Veterinary Nurse

Inspiring Vet Care; Kilcoole; On-site; EUR 33,000 - 44,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Minimum of 22 days annual leave

Birthday leave

Employee pension contributions

Discounted staff veterinary fees

Free flu jabs

Job summary

Kilcoole Vets in Kilcoole, Co. Wicklow, is hiring Veterinary Nurses for full- or part-time roles. Salary ranges from €33,000 to €44,000 DOE, with a supportive team and opportunities for professional development in a modern, 100% small animal practice.

The role offers a varied caseload, collaborative environment, and emphasis on high-quality patient care. Flexible patterns include four or five days, with a shared Saturday rota and no routine Sundays.

Qualifications

• VCI Registered Veterinary Nurse or student eligible for registration in 2026.

Responsibilities

• Anaesthesia monitoring and surgical preparation.
• Inpatient nursing care and nurse consultations.
• Medication management and patient discharges.
• Post-operative follow-up calls and infection control.

Skills

Animal handling

Communication skills

Team player

Proactive attitude

Education

VCI Registered Veterinary Nurse

Student nurse eligible for registration in 2026

Job description

Kilcoole Vets, Co. Wicklow

Full-time or Part-time, Permanent

Salary €33,000 to €44,000 DOE

Build Your Nursing Career in a Practice Where You'll Be Supported to Grow

Kilcoole Vets is excited to welcome applications from Veterinary Nurses at all stages of their career who are looking to develop their skills, pursue their interests and become part of a friendly and supportive team.

Whether you're a newly qualified nurse keen to build confidence, an experienced RVN looking for a fresh challenge, or somewhere in between, this is an excellent opportunity to join a progressive small animal practice where professional development and high-quality patient care go hand in hand.

You’ll work alongside an experienced team of veterinary surgeons, nurses and support staff who genuinely enjoy supporting one another. We are passionate about creating an environment where nurses can grow, develop their clinical interests and feel valued for the important role they play within the practice.

We're looking for a confident, proactive and enthusiastic Veterinary Nurse who enjoys working collaboratively and takes pride in delivering excellent care to both patients and clients. If you enjoy a varied caseload, value teamwork and are looking for a practice where your contribution will be recognised, we'd love to hear from you.

A Varied Role with Plenty of Clinical Exposure

This is a hands-on nursing position offering excellent clinical experience across a broad range of nursing duties.

A significant part of the role involves anaesthesia monitoring and surgical preparation, giving you the opportunity to build confidence in theatre and develop your anaesthesia skills under the guidance of an experienced team. You’ll also be involved in inpatient nursing care, nurse consultations, medication management, patient discharges, post-operative follow-up calls and maintaining high standards of cleanliness and infection control throughout the practice.

As part of our collaborative approach, all team members support one another where needed, so there may also be opportunities to assist with reception duties, cattery responsibilities and day-to-day practice operations. No two days are ever quite the same, making this a rewarding position for someone who enjoys variety and being involved in all aspects of practice life.

A Supportive and Friendly Team

At Kilcoole Vets, we believe great patient care starts with a great team environment.

We are a close-knit practice consisting of three Veterinary Surgeons, two Veterinary Nurses and three dedicated support team members. Everyone works together to create a welcoming and supportive atmosphere where people feel comfortable asking questions, sharing ideas and developing their skills.

Our team prides itself on maintaining a healthy work-life balance and supporting one another during busy periods. We genuinely value every member of the practice and recognise the important role our nurses play in delivering excellent clinical care.

You’ll be working alongside experienced clinicians, including a Veterinary Surgeon holding a certificate in surgery and another currently undertaking a certificate in medicine, providing excellent opportunities to learn and develop your own clinical interests.

Modern Facilities and High Standards of Care

Kilcoole Vets is a progressive, 100% small animal practice located in the heart of the beautiful seaside village of Kilcoole.

We are proud to be a Silver Accredited Cat Friendly Clinic and place a strong emphasis on providing calm, fear-free experiences for our patients wherever possible. Our purpose-built practice includes a dedicated surgical suite, preparation area, separate dog and cat wards, onsite cattery and comfortable staff facilities, including a team lounge upstairs.

Our facilities include digital radiography, dental radiography, ultrasound, therapeutic laser, in-house haematology and biochemistry analysers, microscopy and multiparameter anaesthetic monitoring equipment, allowing us to provide a high standard of care across all areas of the practice.

We are particularly proud of the strong relationships we have built with our clients and our reputation for delivering personalised, compassionate veterinary care.

Flexibility and Work-Life Balance

We understand that flexibility looks different for everyone and are happy to consider both full-time and part-time applications.

The full-time role is based on 40 hours per week, with working patterns tailored around the needs of both the successful candidate and the practice. This may be worked across four or five days, with shifts scheduled between our opening hours of 8am and 7pm.

For candidates seeking part-time hours, we’d be pleased to discuss a working pattern that suits your circumstances. While weekend participation remains important, we are very open to conversations around flexibility and finding an arrangement that works for everyone.

The role includes a shared 1 in 3 Saturday rota from 9am to 2pm. There are no out-of-hours commitments and no routine Sunday working. On very rare occasions, assistance may be required for the care of a cattery patient outside normal hours, for example administering medication to an inpatient cat. Any such cover would be recognised with time off in lieu.

What We're Looking For

We’re seeking a VCI Registered Veterinary Nurse, or a student nurse eligible for registration in 2026, who is looking to build a rewarding career within a supportive first-opinion practice.

For those earlier in their career, you’ll benefit from hands-on learning opportunities, mentorship and support from an experienced team. For more experienced nurses, this role offers the opportunity to fully utilise your skills, contribute to practice life, and continue developing your own clinical interests.

The ideal candidate will be confident with animal handling, committed to delivering excellent inpatient care, and keen to play an active role in all aspects of nursing within the practice. Strong communication skills, a positive attitude and a team-focused approach are just as important as clinical ability.

Above all, we’re seeking someone who shares our commitment to kindness, teamwork and exceptional patient care.

Living and Working in Kilcoole

Located on the stunning Wicklow coastline, Kilcoole offers the perfect balance of village charm and accessibility. With beautiful beaches, coastal walks and the Wicklow Mountains nearby, it is an ideal location for anyone seeking an excellent quality of life.

The practice is conveniently located within walking distance of local amenities, bus routes and DART services, making commuting straightforward from both Wicklow and Dublin. Ample onsite parking is also available for staff.

What We Offer

In addition to a competitive salary of €33,000 - €44,000 DOE, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to support your wellbeing, professional development and long-term career growth.

We are passionate about investing in our people and providing opportunities to help our nurses thrive throughout their careers. Whether you’re taking your first steps as an RVN or bringing years of experience to the team, you’ll have access to learning, mentoring and development opportunities to help you achieve your goals.

Benefits (subject To Pro-rata)

Work life balance

• Minimum of 22 days annual leave
• Birthday leave

Focus on employee wellbeing

• Paid Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive leave packages
• Cycle to work scheme
• EAP and wellbeing centre access
• Paid bereavement leave
• Company sick pay

Development

• €600 annual CPD allowance with 3 days paid (pro-rata)
• Bespoke Graduate Nurse Academy, Nurse Evolve and many more in-house academies
• Leadership Academy for all future leaders, including Head Nurses and Practice Managers
• Career progression opportunities

Professional memberships

• VCI membership paid
• VDS cover paid

Additional Benefits

• Annual pay reviews
• Pawesome benefits - various discounts including retails and virtual gym
• Employee pension contributions
• Discounted staff pet veterinary fees
• Free flu jabs
• Opportunity to join company programmes (LGBTQIA+, Wellbeing Champions, Clinical Board and many more)

Join Our Team

Whether you’re looking for your first RVN role, your next challenge, or a practice where you can continue developing an established nursing career, Kilcoole Vets offers the support, flexibility and clinical exposure to help you succeed.

Join a welcoming team, develop your skills within a progressive practice, and build a rewarding career where you’ll be valued from day one.

We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses and identifying potential inconsistencies or verification signals in application materials based on available information. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.

Up to €44,000 DOE