Veterinary Nurse – Small Animal
The Pet Hospital, Co Waterford
Fixed Term Contract (12 months) | Part-time | Flexible Hours
Salary up to €35,000 DOE (FTE)
A Supportive Start or a Softer Pace – You Choose
Whether you're a new graduate looking for a kind, steady introduction to nursing life, or an experienced RVN hoping to step back and regain work-life balance, we'd love to welcome you to our small and friendly team at The Pet Hospital, right in the heart of Waterford City.
We're a tight-knit practice with a genuinely warm atmosphere, where everyone looks out for each other. With no out-of-hours, no Sundays, and flexibility built into the role, this position is designed to support your wellbeing as much as your career.
The Role & The Practice
* Part-time: 3 days per week
* Monday-Saturday rota
* No OOH, no Sundays, no Bank Holidays
* Small Animal only
You'll be joining a team of 2 vets, 2 nurses, and 3 wonderful support staff. Our clinic is well-equipped with ultrasound, digital X-ray and in-house lab facilities, making it an excellent environment for learning or maintaining high clinical standards without overwhelming caseloads.
Working With Us – Two Friendly Teams, One Supportive Network
Although this position is primarily based at The Pet Hospital, our team works closely with our sister practice, City Vets, located nearby in Waterford. Both practice teams work seamlessly together, which means you may occasionally cover a shift or collaborate with their team from time to time. City Vets is a larger, well-equipped hospital with a broader caseload, offering you access to more varied clinical exposure and the chance to develop specific interests or explore new areas of nursing if you wish.
We want to reassure applicants that this role remains predominantly at The Pet Hospital, with its small-team feel, supportive environment, and steady pace - but with the added benefit of having a larger hospital close by for growth, development, and extra experience.
Why Waterford?
Beyond the clinic, Waterford offers coastal walks, historic sites, artisan cafés, and a thriving cultural scene – a lovely place to live or commute to.
Applicant requirements
* A VCI registered veterinary nurse (or eligible for 2026 registration)
* All levels of experience will be considered
* A friendly, approachable communicator who enjoys working in a collaborative team
Benefits – subject to pro rata
We recognise that our people are fundamental to the success of our business. Investing in our staff, premises and processes is at the heart of what we do. In addition to a competitive salary, you will also benefit from:
Work life balance
* 22 days annual leave (pro-rata)
* Birthday leave
Focus on employee wellbeing
* Paid Maternity, Paternity and Adoptive leave packages
* Cycle to work scheme
* EAP and wellbeing centre access
* Paid bereavement leave
* Company sick pay
Development
* €600 annual CPD allowance with 3 days paid (pro-rata)
* Funding of any Certificates / Diplomas / PhD's you may want to pursue
* Bespoke Graduate Nurse Academy, Nurse Evolve and many more in-house academies
* Leadership Academy for all future leaders, including Head Nurses and Practice Managers
* Career progression opportunities
Professional memberships
* VCI membership paid
* VDS cover paid
Additional Benefits
* Annual pay reviews
* Pawesome benefits – various discounts including retails and virtual gym
* Employee pension contributions
* Discounted staff pet veterinary fees
* Relocation packages
* Free flu jabs
* Opportunity to join company programmes (LGBTQIA+, Wellbeing Champions, Nurse Committee, Clinical Board and many more)
If you're looking for a place where you can grow confidently or simply enjoy nursing again at a comfortable pace, we'd love to hear from you.
We may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support parts of the hiring process, such as reviewing applications, analyzing resumes, or assessing responses. These tools assist our recruitment team but do not replace human judgment. Final hiring decisions are ultimately made by humans. If you would like more information about how your data is processed, please contact us.