University Hospital Waterford is recruiting a Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (Shift Leader, Critical Care) on a permanent, whole-time basis. This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced nurse leader to take on a pivotal role in one of the South East’s leading acute hospitals, driving clinical excellence and safe, high-quality patient care across the Critical Care Unit.
The Role
As Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (Shift Leader, Critical Care), you will provide dynamic clinical leadership on a shift-by-shift basis within the Critical Care Unit at University Hospital Waterford. You will be responsible for the overall co-ordination and management of nursing care, staff deployment, and operational activity during your shift, ensuring patient safety and standards of care are consistently upheld. This role places you at the centre of a complex, fast-paced environment where strong clinical judgement and leadership directly influence patient outcomes.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide effective shift leadership across the Critical Care Unit, ensuring optimal nursing care delivery and safe staffing levels at all times.
- Act as a resource and support for nursing staff, promoting evidence-based practice and continuous professional development within the team.
- Coordinate multidisciplinary team activity during your shift, liaising with medical, allied health, and support services as required.
- Monitor and maintain compliance with clinical governance frameworks, infection prevention and control standards, and hospital policies and procedures.
- Manage patient flow, admissions, and discharges in collaboration with the wider Critical Care and hospital management teams.
- Contribute to quality improvement initiatives, incident reporting, and the ongoing development of nursing practice within the unit.
- Support the professional supervision and development of junior nursing and healthcare assistant staff on the unit.
Requirements
- Be registered in the General Division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), or be entitled to be so registered.
- Hold a post-registration qualification in Critical Care nursing, or demonstrate equivalent clinical experience in a Critical Care setting.
- Have a minimum of five years post-registration nursing experience, with a significant period in a Critical Care environment.
- Demonstrate proven leadership and management capability appropriate to the CNM2 grade.
- Possess strong communication, interpersonal, and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities in a high-acuity clinical environment.
- Demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development and quality improvement.
Candidates should ensure they download, save, and read the Job Specification, Additional Campaign Information, and the Application Form — all available at the bottom of the original advertisement. Applicants are strongly advised to read the Job Specification in full before completing their application.
Location
This post is based at University Hospital Waterford, the principal acute hospital for the South East of Ireland and a key facility within the HSE Dublin and South East health region. University Hospital Waterford provides a comprehensive range of emergency, surgical, medical, and specialist services to a population across Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Kilkenny, and South Tipperary. The Critical Care Unit operates as a high-dependency, intensive-care environment supporting some of the region’s most acutely unwell patients. The post is permanent and whole-time.
Salary
€62,078 – €73,389 per annum (HSE Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (General) scale, 11-point scale, plus LSIs where applicable). Based on the HSE Consolidated Salary Scales effective 1 February 2026. Pay is subject to the usual statutory deductions.
Application Details
Reference: 26UHWN2805
Applications must be submitted via Rezoomo. Please ensure your application form is completed in full and submitted before the closing deadline.
For informal enquiries, please contact: Dearbháile Ryan, Assistant Director of Nursing, University Hospital Waterford — Tel: 087 438 2139 | Email: Dearbhaile.Ryan@hse.ie
