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