Veterinary Nurse

Job Purpose

Provide a focus between clients, veterinary surgeons, nursing staff and students.  Carry out nursing duties to the highest standard.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

1. Nursing:

Responsible for providing and overseeing the complete nursing care of patients within a recognised specialism in a busy hospital environment.

Prioritise patient care and manage an unpredictable and high intensity workload. Problem solve to ensure best patient care outcomes.

Perform a variety of advanced nursing skills including 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.

Perform nursing clinical examination to 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.

Interpret a range of laboratory test results and know when results need to be immediately reported to clinician in charge of case.

Disseminate information gathered at daily rounds to team members.

Responsible for performing and assisting with prescribed treatment regimens under the direction of the clinician or senior veterinary nurse.

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.

Responsible for co-ordinating, where appropriate, out-patient clinics or clinical investigations. Support services by performing nursing consultations within area of specialism, providing expert nursing advice to clients.

Assist referring vets in managing patients and contact practices to get further information on cases as required by the clinicians.

Deputising for Senior Nurse when absent as directed by the line manager, by supervising area(s) and performing senior nursing tasks with regard to the clinics and inpatients as required.

Employ effective use of consumables within the SAH and ensure appropriate stock levels are maintained.

Ensure hospital equipment and instrumentation is handled correctly, cleaned, and maintained to ensure it is kept in good working order.

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

Provide clinical nursing cover in all areas of the SAH at weekends & Bank Holidays on a rotational basis.

Maintain a high standard of hygiene, cleanliness and organisation throughout area(s) of responsibility.

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

Supervise and direct veterinary care assistants and students working in area(s) of responsibility.

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

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.

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

2.Teaching/Training:

Ongoing supervision and training of non-academic staff & students to develop their skills and ensure patient wellbeing at all times.

Assist and support student veterinary nurses with completion of their Nursing Progress Log (NPL)

Assessment of veterinary students during DOPs and OSCE assessments.

Perform the staff and student inductions when they first enter area of responsibility.

Supervise all non-academic staff & students within area of responsibility.

3. Administration:

Maintain paper and electronic patient records, ensuring that all documents are completed fully and in a timely manner.

Responsible for ensuring Health & Safety regulations are adhered to by all staff and students at all times when performing all duties to reduce the risk of infection or injury.

Develop protocols, standard operating procedures and information booklets for the clinic and for clients, keeping abreast of new developments.  Ensure staff and students are familiar with such protocols.

Perform administrative duties out-of-hours including registering new clients, making appointments, creating client invoices and taking payments.

Responsible for updating invoices and ensuring clinicians and clients are notified when agreed quotation limits are being reached.

To accurately complete insurance forms within an area of appropriate specialism as required.

Communicate with clients and insurance companies regarding claims when required.

When delegated by the Line Manager, take responsibility for ensuring that there is an adequate staffing level in area(s) of responsibility in the event of sickness or absence of a Senior Nurse.

4. Research:(where appropriate)

Assist with data collection for teaching and research purposes.

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.

Dimensions

This is a very busy veterinary referral and teaching hospital which is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The hospital has a caseload of > 18,000 cases per annum and a turnover in excess of £7M. The hospital is serviced by 62 nursing associated staff, 56 clinicians and 17 management/administrative staff, supporting over 13 clinical specialities and an emergency out of hours first opinion clinic.

Supervision of veterinary care assistants within area(s) of responsibility.

Teaching and supervision of ~ 40 veterinary undergraduate students who are on clinical rotations within the hospital.

Co-supervisory responsibility, in conjunction with Senior Nursing Tutor, for 60 student veterinary nurses working at various times within hospital as part of the Level 3 Diploma.

Responsible for the individual assessment of a quota of Level 3 Diploma veterinary nursing students each year.

Oversee the smooth running of a nursing service for the referral clients and patients of the Small Animal Hospital.

Planning and Organising

Plan and coordinate personal workload to provide efficient assistance to the specialist clinician(s).

Plan patient care-plans for the day and ensure they are performed.

Organise all aspect of the specialist clinic including appointments and paper-work.

Allocating / delegating workloads during busy periods to ensure high standards are maintained.

Allocating duties to team members in accordance with their skills.

Prioritise patient care especially with emergency admissions.

Decision Making

Recognise changes in patient’s demeanour or clinical condition and decide when advice from senior nurse or clinician is required.

Decide upon the most appropriate care of the in-patients and seek advice from clinicians where required.

Decide upon adequate nursing protocols to provide a high level of patient care and to ensure continuity of care.

Decide on the most appropriate sources for drugs and consumables.

Decide on the daily running of the clinic with the appropriate clinician.

Decide upon suitable Health + Safety protocols, especially if using cytotoxic drugs, to ensure all staff, students and clients are not exposed.

Decide upon the most suitable advice to give clients and referring vets.  If not confident to respond to requests, know when to pass on to the clinician.

Communication

Internal

Veterinary Surgeons – Regarding patient care and treatment plans. Relaying of information to ensure continuity of care of patients. Attend morning rounds with the clinicians and relay this information to the appropriate staff members whether this is the nursing team or the reception staff etc.

Veterinary Nurses – Regarding patient care and treatment plans. Relaying of information to ensure continuity of care of patients and ward management. Provide assistance to less experience nurses when needed.

Veterinary Care Assistants – Regarding patient care and general ward maintenance. Relaying of information to ensure continuity of care of patients. Providing direct supervision whilst handling and providing patient care.

Students – Teaching and training, demonstrating procedures and providing information on hospital procedures/SOP. Relaying of information to ensure continuity of care of patients. Providing direct supervision whilst handling and provide patient care.

Administration staff – Reception in particular. Relaying information from vets about admissions, discharges, relaying information regarding client accounts.

External

Clients – providing telephone triage and advice. Providing patient care updates. Providing discharge instruction including follow up treatment, medications and aftercare.

Member Practices – taking case histories of patients to be transferred for over night/weekend care. Updating member practices when necessary.

Other Organisations – liaising with other organisations such as VPIS, SSPCA, other ECC providers, PDSA, Pet ambulance service, Wild Life Centres. Internal/External Relationships

Problem Solving

To give advice to clients if they are experiencing difficulties in caring for their pet.

To correct any problems involving patient care such as maintenance of dressings and catheters.

Dealing with aggressive patients.

Dealing with emergency situations and acting/ responding accordingly.

Dealing with demanding clients and those with payment issues.

Exploring alternative materials/ methods of practice when required to try to increase effectiveness or when no other alternative is available.

To source alternative consumables or products when needed.

Other

To keep abreast with advancements in technology and their applications, and continually updating both knowledge and skills in nursing care.

Required to work flexibly and to provide cover for weekends and public holidays on a rotational basis.

Terms and Conditions

Salary will be Grade 5, £25,138 – £29,605 per annum (plus 6% shift allowance for weekend working).

This post is full time (35 hours per week) and open ended, with one week in four covering a weekend.

As part of Team UofG you will be a member of a world changing, inclusive community, which values ambition, excellence, integrity and curiosity.

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.