JOB TITLE: Lead Internal Medicine Registered Veterinary Nurse

REPORTING TO: Head of Nursing Services

START DATE: Winter 2024

HOURS: Full-Time (40-Hours/Week) - Part-Time Considered

SALARY: £36,000-40,000 DOE

An exciting opportunity has become available at London Vet Specialists for a Registered Veterinary Nurse with experience in internal medicine nursing to join the team as a Lead Internal Medicine RVN in our new referral centre in Hammersmith. Your input will help shape the LVS internal medicine service and provide leadership within our nursing team.

About Us

London Vet Specialists originated as a boutique small animal referral centre in Belsize Park and in May 2024, relocated to a new state-of-the-art site in Hammersmith, West London. The hospital boasts an incredible location on the banks of the river Thames and nestled within the bustling and thriving Hammersmith & Fulham neighbourhood. We now have a complete compliment of specialist-led services, including soft-tissue surgery, internal medicine, ophthalmology, anaesthesia, cardiology, dermatology, diagnostic imaging, neurology, orthopaedic surgery & emergency and critical care.

Linnaeus is a forward-thinking partnership of highly respected primary care and referral veterinary practices across the UK and Ireland, comprising some of the best clinicians in the profession. Linnaeus invest in quality practices who put patient care at the heart of everything they do. Together we provide a growing community of like-minded veterinary professionals who are passionate about what they do.

Role Overview

The Lead Medicine RVN will be responsible for working collaboratively with the Head of Nursing Services (HoNS), Lead Nurses and Clinicians across the hospital to ensure the efficient delivery of outstanding patient care within the internal medicine, oncology & cardiology services. You will work enthusiastically with the nursing team to help maintain a happy and efficient working environment. This role requires strong, decisive, clear communication and the ability to inspire and motivate the team in order to deliver the Linnaeus nursing strategy and achieve the hospital’s goals.

Your work will remain primarily clinical, to include wards nursing and care, assisting with imaging and diagnostic procedures, long-term case management, feeding tube, urinary catheter and central line maintenance & care, nurse consultations and monitoring of sedation & anaesthesia. As a focused role, we recognise your area of special interest & expertise and so your work will be prioritised within the internal medicine department; though may be required to help in another area within the capabilities of an RVN on occasion.

Your leadership responsibilities will include providing line management and training to team members, conducting performance reviews, SOP development and coordination for all relevant personnel working within your team. The Lead RVNs also assist with patient flow responsibilities to coordinate case throughput across the hospital, in support of our Patient Flow Coordinator.

Our internal medicine service is led by Dr Laura Bree, alongside Dr Mary Trehy, Dr Susanna Spence and Dr Jodie Green, our internal medicine-focused RVNs Bryony, Amy and Abi, cardiology-focused RVN Niki and supported by our intern and multi-disciplinary RVN teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide a high and sustainable quality of patient care by you and your team, primarily within the internal medicine, cardiology & oncology services.

• Oversee and support internal medicine inpatient care and the implementation of nursing care plans.

• Provide leadership to those working within the internal medicine, cardiology & oncology teams.

• Provide training and support of the team working in your area, including multi-disciplinary RVNs, patient care assistants and interns.

• Ensure effective communication is maintained within the internal medicine, cardiology & oncology teams.

• Ensure accurate record keeping is undertaken, especially regarding anaesthetic and hospitalisation records in SmartFlow.

• Assist with stock management within your department and co-ordinate with the pharmacy & purchasing assistant.

• Work closely with the Lead Nurses and HoNS to plan for the daily case load and highlight any issues or concerns that may arise.

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

• Take part in team reflections of incidents and near misses, to continually improve our patient care and safety, including Halo reporting.

• As a cat-friendly clinic, you will support the International Society of Feline Medicine (ISFM) cat-friendly standards across the hospital.

• As a dog-friendly clinic, you will support the Dogs Trust and British Veterinary Behaviour Association (BVBA) dog-friendly standards across the hospital.

• Seek opportunities to maintain competence in all areas of nursing to ensure a strong level of general nursing capabilities are achieved. Where suitable take part in role swaps to preserve this competence.

• Take part in a range of team committees such as our Sustainability, Culture & Wellbeing or Dog/Cat-Friendly committees, to both explore areas of personal interest and help to shape our impact, culture and standards as a hospital.

Benefits

• 5 weeksAnnual Leave plus BankHolidays

• Additional Birthday Leave

• RCVS & VDSFeesPaid

• EnhancedSicknessPay

• EnhancedEqualFamilyLeave

• Life Assurance

• EmployerContributionPensionScheme

• External CPDFunded

• ExtensiveFreeOnline Linnaeus CPDProgram

• CareerProgressionOpportunities

• Generous Staff Social Calendar

• WellnessProgramIncluding:

• EmployeeAssistanceProgram​

• EyecareVoucherScheme

• Free Annual Flu Jab

• Cycle-to-Work Scheme

At Linnaeus, we are committed to supporting the physical and mental health of all our Associates. We have an amazing team of Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) across our practices and central support office in addition to a confidential Employee Assistance Programme which is available for everyone.

If you would like to apply for this role, please click the Apply Button or for more information, please feel free to reach out directly to our Referral Nursing Talent Acquisition Business Partner – Becca Thompson at Becca.Thompson@linnaeusgroup.co.uk