Galway University Hospitals is recruiting a Staff Nurse, Theatre (Altraí Foirne Amharclann) to join its theatre nursing team across Galway University Hospitals and Merlin Park University Hospital. This is a permanent, wholetime opportunity for a motivated nursing professional to build a rewarding theatre career within one of the west of Ireland’s leading acute hospital groups.
About the Role
As a Staff Nurse in the Theatre department, you will deliver high-quality perioperative nursing care across a busy surgical environment. Working as part of a skilled multidisciplinary theatre team, you will contribute to safe, efficient, and patient-centred care at every stage of the surgical journey — from preoperative preparation through to postoperative recovery. A supplementary panel will be formed from this campaign, from which current and future permanent and specified purpose vacancies of full or part-time duration may be filled.
Key Responsibilities
- Deliver safe, evidence-based perioperative nursing care in line with professional and organisational standards.
- Participate in scrub, circulating, and/or anaesthetic nursing roles as required by the theatre team.
- Maintain accurate and contemporaneous patient records in accordance with NMBI standards and HSE policy.
- Contribute to the effective management of theatre lists, equipment, and instrument sets.
- Collaborate with surgeons, anaesthetists, and allied health professionals to ensure optimal patient outcomes.
- Adhere to infection prevention and control, health and safety, and patient safety protocols at all times.
- Support the ongoing development of colleagues and contribute to a culture of continuous improvement.
- Participate in on-call and emergency theatre services as required.
Requirements / Qualifications
Full eligibility criteria are set out in the job specification available via the Rezoomo link below. Candidates should refer to that document for definitive requirements. In general, applicants are expected to:
- 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.
- Have the clinical and professional competencies necessary to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the role.
- Demonstrate a commitment to providing high-quality, safe patient care in an acute surgical setting.
Salary
This post is remunerated in line with the HSE Consolidated Salary Scales for the Staff Nurse grade (Grade Code 2135), effective 1 February 2026:
€37,788 – €54,412 per annum (Staff Nurse scale, 13-point scale), plus a Long Service Increment (LSI) of €56,032 where applicable.
Theatre nursing is a designated specialist area under HSE allowance structures. Nurses employed in Theatre/OR who hold a relevant specialist clinical qualification may be eligible for a Specialist Qualification Allowance (€4,162 per annum at 1 February 2026 rates). In addition, a Location Allowance (€2,770 per annum at 1 February 2026 rates) is payable to nurses assigned to Theatre/OR under the applicable HSE circulars. Theatre nurses who participate in the on-call/standby emergency services may also be entitled to additional on-call and call-out payments in accordance with Circular 33/2003.
Location
Galway University Hospitals (GUH) is a large acute teaching hospital group serving the west of Ireland and comprising University Hospital Galway and Merlin Park University Hospital. The hospitals provide a wide range of specialist services across surgery, medicine, emergency care, and more, with theatre services central to the group’s acute surgical capacity. Galway city offers an excellent quality of life, with a vibrant cultural scene, strong transport links, and a thriving healthcare community.
Contract Type
Permanent Wholetime.
Application Details
Reference: SNTHMAY26
Applications must be submitted via the digital application form on the Rezoomo platform (Google Chrome recommended). CVs are not accepted for this campaign.
The job specification, including full eligibility criteria, is available at the same link above.
Interviews will be held on a rolling basis to form panels. In-person interviews only — no remote interview option is available for this campaign.
Informal Enquiries
Enquiries specific to the role are welcome. Please contact Ms Mairead McGovern, Assistant Director of Nursing — Theatre, Galway University Hospitals. Email: mairead.mcgovern@hse.ie | Phone: 091 893538
