Job Description

Surgery Veterinary Nurse

Location: Greencross Vet Hospital (GVH), Werribee

Employment Type: Full-time and Part-time

About Us

Greencross Vet Hospital at the University of Melbourne is a leading multidisciplinary teaching veterinary hospital known for its excellence in clinical care, education, and innovation. We are proud to deliver gold-standard veterinary medicine while shaping the next generation of veterinary professionals.

Our hospital continues to grow rapidly, with expanding referral services and a thriving team culture built on collaboration, compassion, and continual learning.

Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and advanced diagnostic technologies, GVH offers an environment where passionate veterinary professionals can develop their skills, expand their knowledge and truly excel in their careers.

About the Role

Are you a passionate veterinary nurse with a keen interest in surgery, exceptional patient care and a desire to take your nursing career to the next level?

We are seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Surgery Veterinary Nurse to join our dynamic and growing referral surgery team at Greencross Vet Hospital.

This exciting opportunity will see you working alongside experienced veterinary surgeons, anaesthesia professionals and a highly skilled nursing team, supporting a diverse and challenging surgical caseload.

From complex orthopaedic and soft tissue procedures to advanced surgical patient care, you will play an integral role in ensuring our patients receive exceptional care throughout their surgical journey.

As a teaching hospital, you will also have the rewarding opportunity to support and mentor Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) students, sharing your knowledge and helping develop the next generation of veterinary professionals.

Whether you are an experienced surgical nurse looking for your next challenge or a passionate veterinary nurse eager to further develop your surgical skills, we would love to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

• Provide compassionate, high-quality nursing care to surgical patients throughout their hospital stay, including preoperative preparation, intraoperative support and postoperative recovery.
• Assist veterinary surgeons with a diverse range of advanced soft tissue, orthopaedic and emergency surgical procedures.
• Prepare surgical theatres, instruments and equipment, ensuring exceptional standards of sterility, infection prevention and patient safety.
• Assist with anaesthesia preparation, patient monitoring and recovery in collaboration with our anaesthesia team.
• Deliver exceptional inpatient nursing care, including pain management, wound care, medication administration and ongoing patient assessment.
• Manage patient admissions, surgical preparation and discharges, ensuring clear communication and continuity of care.
• Work collaboratively with our Surgery, Anaesthesia, Emergency and Critical Care, and other referral departments to provide seamless multidisciplinary patient care.
• Maintain accurate patient records and contribute to effective treatment planning and patient handovers.
• Mentor and support DVM students, providing practical guidance and contributing to their clinical learning experience.
• Contribute to the ongoing development of our surgical service, maintaining high clinical standards and supporting a positive, collaborative team culture.

About You

We are looking for a veterinary nurse who is passionate about surgery, takes pride in delivering exceptional patient care and enjoys working as part of a collaborative team.

Qualifications: Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing (or equivalent) is essential.

Experience: A minimum of two years of experience in a referral or specialist veterinary hospital, or five years of experience in a general practice setting. Previous surgical nursing experience is highly regarded.

Surgical Interest: A genuine passion for surgery, with an interest in developing your skills in surgical nursing, advanced procedures and perioperative patient care.

Technical Skills: Strong nursing abilities, including venipuncture, catheterisation, anaesthetic monitoring, surgical preparation and inpatient care. Experience in surgical instrumentation, theatre nursing and postoperative patient management is highly desirable.

Patient Care: A keen eye for detail, strong patient advocacy and a commitment to providing exceptional nursing care throughout every stage of a patient's surgical journey.

Passion for Learning & Teaching: You enjoy sharing your knowledge, supporting veterinary students and continually developing your own clinical skills.

Communication: Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with surgeons, clinicians, nursing colleagues, students and clients.

Adaptability: Comfortable working in a fast-paced surgical environment, managing competing priorities and responding to the changing needs of patients and the wider hospital.

Team Spirit: A positive, proactive and supportive approach, with a genuine desire to contribute to a collaborative and successful surgical team.

What We Offer

• Competitive remuneration package based on experience.
• The opportunity to work alongside experienced veterinary surgeons and anaesthesia professionals in a multidisciplinary teaching hospital.
• Exposure to a diverse and exciting surgical caseload, including advanced orthopaedic, soft tissue and emergency procedures.
• Opportunities for career progression, continuing education and specialist training support.
• A supportive and collaborative team that values professional development, teamwork and shared success.
• Access to advanced surgical facilities, diagnostic imaging and specialist equipment.
• The opportunity to develop your teaching and mentoring skills while supporting the next generation of veterinary professionals.
• A role where you can make a meaningful difference to patient outcomes, student development and the continued growth of our surgical service.

Join us at Greencross Vet Hospital, where you can take your surgical nursing career to the next level, work alongside an incredible team of veterinary professionals and be part of something truly exciting!