A permanent, full-time Clinical Nurse Specialist (Community/Primary Care) position is now available with HSE West and North West, based in County Donegal. This specialist nursing role sits within the CARE Virtual Ward for Diabetes — an innovative model of care delivering remote, technology-enabled chronic disease management directly to patients in the community. If you are an experienced CNS with a background in diabetes care, this is an opportunity to lead clinical practice, shape service delivery, and make a measurable difference to patients managing complex long-term conditions across Donegal.
Role Overview
The Clinical Nurse Specialist (CARE Virtual Ward — Diabetes) will provide specialist nursing assessment, intervention, and support to patients with diabetes who are enrolled in the HSE Virtual Ward programme. Operating at an advanced level of clinical practice, the post-holder will work autonomously within the multidisciplinary team to manage a defined caseload, deliver evidence-based care, and reduce unnecessary hospital admissions through proactive, community-based diabetes management.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide specialist clinical assessment and management for patients with diabetes on the CARE Virtual Ward caseload.
- Deliver remote and in-person clinical interventions, monitoring patient progress and adjusting care plans in line with clinical protocols.
- Collaborate with consultant endocrinologists, GPs, dietitians, and allied health professionals to ensure integrated, patient-centred care.
- Act as a primary point of clinical contact for patients, families, and carers, offering expert advice and education on diabetes self-management.
- Lead on the development and implementation of clinical guidelines, care pathways, and quality improvement initiatives within the Virtual Ward.
- Contribute to audit, data collection, and service evaluation to demonstrate clinical outcomes and support programme development.
- Provide clinical leadership, supervision, and education to nursing colleagues and student nurses as appropriate.
- Maintain accurate, contemporaneous patient records in line with HSE and professional standards.
Requirements
Candidates must meet the eligibility criteria for the Clinical Nurse Specialist (Community/Primary Care) grade as set out by the HSE. The following are required:
- Current registration on the Active Register of Nurses and Midwives maintained by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) in the relevant division.
- A recognised post-registration qualification in diabetes care or a related clinical specialty at NFQ Level 8 or higher.
- A minimum of one year’s post-registration experience in a clinical area directly relevant to the specialist role.
- Demonstrable experience in autonomous clinical practice, caseload management, and evidence-based care delivery.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage effectively with patients, families, and the wider multidisciplinary team.
- Commitment to continuing professional development and a working knowledge of current developments in diabetes care and virtual/remote care models.
Salary & Contract
This is a permanent wholetime post. Salary is paid on the HSE Clinical Nurse Specialist (Community/Primary Care) scale, based on the HSE Consolidated Salary Scales effective 1 February 2026:
€62,078 – €73,389 per annum (Grade 2628 — 11-point scale, points 1–9), plus two long-service increments at €76,159 and €78,443 for eligible post-holders.
Location
This post is based in County Donegal, within the HSE West and North West health region. The CARE Virtual Ward operates across community and primary care settings, with the Clinical Nurse Specialist supporting patients remotely and through community-based contact. Donegal’s dispersed geography makes the virtual care model particularly significant, enabling specialist nursing input to reach patients who may otherwise face significant travel burdens to access diabetes services.
About the Employer
HSE West and North West is one of Ireland’s six integrated health regions, covering counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Roscommon, Mayo, and Galway. The region delivers acute, community, and primary care services to a large and geographically diverse population. The CARE Virtual Ward for Diabetes is part of a broader national strategy to shift chronic disease management closer to home, reducing pressure on acute hospitals while improving outcomes for patients living with long-term conditions.
Application Details
Reference: N0132026
Applications must be submitted online via Rezoomo. To apply, visit: https://www.rezoomo.com/job/98707/
For informal enquiries, please contact: Claire McRory, GM IHA North / Operational Lead CDM Donegal — Email: Claire.mcrory@hse.ie — Tel: 087 441 6525
