Permanent Lead Registered Veterinary Nurse - Theatre - Basildon
Type: Small Animal
Location: Basildon, Essex
Practice: Part of a group - They are a progressive, forward-thinking, premium veterinary practice. Their main hospital site is based in Basildon and they have two smaller sites
Team Info: They believe in supporting and investing in staff, and facilities and ensuring that their clients and pets receive only the very best, modern first opinion. Their staff are motivated and encouraged to gain additional certifications across all levels of employment and they offer career progression within their group. They have a strong recognisable brand and they are looking for people who share their vision and culture. They have over 60 staff members and are very proud of their achievements and reputation in the veterinary profession.
The Role: They are currently looking for an organised, dedicated Lead Nurse with at least three years’ experience that has a keen interest in all aspects of first-opinion work and nurse consultations. Alongside their primary care services, they offer medical workups such as ultrasound/x-ray/in-house testing and will be required as part of this caring role.
Key responsibilities:
Work with all nurses, including students and new starters to ensure competency in theatre and anaesthesia practice. Ensure the team has completed the Group anaesthesia training course
Keep up to date with CPD for theatre and anaesthesia practice and implement new protocols and updates SOPs as agreed with the Clinical Nurse Manager (CNM) and share with the team
Complete necessary audits to ensure the highest of inpatient care and safety is maintained and implement changes as necessary in line with the CNM This may include temperature/blood pressure, drug, and GA sheets.
Ensure surgical checklists, recovery, and anaesthetic charts are being completed for each patient. Liaise with individuals if not being completed
Work with the nurses to maintain infection control in theatres, dental, x-ray, and prep rooms to ensure the cleaning regimes are being completed and signed off
Maintain the highest level of sterility in the theatres, ensuring sterilisation does not exceed 3 months and ensuring the team is wearing the correct PPE.
Hours: The working hours are 5 days Monday to Friday on a rota including a night rota shift.
Weekends: 1 in 3 weekends OOHs - you will work one shift either Saturday day, night, or Sunday day or night.
Main purpose & goals:
Maintain an overview of the nursing team and provision of animal care across the team that you lead
Managing your area of responsibility by working with other lead nurses and the Clinical Nursing Manager in order to achieve this
Demonstrating an excellent work protocol in all nursing duties including a high level of hygiene and the ability to recognise and undertake relevant actions with regard to infection control
Approximately 95% of the role will be clinical duties (to allow 5% for admin that may come with that role) including a full share of the on-call rota
Provide leadership to those working in your area of responsibility and others across the business
Ensure that all cases in your team area are dealt with in a timely manner, and that unnecessary delays are prevented at all times
Ensure that in your area of responsibility the team is implementing accurate patient record-keeping and that all patient care instructions are followed by the nursing team
Work with the Clinical Nursing Manager, where required to help develop a skills matrix for nursing requirements within your area of responsibility.
Help support the identification, prioritisation, and implementation of learning, development, and CPD for nurses in your team where required
Work with the Clinical Nursing Manager to ensure all new nurses entering the business are supported to complete their induction
Complete Nurse appraisals who work as part of your team
Participate in external CPD appropriate to your role plus any training in-house, ensuring post-training feedback forms are completed/cascade of relevant information to appropriate team members
Implement the Practice Standards Scheme across the practice
Implement the ISFM standards across the practice
Use Vetsafe reporting to target training where nursing care can be improved
Report and summarise critical incidents as part of Practice Clinical Governance Policy
Be fully aware of all Health & Safety issues and read all information supplied
Adhere to confidentiality relating to all aspects of the business including complying with and assisting with all requirements relating to GDPR compliance.
Salary: Competitive salary of between £23,145 - £28,810 p/a depending on experience
Benefits:
25 days holiday + bank holidays + Birthday Leave
RCVS & VDS fees paid
External CPD funded
Extensive free online Linnaeus CPD program
Career progression opportunities
Staff discount schemes
Enhanced sickness pay
Enhanced equal family leave
Wellness program includes:
Employee assistance program
Eyecare voucher scheme
Free annual flu jab
Cycle-to-work scheme
Recruitment referral reward scheme.
Ref: JN -072022-25992
Interested? Click on the apply button below and we will be in touch with further details