
Vet Care Carlow is seeking a Registered Veterinary Nurse to join our welcoming small animal practice on a full-time, fixed-term basis to provide maternity leave cover for six months.
This is an excellent opportunity for an RVN looking to gain valuable experience in a busy first-opinion practice. We welcome applications from both experienced nurses and newly qualified graduates, with full training and support available for those starting their veterinary nursing career.
We are looking for a proactive and enthusiastic individual with excellent communication skills, a positive attitude, and a genuine passion for delivering outstanding patient care. The successful candidate will become part of a close-knit and supportive team committed to providing high-quality veterinary care with a compassionate and client-focused approach.
As a Veterinary Nurse within our small animal team, you will be responsible for a wide range of nursing duties and will play a key role in the day-to-day running of the practice.
A typical day will involve inpatient care, theatre nursing, anaesthesia monitoring, laboratory work, nurse consultations, patient admissions and discharges, and supporting the veterinary surgeons with both medical and surgical cases. You will have the opportunity to work across a varied caseload, including routine preventative healthcare, medical investigations, emergency appointments, and surgical procedures.
This position offers excellent exposure to all aspects of first-opinion nursing and would suit a nurse who enjoys a varied workload and thrives in a busy clinical environment.
This is a full-time position working Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 6:00pm, with a one-hour lunch break each day.
There are no out-of-hours, weekend or bank holiday commitments, allowing for an excellent work-life balance.
Vet Care Carlow is a busy and well-established small animal practice located on Tullow Road, Carlow. We are dedicated to providing high-quality veterinary care while delivering a friendly and compassionate service, treating every pet as if they were our own.
Our practice offers a comprehensive range of services, including preventative healthcare, medical investigations, diagnostic imaging, in-house laboratory testing, dentistry, soft tissue surgery, and nurse clinics. We combine modern facilities with a strong emphasis on client communication and support, ensuring the highest standards of care for both patients and owners.
Conveniently located within Carlow town, the practice provides veterinary care to pets throughout Carlow and the surrounding counties and benefits from excellent access to local amenities and transport links.
The successful candidate will join a supportive and collaborative team consisting of one experienced Veterinary Surgeon, two qualified Veterinary Nurses and one Receptionist. Teamwork, mutual support and high clinical standards are at the heart of everything we do.
We are committed to supporting our people and creating a workplace where you can thrive. In addition to a competitive salary, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave, wellbeing support, paid professional memberships, and structured development opportunities.
You will have access to:
Work-life balance
22 days annual leave
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 CPD leave (pro rata)
Bespoke Graduate Nurse Academy, Nurse Evolve and many more in-house academies
Funding for Certificates, Diplomas and PhDs
Leadership Academy for future leaders, including Head Nurses and Practice Managers
Career progression opportunities
Professional Memberships
VCI membership paid
VDS cover paid
Additional Benefits
Annual pay reviews
Pawsome benefits - retail discounts, virtual gym and more
Employee pension contributions
Discounted staff pet veterinary fees
Free flu jabs
Opportunity to join company programmes including LGBTQIA+, Wellbeing Champions, Clinical Board and many more
At Vet Care Carlow, we pride ourselves on delivering exceptional patient care within a friendly, supportive and team-oriented environment. We believe in supporting our people to learn, develop and enjoy their careers while making a meaningful difference to the lives of pets and their owners.
Whether you are an experienced RVN seeking a new opportunity or a recent graduate looking for your first role in practice, this position offers the chance to gain hands-on experience across all aspects of small animal nursing while working alongside a dedicated and experienced clinical team.
We would love to hear from you.

Tullow Rd, Carlow, R93 RH27, Ireland
Animals treated
Dogs, cats & small pets
At IVC Evidensia we are a committed to Diversity, Equality, Inclusion and Belonging, we are keen to hear from candidates from all minority and diverse groups. As a Disability Confident Employer, we are keen to hear from candidates with disabilities and long-term health conditions and would be happy to discuss any reasonable adjustments needed during the recruitment process.
Speak to Shonagh Dawson from our recruitment team who would be happy to help you with any questions you have before applying for this role.