Job Opportunities in New Zealand

Job Description: Veterinary Nurse
Position Purpose: To provide high quality nursing care and technical support within the
Companion Animal Hospital of the Massey University Veterinary Teaching
Hospital. To assist with all aspects of patient care, including patient triage
and client communication, and to contribute to the practical and
theoretical teaching of veterinary science students.
Department: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Science
Location: Manawatū
Reports to: Nursing Supervisor
Responsible for: Nil
Delegations: Nil
Job Title: Veterinary Nurse
Key relationships: Internal External
Practice Manager Partner and referring veterinary
Nursing Supervisor clinics
Veterinary Colleagues Veterinary Contractors
Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Clients
Referring veterinarians
School of Veterinary Science Staff
Massey University: We are a world-leading university in many academic disciplines and fields
of research. Our point of difference is research that is connected to
community and industry. Our researchers are developing expertise and
skills to advance human knowledge and understanding. Working together
across disciplines and locations, we solve national and global problems
through fundamental, applied and interdisciplinary research, while
culturally and artistically enriching our world.


We are deeply committed to being a Te Tiriti-led university,
demonstrating authentic leadership in contemporary Aotearoa New
Zealand as we uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi, the founding document of our
nation, and its principles through our practice. We embrace this not just
as an obligation but as a real opportunity for the nation and its people.


Our educators are preparing a new generation of global leaders. Our
students are diverse and are attracted to Massey because they want to
achieve their personal goals or make their mark in the world. They
experience world-class learning that recognises their intellectual and
cultural strengths, expands their horizons and prepares them to
1

contribute to a rapidly transforming world with skills, critical and creative
thinking and leadership.
We will be renowned for our passion and caring attitude. All Massey
campuses will be innovation ecosystems, acting as magnets for smart
enterprises. Wherever we are, we will operate in partnerships founded
on respect, trust and mutual benefit. Massey is not only defined by what
we do, but by how we do it.
About this area This role works within the Companion Animal Hospital team, working
alongside veterinary professionals and specialists, in New Zealand’s only
Veterinary Teaching Hospital facility. Massey Vets provides both first and
second opinion services, with the support of dedicated radiology and
anaesthesia services. Our dynamic team and working environment leads
to both a challenging and rewarding environment.
Massey core capabilities
At Massey we are Tiriti-led, upholding Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles through our practice, we:

• Demonstrate awareness of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and its contribution to Aotearoa New Zealand

with external stakeholders, giving expression to Tikanga Māori and protocols that
demonstrates that we respect and value Māori conventions in appropriate settings.
At Massey we work together with mutual respect and caring. we :

• Act with integrity and trustworthiness and give credit to others for the work they do.

• Work cooperatively and inter-dependently to foster and promote the One University approach.
• Share knowledge and communicate professionally with courtesy and mutual respect.
• Are ethical in all transactions, working within the parameters of our policies and procedures.

• Are direct, truthful and maintain confidentiality.
• Seek to understand and appreciate our differences.

• Keep ourselves and others safe; work together to embrace with the University's health, safety

and wellbeing policies, procedures and programmes; display commitment by actively
supporting all safety and wellbeing initiatives: and by actively engaging in health and safety improvement opportunities.
At Massey we are future-focused, results- oriented and strive for excellence. we:

• Take ownership and responsibility for delivering results to support achievement of University

objectives.

• Provide the best quality services to our customers (internal and external) ensuring our

students/ stakeholders are at the heart of everything we do.

• Deliver or support world-class research, teaching and learning and citizenship.

• Take personal responsibility for our performance, take pride in doing our job well, and commit

to ongoing personal and professional development.

• Are motivated and create a positive working environment where our values are reinforced.

2

• Anticipate and respond with agility and resilience to the changing needs of the University and

the communities we serve.

• Seek ways to improve our services to deliver in an efficient and effective way.

• Embrace technology and apply this innovatively to better meet the needs of those we serve.

• Challenge ourselves to reach our potential and help bring out the best in others.

• Understand how what we do contributes to the objectives of the University.

Accountabilities
Nursing • Contribute to all aspects of patient care and provide appropriate
assistance to the clinician(s) in the area of the Hospital where you have


been assigned. The area assigned to and/or those tasks assigned will
change according to the needs of the hospital and is at the discretion of
the Nursing Supervisor and Practice Manager.

• Perform high quality nursing care for all clinical cases, including critically

ill and acutely sick in-patients in a professional and efficient manner.

• Perform general nursing activities adeptly to standards expected of a

trained veterinary nurse. These include but are not limited to: patient
handling; performance of routine procedures; administration of
medications; collection and submission of diagnostic samples;
anaesthetic and peri-anaesthetic patient care and monitoring and
patient preparation for surgery

• Ensure that the patient’s basic needs (food, water and exercise), their

comfort and hygiene meet standards expected within a veterinary
hospital.

• Ensure compliance with all appropriate financial transactions.

• Relay veterinary discharge instructions accurately and comprehensively

to clients/other stakeholders always

• Ensure hygiene standards are maintained within the hospital

• Liaise with and assist all other departments as required within the

companion animal hospital to ensure a good quality service for all patients of Massey University Veterinary Teaching hospital.

• To clean and maintain equipment promptly and efficiently according to

protocols.

• Assist with maintaining and assessing protocols and policies used within

the Companion Animal Hospital

• Assist with clinical research projects as and when required under the

supervision of the designated academic lead

• To perform other reasonable duties as directed (eg stocktake, reception

duties).
Practical Instruction • Provide clinical on-the-job tuition, assistance and supervision of
undergraduate veterinary students, within the bounds of the
incumbent’s knowledge and role.

• Assist clinicians with equipment and resources set-up for teaching

labs/lectures. Service • To practice effective and respectful communication with both internal
and external stakeholders.
3

• To service clients professionally and with empathy to their cultural,

emotional and physical state.

• Undertake professional development activities as required and

approved, which are relevant to the position.

• Maintain digital image and teaching resource libraries.

Health and Safety • To take reasonable care of one’s own health and safety, and well as
that of others, so that others are not harmed by something they do or
do not do.

• To follow any reasonable instructions given by management, and

comply with any relevant health and safety policies and/or procedures

• To record incidents, near misses and potential risk through Done Safe as

well as notifying Practice manger Qualifications and Experience
Diploma (or demonstrable equivalent) of Veterinary Nursing or Bachelor
Qualifications:
of Veterinary Technology
Experience: • Nursing experience is desired
Capabilities - Behaviour
Communication • Written and oral communications that produces clear and complete
Essential communication for case handover and clients.

• Recognises which communications need to be formalised to provide

clarity, including when escalation is required.

• Conducts discussions in a respectful manner, that are sincere and

professional.

• Adapts listening and facilitation styles to others' communication styles.
  

Working Together • Works with key stakeholders internally and externally. Knows when to
Essential apply confidentiality.

• Adapts interaction style appropriate to different situations and people.

• Understands the factors for high performance, and creates positive

partnerships and cohesive teams

• Works to understand alternative points of view to guide productive

working relationships.

Continuous • Implements new systems, procedures and tools efficiently when changes
Transformation occur in the work environment.
Essential • Works with agility, adjusting current working processes or adopting new
approaches in response to changes in the organisation environment.
Essential
understand and deliver on customer perceptions and expectations.
4

• Able to respond to common stakeholder queries and problems or escalate

if required.

• Responds to unexpected stakeholder requests with a sense of urgency and

positive action.

• Provides a level of customer centric service excellence that contributes to

the department’s objectives. Capabilities - Technical
Digital Skills • Ability to learn and use core Massey University systems
Desirable
Hospital Practice • Handle companion animals using low-stress handling techniques, or be
Desirable willing to learn that technique
Technical • Seeks opportunities for continual learning to maintain technical
Management competence in pursuit of nursing excellence.
Desirable • Effectively performs the technical job aspects, continuously building
knowledge and keeping up-to-date on technical and procedural job
components.

• Helps others solve technical or procedural problems or issues.

Pre-employment checks
Essentia l • Requirement to pass a Qualifications Validation Check.

5