NMBI has launched a new data report, the State of the Register 2022, providing a breakdown of the number of nurses and midwives registered in Ireland.
Pictured (left to right): NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland, Chief Nursing Officer,
at the Department of Health, Rachel Kenna and President of NMBI, Essene Cassidy
The new publication was officially launched at our office in Blackrock, County Dublin on 10 October 2022.
The event was attended by NMBI’s key stakeholders including the Department of Health, the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) in the HSE, education bodies, staff organisations, our regulatory colleagues and professional associations.
The headline information shows that as of 1 June 2022, there are 81,431 nurses and midwives on the NMBI Register, the highest number of registrants recorded. The data also shows that 75,871 self-declared as currently practising; and of these 66,471 state they are patient-facing in their role.
The report reveals that more than 90% (68,310) of all nurses and midwives registered in Ireland are women, while the majority of new registrants in the past year came from overseas, outside the EU.
In the 12 months from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022, a total of 4,937 applicants joined the Register, with 1,555 of these qualified in Ireland, 3,021 from outside of the EU and 361 from EU-based applicants.
Trends also indicate that the number of Irish-educated registrants is continuing to increase, with numbers from 2021 the highest since this element was first reported on in 2015.
Marking the launch, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD said: “This is a very welcome publication and a testament to the progress NMBI has made in digitising the Register of nurses and midwives. This data will be extremely beneficial for policy makers and those involved in workforce planning for the future of nursing and midwifery.”
The Chief Nursing Officer, at the Department of Health, Rachel Kenna who spoke at the launch said: “As a country we need to ensure that we are planning appropriately and effectively for the future of our health sector and the professions of nursing and midwifery. This publication provides us with reliable data on the nursing and midwifery resources that are available, including the core demographic details. This information is essential when we are engaged in evidence-based workforce planning.”
The President of NMBI, Essene Cassidy said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all those who attended the launch of NMBI’s first ever ‘State of the Register 2022’.
“I would also like to thank all our registered nurses and midwives for their engagement with the online renewal process over the past two years. This engagement has made the publication of today’s report possible”.
NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland said, “We are delighted to present the State of the Register 2022. This is the first time that we have been able to produce information for use by stakeholders. It is vitally important that this data is available to workforce planners, policy makers and stakeholders across the sector as they respond to changing needs of Sláintecare.”
“From the data, we can see an increase in the number of nurses and midwives coming onto the Register which is very encouraging”
NMBI Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy said “This report provides a comprehensive insight into the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland”.
“The data compiled on 1 June 2022, provides a breakdown of registrants across all NMBI divisions of the Register, those currently practising and patient-facing, as well a breakdown of registrant numbers across age groups and gender”.
Further information on registration figures and statistics can be found by viewing the full report here.
Pictured at the launch (left to right): NMBI Director of Operations, Kathyann Barrett, NMBI Director of Education, Policy and standards, Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland, President of NMBI, Essene Cassidy, NMBI Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy and NMBI Director of Professional Standards - Midwifery, Dawn Johnston
Photography by Keith Arkins
