Registered Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Orthopaedics Care

St James's Hospital Dublin; Leinster; On-site; EUR 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

St James's Hospital in Dublin is seeking a Registered Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Orthopaedics Care. The CNS will deliver expert nursing care, lead education, and coordinate patient pathways within a consultant-led multidisciplinary team.

The post requires NMBI registration, a minimum of 1 year post-registration experience in Orthopaedics, and a QQI Level 9+ qualification or equivalent. An emphasis on evidence-based practice and CPD is expected.

Qualifications

• Be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) or be eligible to register.
• Be registered in the division for which the application is being made.
• Have a minimum of 1 year post-registration experience.
• Have a minimum of 1 year experience in Orthopaedics care.
• Have completed a QQI Level 9 or higher qualification relevant to Orthopaedics care.
• Demonstrate continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area.
• Must demonstrate IT skills and be able to use hospital IT systems.
• Experience in teaching and assessing junior staff/nursing students.

Responsibilities

• Provide professional nursing service in Orthopaedics.
• Lead on patient and staff education within the service.
• Coordinate patients referred to the Orthopaedics service.
• Promote evidence-based practice within Orthopaedics.
• Work as part of a consultant-led multidisciplinary team.
• Keep up to date with national and international guidelines.

Skills

IT skills

Teaching experience

Audits

Leadership

Education

NMBI registration

QQI Level 9 or higher

Job description

Role Title: Registered Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) in Orthopaedics Care.

Job Reference Number: 002786

Closing Date: Sunday, 15th November 2026

Purpose of the Role:

The purpose of this role is to deliver specialist nursing care in line with the five core concepts set out in the Framework for the Establishment of Clinical Nurse Specialist posts (4th edition), National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (NCNM), 2008. The successful candidate will work as a member of the multidisciplinary team providing a patient centered quality and seamless service.

Mount Carmel Hospital is a surgical hub on the south side of Dublin under the clinical governance of St. James's Hospital. The new Outpatient Department (OPD) will comprise of 10 consultation and treatment rooms, providing services across a broad range of specialties.

Successful candidates will initially be based within the Orthopaedic Service at St. James’s Hospital, where they will receive orientation and develop experience within the speciality. Upon the opening of the South Dublin Surgical Hub Outpatient Department at Mount Carmel Hospital, post holders will work between SJH and the new facility.

The Clinical Nurse Specialist will provide a professional nursing service to meet the needs of the patients who are referred to the Orthopaedics service. The successful candidate will have excellent skills in communication, leadership, teaching, education, research and counselling and will incorporate these skills into practice. The CNS will embrace the five core concepts of the clinical nurse specialist role and will promote evidence-based practice within the Orthopaedics speciality. He/she will work as part of a consultant led multidisciplinary team to co-ordinate patients who are referred to the Orthopaedics service in line with current hospital policy and procedures and take an active part in leading on patient and staff education while keeping up to date with national and international guidelines.

Required:

Required:

• Be a Registered Nurse/Midwife on the active Register of Nurses and Midwives held by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) (An Bord Altranais and Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) or be eligible to be so registered.

AND

• Be registered in the division(s) of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (An Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann) Register for which the application is being made or be entitled to be so registered.

AND

• Have a minimum of 1 years’ post registration full time experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in the division of the register in which the application is being made.

AND

• Have a minimum of 1 years’ experience or an aggregate of 1 years’ full time experience in specialist area of Orthopaedics care.

AND

• Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study, as certified by the education provider which verifies that the applicant has achieved a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic Level 9 or higher award that is relevant to the specialist area of care (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed. (2008).

OR

Alternatively provide written evidence from the Higher Education Institute that they have achieved the number of ECTS credits equivalent to a Level 9 or higher standard, relevant to the specialist area of Orthopaedics care prior to application (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed. (2008) prior to application (**See note below).

AND

• Be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area.

AND

• Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her/their professional responsibility within his/her/their scope of practice.

AND

• Candidates must possess the requisite knowledge and ability, including a high standard of suitability and clinical, leadership, managerial, and administrative capacity for the proper discharge of the duties of the office.

And

1. Demonstrate I.T. skills including excellent keyboard skills.
2. Experience in teaching and assessing junior staff/nursing students.
3. Experience in carrying out audits.

**Note: For Nurses/Midwives who express an interest in CNS roles and who currently hold a level 8 educational qualification in the specialist area (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above), this qualification will be recognised up to September 2026.

The successful applicant should formally apply for entry onto the Interim ONMSD CNS/CMS database (until the database is transferred to its permanent location).

Desirable:

• Nurse Prescribing Registration - or agree to undertake within an agreed timeframe, the nurse prescribing of Medicinal Products Certificate (as appropriate to service requirements).
• Have undertaken or agree to undertake, within an agreed timeframe, the Nurse Prescribing of Ionising Radiation Certificate (as appropriate to service requirements).
• Management experience.
• Working knowledge of healthcare patient record systems.