest in you too. Please visit our website https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/jobs/ for more information.

Closing date: 23:45 on Thursday 19th February 2026