Role
Location
Description
Veterinary Nursing Director
Job Summary:
The Specialty Veterinary Nursing Director is a key member of the leadership team, responsible for overseeing the nursing staff in a high-performance, specialty veterinary hospital. This role ensures the delivery of advanced patient care, operational efficiency, and staff engagement. The Nursing Director collaborates with veterinarians, specialists, and management to maintain the hospital's reputation for excellence and drive continuous improvement in care standards, client satisfaction, and team performance.
Key Responsibilities:
1. Leadership and Team Development
- Lead a team of highly skilled veterinary technicians and assistants in a fast-paced, specialty environment.
- Recruit, train, and retain top talent, ensuring the nursing team operates at the highest level of competency.
- Develop career pathways for nursing staff, fostering professional growth and certification achievement.
- Provide regular feedback and conduct performance evaluations to align team goals with hospital objectives.
2. Clinical Excellence
- Ensure the delivery of advanced nursing care in areas such as internal medicine, surgery, oncology, cardiology, and emergency/critical care.
- Oversee the implementation of specialized treatment protocols and advanced patient care techniques.
- Act as a clinical resource for complex cases, providing guidance and troubleshooting to support optimal outcomes.
3. Operational Oversight
- Manage nursing schedules to meet the demands of a 24/7 specialty and emergency hospital.
- Monitor nursing workflows to ensure efficiency and alignment with hospital goals.
- Collaborate with the hospital administrator on budget management, including payroll, inventory, and capital expenditures related to nursing operations.
4. Quality Assurance and Compliance
- Maintain compliance with all regulatory, legal, and accreditation standards, including AAHA and VECCS guidelines.
- Develop and enforce hospital-wide nursing protocols and policies to ensure consistency and quality of care.
- Regularly review and update standard operating procedures (SOPs) to reflect advancements in veterinary medicine.
5. Communication and Collaboration
- Serve as a liaison between nursing staff, veterinarians, specialists, and management to ensure seamless communication and operational efficiency.
- Attend leadership meetings and contribute to strategic planning for hospital growth and service expansion.
- Foster a collaborative, respectful, and inclusive work environment that reflects the hospital's mission and values.
Qualifications and Skills:
Education and Experience
- Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) licensed in the state of Maryland - A bachelor's degree or advanced certification (e.g., VTS in a specialty area) is highly preferred
- A minimum of 7 years of experience in veterinary nursing, with at least 5 years in a leadership role
- Experience in specialty or emergency veterinary medicine is required
- Proven success in managing teams in a high-volume, high-revenue hospital setting
- Proven experience as a lead or supervising veterinary nurse in a veterinary clinic setting
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
- Ability to work effectively under pressure and manage multiple priorities
Skills
- Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, with the ability to inspire and manage a diverse team
- Advanced clinical knowledge in specialty areas and emergency/critical care
- Strategic thinking and financial acumen to contribute to hospital profitability and growth
- Excellent communication and conflict-resolution skills
- Ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks in a fast-paced environment
Work Environment
- Specialty and emergency hospital setting with exposure to critically ill patients, complex cases, and advanced medical technology
- Must be able to work some evenings, weekends, or holidays as required by hospital operations
Physical Requirements
- Dependable attendance is required
- Any allergies to animals must be controllable through medication
- Must be able to lift 40 pounds
- Must be willing to work long or irregular hours under pressure conditions
- This position requires the ability to walk, bend, stand and reach constantly during a minimum 8-hour day
- Visual acuity sufficient to maintain accurate records; recognizes people and understands written directions
- Ability to speak and hear sufficiently to understand, give information in person and over the telephone
- Fine motor skills adequate for utilizing office equipment such as copiers, telephones and computer keyboards
The list of essential functions, as outlined in this job description, is intended to be representative of the tasks performed within this classification. The omission of any job function does not preclude management from assigning duties not listed herein if such functions are a logical assignment to the position.
PetVet Care Centers, Inc. is one of the nation’s leading operators of veterinary hospitals for companion animals. The company operates over 450 hospitals across multiple states and employs over 11,000 people including over 800 veterinarians. Since its inception, PetVet has been structured around a model that is focused on developing a partnership between the hospitals and the company and providing the highest quality medicine and service.
PetVet is an equal opportunity employer. All employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, age, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, religion, citizenship, national origin/ancestry, physical/mental disabilities, military status or any other basis prohibited by law. EOE, M/F/D/V
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