Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)

/Candidate Clinical Nurse Specialist (cCNS)

PALLIATIVE CARE

Permanent Contract, Full Time Hours.

Palliative Care is available to our patients at any point during a progressive, complex, life limiting illness. The Palliative Care CNS/cCNS will work with the Nurse Specialists, Palliative Medicine Consultant, Registrars, and the broader team providing palliative assessment, complex symptom management and compassionate, emotional support.

Excellent communication skills are required to enable both patients and their families participate and interact with the team as an essential part of caring and planning of future care. The role will also contribute to the support of staff in the delivery of high quality, effective, and family focused palliative care in the acute setting.

The CNS/cCNS Palliative Care is professionally accountable to the ADON, Nurse Practice Development Unit and is clinically accountable to the Palliative Medicine Consultant.

The Palliative Care CNS/cCNS at Mercy University Hospital has a strong clinical focus with key skills in assessment, planning, delivery and evaluation of care to the patient and their families.

Responsibilities include:

• Working within the Domains of Competence as identified by NMBI (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland) and take ongoing measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice.
• Acting as an enabler and Advocate for patients and those close to them.
• Providing specialist nursing leadership in clinical practice and be a role model and resource for the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Supporting and contributing to multidisciplinary team meetings both locally and with the wider palliative community.
• Practicing nursing according to the Code of Professional Conduct and the Scope of Practice Framework as laid down by NMBI 2025.
• Adhering to National, Regional, and Local Health Service Executive (HSE) guidelines, policies, protocols and legislation.
• Working within their scope of practice and take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice.
• Maintaining a high standard of professional behaviour and be accountable for their practice.
• Being aware of ethical policies and procedures which pertain to their area of practice.
• Respecting and maintaining the privacy, dignity, and confidentiality of the patient.
• Role modelling clinical practice at specialist level and acting as a resource for the broader palliative service users.

Eligible applicants will be those who on the closing date for the competition:

• Be a registered nurse/midwife on the active Register of Nurses and Midwives held by the NMBI or be eligible to be so registered.
• Have a minimum of 1 years' post registration full time experience or an aggregate of 1 years' full time experience in the division of the register in which the application is being made.
• Have a minimum of 1 years' experience or an aggregate of 1 years' full time experience in specialist area.
• cCNS: If the applicant does not possess the relevant specialist experience, they will be supported to attain one year's clinical specialist experience.
• Have successfully completed a post registration programme of study, as certified by the education provider which verifies that the applicant has achieved a Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI), National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) major academic Level 9 or higher award (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) that is relevant to the specialist area of care and in line with the requirements for specialist practice as set out by the National Council for Nursing and Midwifery 4th ed (2008).
• cCNS: If the applicant does not possess the relevant QQI NFQ Level 9 qualification, the applicant will be supported to undertake the required postgraduate education, at QQI NFQ level 9 qualification (equivalent to 60 ECTS or above) relevant to the specialist area.
• Be required to demonstrate that they have continuing professional development (CPD) relevant to the specialist area.
• Have the ability to practice safely and effectively fulfilling his/her professional responsibility within their scope of practice.

Closing Date for applications is 1pm on Friday, 8th August 2025.

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.

Please note the Salary Range advertised relate to the CNS role.

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 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). We live by our Core Values of Compassion, Excellence, Justice, Respect and Team Spirit.