Nursing Home Jobs in Ireland
Care with dignity.
Nursing homes are one of the biggest employers of international nurses in Ireland. This guide explains what nursing home roles involve, how they compare with hospital work, what to look for in an employer and how to grow your career.
Why nursing homes recruit internationally
Ireland’s population of people aged over 65 is growing quickly, and demand for residential care is rising every year. Private, voluntary and public nursing homes need registered nurses for every shift. Many recruit overseas nurses directly, offer adaptation places and support permit applications. For nurses moving to Ireland, a nursing home can be a fast and supportive way into the Irish system.
What the role involves
As a staff nurse in a nursing home, you are responsible for the clinical care of residents, many of whom have complex needs such as dementia, frailty, diabetes, heart disease or stroke. Typical duties include:
- Comprehensive assessments and person-centred care plans
- Medication management and administration
- Wound care, continence care and nutrition monitoring
- Recognising deterioration and liaising with GPs and hospitals
- Supervising healthcare assistants
- End-of-life and palliative care
- Communicating with residents’ families
- Accurate documentation, often using electronic care records
Nurses often have greater responsibility than on a hospital ward, because there may be fewer nurses on duty and doctors are not on site.
Standards and HIQA
Nursing homes in Ireland are regulated by the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), which inspects designated centres for older people against national standards. Inspection reports are public. Before accepting a job, read the HIQA reports for the nursing home; they tell you a lot about staffing, care quality and leadership.
Pay and conditions
Private nursing homes set their own pay, which may be lower or higher than HSE scales. Public community nursing units pay on HSE scales. Ask about:
- Basic salary and how experience is recognised
- Premiums for nights, weekends and public holidays
- Pay during adaptation
- Permit and visa fee support
- Accommodation help and relocation costs
- Pension and sick pay
- Shift patterns and staffing levels
Compare offers using our nurse salary guide.
Nursing home vs hospital
- Pace. Nursing homes are often steadier than acute wards, with continuity of care for the same residents.
- Autonomy. You make more independent clinical decisions and lead the care team.
- Relationships. You get to know residents and families well over months and years.
- Skills. You build strong gerontology, dementia and palliative care skills, but less acute technical experience.
- Career moves. Many nurses move from nursing homes to hospitals after gaining Irish experience, and many choose to stay and progress.
Career growth in older person care
Care of older people is a growing specialty in Ireland. Career paths include clinical nurse manager, assistant director of nursing, director of nursing (person in charge) and clinical nurse specialist in gerontology or dementia. Postgraduate courses in gerontological nursing are widely available.
A typical day in a nursing home
A day shift usually begins with handover from the night nurse, followed by the morning medication round. You then review residents with changing needs, attend to wound care and clinical tasks, and support healthcare assistants with personal care and mobility. Late morning may include a GP visit, care plan reviews or meetings with families. Afternoons bring activities, further medication rounds, documentation and admissions or discharges. Throughout the day, you watch for signs of infection, falls risk, pain and changes in behaviour, and you lead the team’s response. Many nurses value the close relationships they build with residents.
How to choose a good nursing home employer
- Read recent HIQA inspection reports.
- Ask about nurse-to-resident ratios on day and night shifts.
- Ask what induction and adaptation support you will receive.
- Check reviews from other international nurses.
- Make sure all terms are in a written contract.
- Avoid employers who ask you to pay large fees.
Frequently asked questions
Are nursing home jobs good for new international nurses?
Yes, for many nurses. They often provide adaptation, support permits and offer a steady introduction to Irish practice.
Do nursing homes pay the same as the HSE?
Not always. Public units pay HSE rates; private homes set their own pay, so compare offers.
Can I move from a nursing home to a hospital later?
Yes, though you must follow employment permit rules if you have not yet reached Stamp 4.
What is HIQA?
The national regulator that inspects nursing homes and publishes inspection reports.
Find sponsored roles
See where to find nursing jobs with visa sponsorship.