Nursing Jobs in Ireland: Opportunities, Growth, and Career Development

A desire to help others and to make a meaningful difference in society draw most people to the Nursing profession. But there are so many other reasons for considering a life in Nursing, especially right now. An increasing demand for Nurses means there is a wealth of Nursing jobs in Ireland to choose from, especially agency Nursing jobs. Plus, this career path offers so many opportunities for growth and career development. Here’s everything you need to know…

Nursing in Ireland - Your Skills Are Needed

Ireland has a shortage of Nurses for several reasons. Firstly, our population is growing, which means healthcare services must keep up and grow too. Secondly, because people are living longer there is a higher incidence of chronic diseases and older people generally need more medical attention. In addition, medical technology is constantly developing, and we increasingly see new and diverse techniques and treatments – all of which require more Nurses.

So Many Ways to Qualify

All Nursing jobs and agency Nursing jobs in Ireland require you to complete a programme of education that is approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). You can choose from 45 Level 8 degree programmes at 13 Higher Education Institutions, in association with main healthcare agencies (hospitals/clinics). You will also need to be registered with the NMBI.

The great thing is, there are many ways in which you can apply for a Level 8 Degree in Nursing:

Apply with your Leaving Certificate – with Grade H5 in two papers and Grade O6/H7 in four papers in specific subjects.

Apply with a FETAC Qualification – If you have completed a National Framework of Qualification (NFQ) Level 5 course in Nursing Studies, Healthcare Support, Community Health Services or Health Service Skills you can apply to study Nursing in college.

Apply as a Mature Student - You can apply for a nursing degree as a mature student if you are 23 years of age or older and you achieve minimum scores in three online assessment tests: verbal reasoning, numeracy, job simulation.

Apply via the Higher Education Access Route (HEAR) or Disability Access Route (DARE) – for students from under-represented economic and social backgrounds.

You can find out more here www.ttmhealthcare.ie/blog/2024/05/pathways-to-a-career-in-nursing

Nursing Jobs in Ireland = A Career With Choice

There are many different types of Nursing, areas of specialisation and healthcare settings to consider. There are four different Nursing disciplines in Ireland: General Nursing, Children’s and General Nursing, Intellectual Disability Nursing and Mental Health Nursing. You might choose to work as a Hospital Nurse, working in different hospital departments such as Emergency, Surgery, Intensive Care and Paediatrics. Then there is the option to work as a Community Nurse, which sees Nurses providing healthcare services in public health clinics, private homes and schools.

You can also choose to move beyond being a Registered General Nurse and specialise as a Nurse, with many specialist areas to think about including Emergency Nurse, Registered Children’s/Paediatric Nurse (RCN), Theatre or Perioperative Nurse and Oncology Nurse.

You’ll Find Your Fit

If you’re a naturally caring and compassionate person who has empathy for other people and want to make a difference – a career in Nursing is a natural choice. Equally, if you have good communication skills, are organised, pay attention to detail, have good problem-solving abilities, are a strong critical thinker with a willingness to learn and grow and with strong leadership skills – you have the qualities needed to make a good Nurse.

You Can Explore the Benefits of Agency Nursing

An increasing number of Nurses are choosing Temporary or agency Nursing instead of Permanent jobs. Agency work gives you unlimited flexibility as you can work when it suits you – helping you manage your other commitments such as family or studies. Agency Nurses find it easier to achieve a better work/life balance – while temporary work is also a great way to explore different healthcare settings and specialisations, helping you grow your skill set. Temporary Nursing jobs also offer a premium rate, helping you boost your income.

You’ll Have the Support of TTM

TTM is Ireland’s leading Nursing recruitment agency, and we hold Tier 1 status with the HSE for the provision of agency nurses nationwide in June 2023. We are also the largest nursing recruitment agency in Ireland for private and voluntary organisations. This means our agency nurses have access to the best shifts and jobs nationwide – and they are never short of work and opportunities.

Working with TTM also means you receive all the personalised support of your own dedicated consultant. They will get to know you and your career goals to find the opportunities that work best for you.

Nursing Jobs in Ireland: Opportunities, Growth, and Career Development