Emergency Critical Care (ECC) Veterinary Nurse, Full Time

Location: Village Vets Ashbourne
Reports to: Head Nurse/ Assistant Hospital Manager

Schedule: 4 day week , 1 in 4 Saturdays
Salary: €36,000-€42,000 Yearly  

We’re looking for a passionate ECC nurse to help drive and develop our daytime emergency and critical care service. If you thrive on variety, enjoy thinking on your feet and want a role where your nursing skills make a real difference, we’d love to hear from you.

At Village Vets Ashbourne, you’ll join a fun, supportive team who share knowledge, celebrate successes and help each other through busy days. With multiple certificate holders across our veterinary and nursing teams, you’ll be surrounded by colleagues who value learning, collaboration and excellent patient care.

Our fantastic facilities include an onsite CT scanner, alongside onsite orthopaedic, diagnostic imaging, soft tissue and feline medicine referral services. You’ll have access to advanced diagnostics and opportunities to be involved in interesting, varied cases. It’s an exciting setting for a nurse keen to contribute ideas and help shape how we deliver ECC during the day.

About the Role

• Provide continuous, attentive nursing care to critically ill or injured patients, monitoring vital signs and assessing pain levels

• Support veterinarians during emergency procedures, including triage, resuscitation, wound management, and surgery

• Carry out essential medical procedures such as placing IV catheters, administering medications and fluids, and performing diagnostic tests

• Assist with anaesthesia induction, monitoring, and post‑operative recovery for critical patients

• Maintain strict infection control standards and ensure a clean, sterile environment

• Communicate clearly and compassionately with pet owners, providing updates and guidance on treatment and aftercare

• Work closely with vets, nurses, and support staff to deliver cohesive, high‑quality emergency care

• Help train and mentor junior team members in ECC protocols and techniques

• Manage and maintain ECC equipment and monitor stock levels to support efficient emergency response

• Keep detailed, accurate medical records and provide thorough handovers between shifts

• Stay engaged in continuing education to maintain and advance your ECC skills

About You

• Qualified and VCI registered Veterinary Nurse (RVN)

• 3+ years’ experience as a qualified RVN in small animal practice

• Further qualification specific to ECC is desirable

• Previous experience working in a busy emergency hospital and/or in a referral hospital is desirable

• This role demands strong clinical skills, resilience, and compassion to deliver high-quality care to patients in urgent need

• Highly motivated, hard-working, and a team player

• Excellent communication and organisational skills

• Passionate about delivering gold-standard patient and client care

What’s in it For You… At a Glance

In addition to our fabulous teams and supportive environments, we’re proud to offer a benefits package that supports our team’s wellbeing, growth, and families:

• Health cash plan

• Pension scheme

• Gym membership subsidy

• VCI Registration and VDS Indemnity fees paid

• Funded CPD including, allowances, webinar series, new graduate programme, training platform access, and certificate funding

• Free pet health plan

• Paid charity day

• Statutory sick pay

• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoptive benefits

• Bike to work scheme

You must be legally eligible to work in Ireland