Senior Veterinary Nurse

Senior Vet Nurse

Invercargill - Southland, New Zealand

Permanent – Full Time

At VetSouth, our nurses are a huge part of what makes our clinics great, and we’re looking for an experienced Veterinary Nurse to join our Invercargill Companion Animal team. 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 thrives in a fast-paced clinical environment 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

We’re looking for a nurse who brings proven, hands-on experience across surgical nursing, independent consults, and on-call work. You’ll take real ownership of clinical standards, support and mentor the wider nursing team, and be someone the vets and nurses can rely on when it counts.

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).
• 4+ 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 for this position.

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 hr@vetsouth.co.nz.

Find out more about us at vetsouth.co.nz or on our Facebook page.