Veterinary Nurse – Referral Services

Build your referral nursing skills in a supportive, multidisciplinary hospital

Ready to take your nursing career beyond general practice? At AREC, you can develop your clinical skills while working alongside experienced referral clinicians and nurses, caring for complex medical and surgical patients.

Whether you’re an experienced GP nurse ready for a new challenge, an emergency nurse keen to broaden your experience, or an existing referral nurse looking to keep growing, we’d love to hear what interests you.

What’s in it for you?

• Develop advanced clinical skills – gain experience in referral nursing, including surgery, internal medicine, anaesthesia, advanced diagnostics and complex patient care.
• Explore your clinical interests – opportunities may be available in Ophthalmology and Rehabilitation, as these services develop.
• Keep your options open – for nurses interested in both areas, there may be opportunities to work across Referral and Emergency and Critical Care.
• Learn on the job – build your confidence and capability with support from experienced clinicians and the wider nursing team.
• A roster with a different rhythm – referral services operate predominantly on weekdays, with 10-hour shifts, unlike AREC’s 24/7 Emergency and Critical Care roster.
• Support for your wellbeing – dedicated Break Nurses on applicable shifts help encourage rest and improve staff wellbeing.
• Professional benefits – continuing education support, competitive remuneration, paid attendance at compulsory staff meetings, and employer-funded professional memberships and registrations for eligible employees.
• A workplace that invests in its people – work within a privately owned, non-corporate hospital with an engaged leadership team, an Employee Assistance Program and a Wellness Committee.

About the role
AREC’s Referral Services are growing, with current opportunities primarily across Surgery and Internal Medicine. You’ll work alongside referral clinicians and an experienced nursing team, caring for complex patients and supporting them throughout their hospital journey.

Depending on your experience and clinical interests, your role may involve:

• Providing high-quality nursing care to medical, surgical and hospitalised patients.
• Preparing for and assisting with advanced diagnostic procedures and investigations.
• Preparing patients for surgery and assisting with surgical procedures.
• Monitoring anaesthesia and supporting patient recovery.
• Placing intravenous catheters and collecting blood samples.
• Assisting with radiographs and advanced imaging.
• Monitoring patient progress and communicating with clinicians, clients and referring veterinary hospitals.
• Accurately recording diagnostic results and patient information.
• Supporting patients from admission through to discharge.
• Working collaboratively with veterinarians, nurses and the client services team.
• Using low-stress handling techniques to support patient welfare.
• Contributing to a positive, collaborative and continually developing referral nursing team.
• Your role can evolve with your skills and interests. If you’re keen to deepen your expertise in referrals, we’ll support you in that direction. If you enjoy variety, there may also be opportunities to maintain or develop your emergency nursing skills.

About AREC
The Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (AREC) has been providing veterinary care in Newcastle and the Hunter region since 2004. Privately owned and operated, AREC is a family-oriented, non-corporate, ASAV-accredited “Hospital of Excellence” with a collaborative team of more than 110 employees.

AREC brings emergency and referral services together, with a multidisciplinary team and facilities supporting a broad range of veterinary care. The hospital’s values are Respect, Diligence, Professionalism, Excellence, Empathy and Integrity.

With a focus on professional development, mental health and work-life balance, AREC aims to provide an environment where its people can continue to learn and contribute.

See what it’s like living and working with us in Newcastle

About you
You’re a capable veterinary nurse with strong foundational skills, a genuine interest in developing further, and the ability to work collaboratively in a busy clinical environment.

You’ll bring:

• A Certificate IV in Veterinary Nursing or equivalent qualification.
• At least three years of veterinary nursing experience in a busy general practice, emergency or referral environment.
• Confidence in your core nursing skills and a desire to continue developing clinically.
• The ability to work independently while contributing positively to a team.
• An interest in surgery, internal medicine or referral nursing more broadly.
• Good organisation, prioritisation and multitasking skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Initiative, a positive attitude and a willingness to learn.
• The ability to stay calm and adapt as the service continues to develop.
• Previous referral, surgical, anaesthesia or internal medicine experience is highly regarded, but not essential.

Experienced GP and emergency nurses with strong foundational skills and a genuine desire to move into referral nursing are encouraged to apply.

If you enjoy both referral and emergency nursing, AREC would also be happy to discuss what a role across both areas could look like.

Interested?
If you’re ready to broaden your experience and explore where referral nursing could take your career, we’d love to hear from you.

Contact: Sally Groen
Email: [email protected]

AREC fosters diversity and inclusion and is committed to creating an environment where all individuals are valued and included.

Shortlisted applicants will undergo reference checks to verify their identity, qualifications and experience.