Veterinary Nurse - Small Animal

IVC; Ballyshannon; On-site; EUR 32,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

22 days annual leave

Birthday leave

Maternity/Paternity leave

Cycle to work

EAP and wellbeing

Bereavement leave

Sick pay

€600 CPD allowance

Graduate Nurse Academy

VCI membership paid

VDS cover paid

Annual pay reviews

Job summary

Old Church Vets invites newly qualified or early-career Registered Veterinary Nurses (RVNs) to join a busy small animal hospital in Ballyshannon. You will be supported by a knowledgeable team and have opportunities to grow your practical nursing skills across anaesthesia, inpatient care, lab work, consultations and surgery.

The practice emphasises mentorship and continuous learning, offering a structured environment where your confidence and abilities can flourish in a friendly, collaborative

Qualifications

• New graduates or early-career RVNs encouraged to apply.
• Seeking a supportive environment for developing nursing skills.
• Registered with Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) required.

Responsibilities

• Provide nursing care and patient monitoring in a busy small animal practice.
• Assist in anaesthesia, inpatient care, laboratory work, consultations and surgery as needed.
• Contribute to a positive, mentoring-based team culture.
• Help develop clinical skills through structured CPD and practice-based training.

Skills

Teamwork

Mentorship

Willingness to learn

Communication

Education

VCI registration

Job description

Veterinary Nurse - Graduate / Junior Position

Old Church Vets | Ballyshannon, Co Donegal

Full-time, Permanent

Salary €32,000 to €33,000

Start Your Nursing Career with Confidence at Old Church Vets, Donegal

Looking for a practice where you'll be supported, encouraged and given the opportunity to grow from day one? Whether you're a new graduate taking your first step into practice or an early-career RVN looking to develop your skills further, Old Church Vets offers an environment where you can learn, gain confidence and enjoy being part of a genuinely friendly and experienced team.

This is an exciting opportunity to join a busy and progressive small animal hospital where no two days are the same. You'll be surrounded by knowledgeable colleagues who are passionate about patient care and committed to helping each other succeed. We recognise that starting your career can feel daunting, which is why we've built a culture that values teamwork, mentorship and continuous learning.

A Great Place to Learn and Grow

At Old Church Vets, you'll become part of a close-knit team that enjoys working together and supporting one another. Across the practice, we have eight Veterinary Surgeons, five Veterinary Nurses and a wider support team, bringing our total team to nineteen people.

As a nurse, you'll be encouraged to get involved in all aspects of case management and patient care, developing your practical nursing skills while building confidence in a supportive clinical environment. Whether your interests lie in anaesthesia, inpatient care, laboratory work, consultations or surgery, you'll have plenty of opportunities to expand your experience.

For new graduates, this is a fantastic first role. For more experienced nurses, it's a chance to join a varied and interesting caseload within a well-established practice that encourages professional development.

Modern Facilities, Varied Caseload

Old Church Veterinary Group has been caring for animals in the local community since 1954 and has earned a strong reputation for high-quality veterinary care. While we are proud of our heritage, we're equally proud of our modern facilities and progressive approach to veterinary medicine.

Our fully equipped small animal hospital offers access to advanced diagnostic and treatment options including an in-house IDEXX laboratory, ultrasound, digital radiography, endoscopy, laser therapy, physiotherapy and orthopaedic procedures. This allows us to manage a wide range of cases in-house and provides excellent exposure for nurses looking to broaden their clinical experience.

The variety of work, combined with the support of an experienced team, creates an ideal environment for developing strong nursing skills and building a rewarding career.

A Team That Supports Each Other

What makes Old Church Vets special is our people. We work hard, but we also look after one another. New nurses are never expected to know everything and questions are always encouraged. We believe the best teams are built on kindness, collaboration and shared learning.

You’ll join a workplace where colleagues are approachable, knowledge is shared freely and achievements are celebrated. We know that confidence comes with experience, and we're committed to helping every member of the team reach their full potential.

A Structured Rota That Respects Your Time

We understand that maintaining a healthy work-life balance is important. This full-time position is based on a 40-hour working week, worked across Monday to Sunday through a structured and predictable rota.

Our rota is designed to provide consistency and predictability wherever possible, allowing you to plan your time outside of work and properly switch off when you're not on duty.

Who We're Looking For

We're looking for a Veterinary Nurse who enjoys being part of a team, takes pride in delivering excellent patient care and is keen to continue developing their skills.

This role would particularly suit a newly qualified or recently graduated RVN seeking a supportive environment in which to build confidence and gain valuable experience. We would also welcome applications from more experienced nurses looking for a fresh challenge within a friendly and progressive practice.

Applicants must be registered with the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) and bring a positive attitude, strong work ethic and genuine enthusiasm for veterinary nursing.

Employee Benefits – subject to pro rata

At Old Church, we believe in the importance of supporting our staff’s professional and personal well-being. Along with a competitive salary, you will receive a wide range of benefits, including:

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)

Build Your Future with Us

Joining Old Church Vets means becoming part of a practice that is committed to investing in its people. From structured CPD support and graduate development programmes to future career progression opportunities, we're passionate about helping our nurses achieve their goals.

If you're looking for a role where you'll be supported from day one, encouraged to develop your skills and welcomed into a friendly team that genuinely enjoys working together, we'd love to hear from you.

Come and start the next chapter of your veterinary nursing career with Old Church Vets.

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.