Psychiatric nurse salary and pay rate guide in Ireland

In this article, we’ll look at the salary and hourly pay rates of qualified psychiatric nurses working in both the Republic of Ireland (RoI) and Northern Ireland (NI) – two neighbouring countries looking to attract more qualified psychiatric nurses.

Psychiatric nursing in Ireland

Psychiatric or mental health nursing is a specialist area of work that demands a broad knowledge base. You also need a high level of personal and interpersonal skills, to be able to effectively support the patients that you work with.

As a psychiatric nurse in Ireland, you will typically work within hospital and community settings. In the role, you also have the opportunity to work with different groups of patients and support people of all ages on a 1:1 basis.

Psychiatric nursing in the Republic of Ireland

The health service in the Republic of Ireland is run by the Health Services Executive (HSE), while the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is responsible for regulating and promoting nursing standards and conduct across the two professions in the country.

You can find more information about psychiatric nursing standards and requirements in the Republic of Ireland from the NMBI.

According to the Psychiatric Nurses Association of Ireland, there are as many as 700 mental health nursing vacancies in the Republic of Ireland.² If you’re looking to work as a psychiatric nurse in the Republic of Ireland and have completed your nurse training outside of Ireland, you need to apply to the NMBI to recognise your qualifications. You’ll also need to take an aptitude test to check you meet their standards.

The Nursing Guild is always looking for psychiatric nurses for temporary, last-minute placements in the Republic of Ireland. Check you meet our requirements.

Mental health nursing in Northern Ireland

In Northern Ireland, healthcare services are provided through Health and Social Care (HSC), which oversees five health Trusts.

As part of a commitment to improving the population’s mental health, a new Mental Health Strategy (2021-2031) was published by the Department of Health (NI) setting out the strategic direction of mental health services in the country.⁴ Within this strategy, there is a focus on recruitment into the mental health nursing workforce.

With mental health in NI in the spotlight, the Nursing Guild is looking for mental health nurses to fill temporary, last-minute placements there. Check you meet our requirements.

Salary guide for permanent psychiatric nurse roles in Ireland

Psychiatric nursing salaries in the Republic of Ireland

HSE job roles in the Republic of Ireland have their own pay bands. Psychiatric nurses receive incremental pay rises that typically increase with each year of service up to a ceiling rate. Additional allowances are paid to Staff Nurses, Senior Staff Nurses, and Clinical Nurse Managers 1 & 2 when working on ‘qualifying duties’. If applicable, the higher of either a location or qualification allowance becomes payable.

Below, we have looked at a selection of nursing jobs in the Republic of Ireland to provide you with an idea of the average salaries and pay rates. HSE data was used to put together average salaries and hourly rates for permanent psychiatric nursing jobs. Agency nursing hourly rates are based on P2 hourly rates provided by the Nursing Guild.

Psychiatric nurse salaries and pay rates for permanent roles

Psychiatric nurse pay rates for agency roles

When working for nursing agencies, psychiatric nurses are paid hourly rates as standard. At the Nursing Guild, we have different rates available for different nursing roles, and for the different types of shifts that our nurses work. Psychiatric nurses working in the Republic of Ireland with the Guild can earn an average rate of:

• Registered mental health nurse (RMN) – €47.50 hourly pay rate

• Registered mental health nurse specialist – €57 hourly pay rate

• In charge of a specialist unit – €70.50 hourly pay rate

Mental health nursing salaries in Northern Ireland

Mental health nurses working in the HSC in Northern Ireland (NI) are paid in line with the same pay bands that apply across the rest of the UK. This means salaries align with the Agenda for Change (AFC) pay system.

A newly qualified, registered psychiatric nurse will typically start their career as a Band 5 staff nurse. Pay in any band increases with experience. Promotion to a higher banded role will also mean a pay rise.

*https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/pay-scales-202324

Agency nursing rates tend to be higher. A nurse working in Northern Ireland with the Guild can earn an average of:

• Registered mental health nurse (RMN) – £41 hourly pay rate
• Registered mental health nurse specialist – £48.50 hourly pay rate
• In charge of a specialist unit – £58.50 hourly pay rate

Find out more about our pay rates along with our rewards and benefits, which include paying our nurses’ NMC & NMBI fees.

Psychiatric nursing opportunities with the Guild

At the Nursing Guild, we are looking for exceptional mental health nurses (RMNs) and psychiatric nurses for temporary, last-minute placements in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Check you meet our requirements.

If you’re exploring agency work in Ireland and meet our requirements, why not start your adventure by registering with us today?

References:

1. NMBI. Available at: www.nmbi.ie/NMBI/media/NMBI/NMBI-Psychiatric-Nurse-Reg-Ed.pdf?ext=.pdf
2. PNA. Available at: www.pna.ie/index.php/news/1316-vital-mental-health-services-being-denied-amid-700-nursing-staff-vacancies
3. Mental Health Foundation. Available at: www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/publications/mental-health-foundation-northern-ireland-manifesto-2022
4. Department of Health. Mental Health Strategy (2021-2031). Available at: www.health-ni.gov.uk/publications/mental-health-strategy-2021-2031

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