ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF NURSING (ADON)Permanent Contract, Full Time Hours.The ADON will report to the Director of Nursing (DON) of Mercy University Hospital (MUH).Responsibilities Include:Ensure their assigned areas are managed in a cost effective and efficient manner while maintaining a high standard of patient care.As a member of the Senior Nurse Management Team, provide senior nurse leadership, including analysing and directing patient flow and staffing resource allocation out of hours.Participate as a senior nurse manager in the effective management of services.Implement the strategic vision and direction of nursing, and support nursing staff in MUH.Offer support and guidance to Clinical Nurse Manager 3 (CNM3) and CNM2 and staff in their areas.Coordinate and facilitate staff meetings.Act as a Consultant to department staff in the monitoring and implementation of Nursing and HR Policies.Provide innovative and effective leadership to nursing and allied staff.Evaluate patient pathways and optimise the patient journey.Assist in the development and the effective operation of all assigned services; through effective forward planning and organisation of resources and workload.Foster good working relationships with all members of the clinical team.Maintain accurate records complying with legislation and best practice.Be responsible for providing advice to the DON on all issues relating to staff development.Ensure that modern standards of clinical nursing care are in operation and that regular monitoring of nursing care is undertaken through audit.Use the outcomes of audit to develop action plans and support their implementation.Ensure that the requirements of Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) for the practice of professional nursing are met and upheld at all times.Promote continuing post-graduate, professional development of staff, taking account of planned service developments, annual staff training needs analysis and situation-specific service needs.Provide professional advice on all issues relating to nursing.Ensure that the nursing workforce are aware of health and safety legislation and that the MUH's policy in relation to health and safety at work is adhered to.Ensure that the nursing workforce receives health and safety related training as required, maintaining necessary records of such training.Establish appropriate periodic audit within the profession in relation to health and safety.Eligibility Criteria:Are registered, or are eligible for registration, in the General Nurse Division, and other divisions as relevant to the specific service, of the Register of Nurses and Midwives, as appropriate, maintained by the NMBI.Have 7 years post registration nursing experience and possess 3 years recent nursing management experience at a minimum of Clinical Nurse Manager 2 (CNM2) in an acute setting.Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study, as certified by the education provider, which verifies that the applicant has achieved a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic Level 8 or higher award maintained by Quality & Qualifications of Ireland (QQI) or can provide written evidence from the Higher Education Institute that they have achieved the number of ECTS credits equivalent to a Level 8 or higher standard in a health care or management related area.Candidates must have completed or willing to undertake a Masters Degree in a relevant discipline.Closing date for applications is 1pm on Friday, 23rd January 2026.Interview date for shortlisted candidates will be the week of the 15th February 2026.MUH reserve the right to create a panel for this post from which permanent, fixed term and specified purpose vacancies of a full or part time duration may be filled.Mercy University Hospital (MUH)MUH is a growing voluntary hospital in the heart of Cork City. We have over 1,500 staff providing complex diagnostic, medical and surgical care through our inpatient, day patient, outpatient and emergency services.We are a teaching hospital, a centre of national and international excellence, and are renowned for our research and tertiary services.Providing 24/7 acute surgical, acute medical and critical care, MUH now has multiple sites across the city and continues to expand. We recently opened our Blarney Rehabilitation Unit, a post-acute care specialist rehabilitation unit with 50 beds in Blarney, County Cork.We support staff development with approx. 100 promotions annually. We prioritise work life balance with 28% of our team working part time hours. We offer nationally agreed enhanced Salary Scales, Pension Scheme, excellent holidays, canteen, and Study Leave and Assistance.From Cardiac Care to Intensive Care, our varied specialist services offer real career choice to our team. For fully registered NMBI recognised nurses, we offer a generous relocation package (if coming from abroad).And we live by our Core Values of Compassion, Excellence, Justice, Respect and Team Spirit.