Twilight Theatre Nurse (Fixed Term)

Langford Veterinary Services; United Kingdom; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading veterinary service provider in the United Kingdom is actively seeking a Twilight Theatre Nurse for their Small Animal Referral Hospital. This role includes a 12-month fixed-term contract, focusing on surgical assistance and nursing care for animals. Ideal candidates will have experience in theatre work, particularly in emergency surgery, and must be prepared to work nights. The position offers various benefits, including 5 weeks of holiday and health care perks, contributing to a supportive work environment.

Benefits

5 weeks holiday per year

On-site Mental Health Champions

Annual CPD allowance

Generous pension scheme

Qualifications

• At least 1 year’s experience as a qualified veterinary nurse ideally in a referral environment.
• Experience in out of hours/nights.
• Confidence in animal handling and restraint.

Responsibilities

• Assisting with surgical procedures in an out of hours environment.
• Preparing patients for surgical procedures.
• Providing nursing care to patients in the recovery period.

Skills

Theatre work passion

Emergency surgery experience

Effective communication

Ability to work independently

Education

Qualified veterinary nurse

Advanced diploma in veterinary nursing

Job description

We are offering an exciting opportunity for a Twilight Theatre Nurse to join our Small Animal Referral Hospital on a 12-month fixed-term contract, working collaboratively with both our theatre and night teams.

The successful candidate will be based in our specialist theatres, working out of hours throughout the week. Although this role is primarily theatre based, an ability and proactiveness to nurse in ward areas with inpatient care would be expected when required. This would involve working across our specialist feline, canine medicine, neurology, surgery and intensive care wards.

This is an exciting opportunity to work in our state-of-the-art hospital and theatre, working alongside renowned orthopaedic, soft tissue, neurology and cardiology specialists. As a theatre nurse you will be actively encouraged to utilise your skills, such as scrubbing into surgical procedures and assisting the surgeons. Successful candidates will also be given training in Schedule 3 procedures such as suturing (previous experience non‑Essential) and interoperative radiography for a range of complex cases.

The ideal candidate will have a passion for theatre work, especially in emergency surgery. We are looking for a nurse with at least 1 year’s experience as a qualified veterinary nurse ideally in a referral environment, with previous exposure to working out of hours/nights. Student teaching plays a large part of our nursing roles at Langford and therefore teaching and supervision would also be a key responsibility.

Role summary: 31 hrs/wk on average, working 7 nights on, 7 nights off. Monday‑Friday 8 hr twilight shifts plus a 30‑minute lunch break, Saturday and Sunday 11 hr night shifts + 1 hour lunch break. Please note this role includes working bank holidays which fall on a normal working week and includes an element of on‑call work.

We would like to share a quote from one of our Twilight Theatre Nurses, Ems Chambers as she talks about what she enjoys most about being a Theatre Nurse:
“I like being a theatre nurse at Langford as every day is different. Out of hours there is the opportunity to assist the surgeons and anaesthetists with a variety of different complex cases which I find fascinating. I like that I can be with the patient from induction to recovery, involved in their entire journey through theatre. The whole team is very supportive and it’s a really interesting environment to work in”

Benefits and wellbeing

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: 11th January 2026

Interviews: 19th and 26th January 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 be responsible for assisting with surgical procedures, administering nursing care to animals, promoting client communication and working within the Terms of the RCVS Guide to Professional Conduct for Nurses.

Principal Accountabilities

• To provide specialist nursing support for all surgical activities to include Soft Tissue, Neurology, Orthopaedics, and Cardiology as both a circulating and scrubbed nurse.
• 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.
• To prepare for and assist with the delivery of anaesthesia – to include anaesthetic machine checks, selecting and safety checking breathing systems and endotracheal tubes, assisting with patient restraint and placement of intravenous catheters.
• To prepare patients for surgical procedures according to surgeons’ requests and hospital protocols.
• To prepare theatres and surgical trolleys for use during surgery – to include preparing the theatre such as damp dusting, selecting appropriate surgical instruments and consumables, liaison with clinician in charge regarding requirements, ensuring surgical equipment within theatre (diathermy/suction) functioning and set up, ensuring pre‑operative x-rays are available as required.
• Sterilising and maintenance of surgical instruments and equipment. Use of instrument disinfector, autoclave and ethylene oxide sterilising units – to include cleaning, lubricating and checking function of instruments and equipment, wrapping of single instruments/kits and consumables to ensure effective sterilisation.
• To provide nursing care to patients in the immediate post‑operative recovery period.
• 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’ computer records to always keep the invoice up to date during their stay.
• Maintaining cleanliness of the theatre environment and following current cleaning SOP’s and processes.
• Be able to work independently within a theatre environment.
• Flexibility is key to this role, to provide support to the OOH service and caseload.
• Maintaining a good working relationship with team members.
• Communicating in an effective and pleasant manner with clients and colleagues.
• Responsible for keeping themselves and others safe, reporting accidents, near misses and hazards and adhering to health and safety requirements and policies as required by the business/their line manager.
• 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.
• Carry out all other reasonable duties as requested by the line manager.

Person Specification

• One year in veterinary practice or ability to prove similar levels of knowledge and experience
• Previous work in OOH or night shift>
• Able to carry out veterinary nursing duties as listed above
• Advanced diploma
• Confidence and experience in effective handling and restraint of animals
• Clinical coach or similar
• RCVS listed veterinary nurse
• Interest in advancing own qualifications