Senior Veterinary Nurse - 12 Month Fixed Term

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.

to join a team that’s Here for Good!

Get in touch with us at [email protected].

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