Do you love cats?
Are you an experienced and compassionate qualified Veterinary Nurse who would like to work in a busy environment where patient care is prioritised?
Do you like daily challenges in a busy environment while maintaining gold standard patient care?
Together with Veterinary Specialist Services, we have built a specialist, cat only hospital and we opened January 2024! We aim to deliver the excellent patient care that VSS have always been known for. We are also passionate about providing our team with a working environment that is sustainable for them.
We have a dedicated team of amazing cat nurses and vets providing specialised, high-quality care for cats, in a purpose-built facility designed with them in mind.
We are looking for experienced qualified Veterinary Nurses to provide care to our inpatients on a rotating basis which will include overnight shifts, daytime shifts and weekend care for our hospitalised patients. These patients will be hospitalised for a variety of conditions and monitoring and treatment for some will be complex.
We have full-time, part-time, and casual opportunities, with a range of night, day and weekend shifts available.
About us
Cat Specialist Services is a newly opened cat only referral hospital. It has been established by feline specialist Dr Rachel Korman, together with Veterinary Specialist Services. VSS has hospitals at Carrara, Jindalee, and Underwood. Cat Specialist Services is located directly adjacent to the long-standing VSS Underwood hospital.
We are striving to create an environment where people can do their best work with cats. Our team is very passionate about delivering high standards of patient care whilst supporting each other and drinking coffee (or tea!).
We have a very diverse skill set and can offer just about all specialities, diagnostic modalities, and therapies across our practice group. The Underwood hospital specifically has specialists, registrars, and residents in Feline Medicine, Small Animal Surgery, Anaesthesia, Cardiology, Emergency and Critical Care, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, Oncology and Animal Physiotherapy. Our vets and nurses are involved in the industry with wide participation in professional groups, universities and continuing education courses. We are passionate about providing cat specific content for further education.
What we are looking for
A cat friendly, experienced veterinary nurse who loves cats.
Minimum 3-4 years of nursing experience in a busy general practice, or experience in a referral specialist hospital preferred, but not essential
Certificate IV in veterinary nursing and/or BAppSc (Veterinary Technology) degree or equivalent
Availability to work nights, days, weekends and public holidays on a rotating basis, and assist with short notice shift cover if required. The roster is designed around keeping a good work-life balance for our nurses.
A person who can work independently in an after-hours setting but with the knowledge that full support (specialists, ICU and an emergency team) is near at hand.
A person with great communication skills and attention to detail.
A person who will be a genuine team player in a small team. This means different personalities, work styles and methods, but with the same ultimate goal to provide the best care to cats.
A person who understands that we all have a role to play, and that the ultimate outcome is to deliver the best possible care for cats, their families and our referring veterinarians.
A person who is genuinely adaptable and can embrace change - we are a new hospital and there will be ongoing change to get our workplace as good as it can be!
A person who understands that when a cat needs us, we will do our best give it the care it needs.
Why we hope you’ll want to join us
We have established the company to try and focus on people, their careers and their development and we want to provide a supportive learning environment, where you will also have access to further education and seminars, with the possibility of paid study leave.
We encourage and support our nurses to learn and perform advanced nursing techniques.
Nurses are exposed to a wide range of interesting and diverse cases, where no two days are the same. You will experience a supportive network of like minded professionals.
The role includes but is not limited to:
Demonstration of cat friendly handling techniques. We never scruff.
Monitor and recording patient vital signs. Identifying when a patient may need a change in treatment protocol.
Undertake patient plans in line with the veterinarian’s instructions.
Ensure patient pain management protocols are adhered to at all times.
Provide nursing care of inpatients, including medication administration.
Maintain a high level of hygiene in all wards.
Demonstrate a compassionate, empathetic and caring approach to all feline patients.
After provided training, to care for our hyperthyroid cats who have received radioactive iodine treatment in our purpose built treatment facility.
Annual remuneration is commensurate with experience. Applicable penalties are payable as per the Animal Care and Veterinary Services Award 2020.
Still not sure if this position is for you? Contact our HR team and arrange a team meet and greet and a facility tour.
If you are interested?
Please either submit your CV and a cover letter to us at hr@vss.net.au, or contact Jennine Bennett (VSS HR Associate - phone 07 3841 7011) if you’d like any more information.
