How do I become a Children's Nurse?

Children’s Nursing is a rewarding and dynamic career for those passionate about making a real difference in the lives of children and young people up to 18 years. It requires a deep understanding of child development, family life and how illness affects growing individuals. You work both independently and within multidisciplinary teams to deliver holistic child and family centred care that supports the physical, emotional, psychological, social, and developmental health and wellbeing.

Entry routes:

  • Undergraduate BSc in Nursing: Combines Children’s and General Nursing, leading to dual registration as both a Registered Children’s Nurse and a General Nurse – approved courses
  • Postgraduate entry is open to those already registered in General, Psychiatric or Intellectual Disability nursing

Additional information can be found on Careers Portal.

Your role with the HSE

Once qualified, you must register with NMBI, Ireland’s Nursing and Midwifery regulator.

Children’s Nurses work in a wide range of settings, including children’s wards, paediatric emergency departments, Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICU), Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU), and specialist services. Opportunities also exist in community settings, including roles such as Coodinator for Children with Life Limiting Illness working in schools, aswell as positions within public health nursing that involve delivering complex care in the home.

You will work as part of multidisciplinary team with doctors, healthcare assistants, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, psychologists and social workers.

The standard working week is 37.5 hours on a shift basis which includes days, nights, weekends and bank holidays. These work patterns support flexibility in terms of work life balance and offers additional pay for unsocial hours.

Career Progression

Clinical Pathway:
Staff Nurse, Enhanced Nurse, Staff Nurse (Senior), Enhanced Nurse (Senior), Clinical Nurse Specialist, Advanced Nurse Practitioner

Management Pathway:
Clinical Nurse Manager (I–III), Assistant Director of Nursing (ADON), Director of Nursing (DON), Children’s Disability Network Manager, Regional Director of Nursing and Midwifery

Educational Pathway:
Clinical Placement Co-ordinator / Student Allocations Officer, Nurse Practice Development Coordinator, Clinical Facilitator / Clinical Practice Support Nurse, Nurse Tutor / Lecturer

Research & Development:
NMPDU Officer, NMPDU Area Director

Please note, the above does not represent a comprehensive list of pathways, with many additional opportunities available beyond those listed.

Development

We offer a wide range of  professional development and educational opportunities to enhance  skills and care quality.

Annual Professional Development Planning  (PDP) supports nurses to achieve personal, professional and organisational goals with their managers.

Your local NMPDU supports continuing professional development programmes, through masterclasses, workshops, study days and conferences. The Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Education provide CPD and QQI Level 5–8 programmes of education.

HSELAND, the HSE portal, offers an array of training & development opportunities delivered online and in classroom settings.

Testimonials

Working in a rewarding and challenging career is just one of the many benefits you’ll enjoy as a HSE employee.

We offer attractive pay and benefits, professional supervision, career support and development opportunities, friendly colleagues, and an excellent quality of life.

See Pay scales – HSE Staff

To ensure that you are informed of all vacancies please register on the HSE Career Hub for weekly job alerts.