Senior Veterinary Nurse - 12 Month Fixed Term
Senior Vet Nurse
Invercargill - Southland, New Zealand
Full time - 12 Month Fixed Term
At VetSouth, our nurses are a huge part of what makes our clinics great, and we're looking for a highly experienced Veterinary Nurse to join our Invercargill Companion Animal team on a 12-month parental leave cover. This is a senior role that demands real depth of experience - someone who has operated independently, is comfortable in surgery, and understands the demands of on-call work. If you're a confident, seasoned nurse who can hit the ground running and wants to work somewhere your skills are genuinely valued, we'd love to hear from you.
Why VetSouth?
We're proud to be a New Zealand-owned veterinary group with strong local roots and a genuine focus on people, animals, and community.
- A supportive team culture that values collaboration and wellbeing.
- $1,500 per year to use toward CPD, plus 25% toward wellbeing.
- Ongoing training, mentoring, and support to keep your skills growing.
- Great staff benefits, including generous discounts and wellbeing support.
- Career pathways across our wider veterinary network of 50+ clinics.
About the Role
This is a 12-month fixed-term position covering parental leave, and it's not an entry-level role. We need someone who brings proven, hands-on experience across surgical nursing, independent consults, and on-call work - someone who can step in with confidence, take real ownership of clinical standards, and support the wider nursing team from day one.
Your responsibilities will include:
- Surgical nursing - from prep and anaesthesia induction through to monitoring, recovery, and post-op care
- Coaching and mentoring junior nurses and supporting day-to-day workflow
- Running independent nurse consults with confidence, including client education, follow-up care, and treatment planning within your scope
- Collecting and submitting diagnostic samples
- Digital radiography and imaging
- Fluid therapy and IV catheter placement
- Participating in the on-call roster, handling after-hours cases with professionalism and sound clinical judgement
About You
- Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (or equivalent).
- 3+ years' hands-on experience as a Veterinary Nurse - this is non-negotiable.
- Proven surgical nursing experience - you're comfortable running a surgical list from start to finish.
- Strong communication and client-care skills.
- A calm, organised approach and the ability to adapt to changing priorities.
- Experience with independent nurse consults and comfort working autonomously.
- Familiarity with on-call responsibilities and the ability to handle after-hours cases with confidence.
Recent graduates will not be considered.
If you're interested in future opportunities, check out our Careers page to join our talent pool.
Apply now to join a team that's Here for Good!
Get in touch with us at[email protected].
Find out more about us atvetsouth.co.nzor on ourFacebook page.
