Registered Veterinary Nurse - Nights

Part-time: 29.2 hours on average per week 

Fixed-term: a 14-month maternity cover contract 

Shift pattern: 8pm-8.30am shift times working a rolling 4 shifts on, 8 shifts off

As part of this role, you will be expected to cover an equal share of the annual leave in your pod of night RVNs, accruing paid overtime for all additional hours worked.

Your next step starts here. Be part of something bigger.

The University isn’t just any employer. We are part of a local community and a contributor to global thinking, progress and research. In Edinburgh, you are in one of the world’s most attractive cities with active arts and social sectors, while working in a University that has made significant contributions to society, medicine, physics and teaching for over four centuries. Our people have helped create the modern world and are working on more ground-breaking technologies and practices.

The University of Edinburgh is a world-class organisation. We are a large University covering a wide range of activities. In Technical Clinical Services, we support the University’s clinical, research and teaching, offering many career and role specialisms.

The Opportunity:

This is a demanding out-of-hours role that calls for dedication, resilience, flexibility, and a proactive approach. You’ll need a strong work ethic and a commitment to delivering the highest standards of patient care. Our dedicated night team covers 365 days a year, ensuring that we provide round-the-clock care to our patients. As part of this team, you’ll handle a wide variety of cases, from ward-based patients—including felines, canines, and exotics—to those requiring intermediate and emergency critical care. You may also assist with surgeries or endoscopies that run out of hours, offering a fantastic opportunity to develop new skills.

Our hospital is equipped with:

• Three canine wards
• Four exotics wards
• One feline ward
• Purpose-built isolation units
• A fully equipped emergency room
• Dedicated Intermediate Care and Intensive Care Wards

We are proud to deliver the highest level of care to patients with life‑threatening conditions as well as those with more routine needs, ensuring every animal receives the attention and expertise they deserve.

Training & Support

We offer a comprehensive 6–8 weeks training programme to help you settle into the role. You’ll normally start by shadowing our friendly and experienced team during standard daytime hours (Monday–Friday, 8:30am–5:00pm) to build your confidence and skills. Any hours worked beyond your contracted weekly hours during training will be paid as overtime according to university guidelines.

Shift Pattern
You’ll work a rolling pattern of 4 night shifts on, followed by 8 nights off, providing a great balance of work and rest. You’ll be part of a supportive pod system, sharing annual leave cover equally with your two pod-mates.

Holiday Commitment
As part of the rota, you’ll also cover a fair share of public holidays, including over the Christmas period, if your shifts fall on those dates.

We welcome applications from all RCVS qualified Registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN) candidates. Contact Out of hours senior nurse Nicola Cochrane Nicola.Cochrane@ed.ac.uk for more details.

Advert information