As we celebrate International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day, NMBI recognises the professionals whose impact is felt every day, throughout our health system.

Nurses and midwives bring compassion, integrity and care to their work. Their commitment is evident in the profound human connections they forge with patients, families and communities.

Across the country, nurses and midwives strengthen our health system through innovation, diversity and collaboration. They adapt to changing needs, adopt new ways of working and continually find better paths for people centred care.

Midwives play a vital role in delivering essential care, supporting women throughout pregnancy and childbirth. Their contribution encompasses lifelong reproductive health care, education and advocacy. In moments of joy, uncertainty and transformation, midwives provide steady, skilled and compassionate support.

Nurses deliver expert care from mental health and intellectual disability services to children’s nursing, acute hospital care and integrated community settings. Nurses are present at every stage of the healthcare journey. Their clinical knowledge is matched by an ability to listen, reassure and respond to the needs of those in their care.

Recent revisions to professional standards have further enabled nurses and midwives to work across the full range of their scope of practice, recognising their expertise and empowering them to lead, innovate and influence care delivery. Resulting in better outcomes for patients.

Every day, nurses and midwives save lives. Just as importantly, they strengthen and support the communities in which they work. By welcoming diversity and fostering inclusion, they help create a genuine sense of belonging, for colleagues as well as for those who rely on their care.

International Day of the Midwife and International Nurses Day provide an important opportunity for the Irish nursing and midwifery community to come together.

NMBI recognises the value of the professions and acknowledges nurses and midwives as essential healthcare providers.

These days are an opportunity to shine a light on the importance of partnership between regulation, education and professional practice. When these elements work together, they strengthen the professions, amplify the voices of nurses and midwives, and ensure that those delivering care are properly supported and represented in decision-making.

Today, we celebrate our nurses and midwives. And, above all, we say thank you for the extraordinary difference you make every single day.

Niamh McDonald and Jeanne Tarrant from our Fitness to Practise Department recently attended Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Mayo and spoke with 2nd Year general and mental health nursing students about our fitness to practise (FTP) process.  

They discussed a range of topics including, the importance of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics, what it means to be a regulated professional and the complaints process.  

Niamh spoke about our commitment to provide a compassionate approach for everyone involved in the FTP process. She shared data on the numbers of complaints received by NMBI over the past five years and supports available. Jeanne referred to several case studies and both answered questions from participants.

We were delighted with the excellent feedback from students who said they loved the stories and interactions and for demystifying the role of the Board and fitness to practise. 

NMBI’s Emotional Support Service

Our FTP Department has been working hard to implement the Compassion Project and we have been speaking with our nursing and midwifery colleagues to explain the process.

NMBI has an emotional support service for everyone involved in the fitness to practise process. This service is independent of the NMBI fitness to practise process and is confidential. This is a freephone service, available 24/7, with access to qualified counsellors who provide emotional, psychological, and practical support. Our aim is to ensure that people have a safe place to share any concerns they have about the process.

Details on how to access the support service, as well as details of other organisations and agencies in Ireland that can provide advocacy or support services, can be found on our website.

On Monday, 30 March we held a webinar to launch the revised National Competence Assessment Document.  

The session highlighted how the documents align with the new Registered Nurse Programmes Standards.  

The National Competency Assessment Document (NCAD) is used by undergraduate students, across all programmes and years, to record their achievement of competency in practice. They are a formalised method to capture initial, middle and final interviews between a student and their preceptor. With the introduction of the new Registered Nurse Programmes Standards in 2025, we have updated the NCAD to align with the new standards. 

For those who could not attend, the session is available on our website. 

In April's episode of NMBI Voice, Kathyann Barrett is joined by Jess Sears, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Inclusion Health Epilepsy at St James’s Hospital and Emer Shine, a midwife who runs the Daisy Clinic at The Coombe Hospital, offering support to pregnant people in international protection or homeless services.

This episode explores how they are meeting patients where they are, breaking down systemic barriers, and using innovative communication to provide support during pregnancy, substance use, and chronic conditions like epilepsy. They speak about the vital importance of adaptability and relational skills in modern healthcare.

Listen now on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Coming up in May's episode of NMBI Voice, Rachel Kenna, the Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health speaks to Kathyann about the critical role nurses and midwives play in shaping high-level health policy, leading workforce reform, and embracing a digital future. They discuss the success of advanced practice in improving patient access, the 47 recommendations from the Expert Review Body, and why optimism must overcome fear regarding AI and technology in healthcare.

Rachel is responsible for the National Patient Safety Office, strategic workforce planning and professional regulation policy. She is skilled at translating clinical knowledge into effective policy and is committed to ensuring the voice of nurses and midwives is heard at the highest government levels. She speaks to us about her early nursing ambition, the value of her experience working abroad how advanced practice drives significant access and the future of AI and digital.

The episode will air on 5 May and will be available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

On 9 April, we welcomed undergraduate and post-graduate midwifery students from across the country to a dedicated engagement event to strengthen our relationship with the next generation of midwives.

The Midwifery Student Ambassador Forum, now in its second year, provides students with a unique opportunity to connect with NMBI, learn more about the role of the regulator and understand how the regulator will support them throughout their professional journey as midwives.

L to R: Áine Lynch, NMBI President; Megan Guerin and Tara Wilshaw, University of Limerick; Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO and Dr Karn Cliffe, Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery

Students heard from our President, Áine Lynch; our Chief Executive, Carolyn Donohoe; our Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery, Dr Karn Cliffe and other members of our senior management team.

Speaking at the event, Áine Lynch said: “We are delighted that you will partner with NMBI in promoting the midwifery profession and in participating with us at events throughout the year. Your involvement will make a real and lasting difference.”

L to R: Áine Lynch, NMBI President; Lauren Walsh, University College Dublin; Megan Minar Tamfumu, Trinity College Dublin; Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO and Dr Karn Cliffe, Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery

Midwifery students from the six higher education institutions that deliver midwifery education programmes were encouraged to embrace their role within the wider student community.

“You are the voice of our student community. Your input, insight and engagement will continue to raise the profile of midwifery. Your commitment will inspire others who may be considering a career in midwifery to take that first step. I encourage you to get involved and use your influence to help shape the future of your profession,” said Áine Lynch.

L to R: Áine Lynch, NMBI President; Carmen Paula Ruiz González and Norina Nagy, University of Galway; Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO and Dr Karn Cliffe, Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery

The event highlighted the importance of direct engagement between NMBI and students, ensuring that the regulator remains connected to the experiences, concerns, and priorities of those entering the profession.

Carolyn Donohoe said: “It is essential for NMBI to meet with undergraduate and postgraduate midwifery students and to hear directly about the issues that matter most to you. Your perspectives are invaluable, and we look forward to hearing your contributions throughout today’s discussions.”

L to R: Áine Lynch, NMBI President; Grace Conlan and Maeve Magowan, Dundalk Institute of Technology; Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO and Dr Karn Cliffe, Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery

Students were reminded of the vital role they will play as the future of the profession: as the next generation of midwives, innovators, managers, leaders, problem-solvers, advocates, and policymakers. 

You can read more about our new Midwifery Student Ambassadors in this issue.

L to R: Áine Lynch, NMBI President; Gabriella Magalhaes, University College Cork; Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO and Dr Karn Cliffe, Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery

We have recently published a new research report into the promotion of nursing and midwifery as a career choice through film.

A University College Cork led, NMBI funded research study has demonstrated that a short, film-based intervention can positively influence secondary school students’ perceptions of nursing and midwifery as career choices. The findings support the use of film as an effective, age-appropriate tool to promote informed interest in these professions among young people.

There is evidence that media can impact young people’s decisions to pursue careers and film, as a medium, can be successfully implemented within the secondary school environment. The study aimed to develop a short film to promote the professions of nursing and midwifery and to evaluate its effectiveness amongst young people.

The report and videos are available to view on our website.

Last month, our CEO Carolyn Donohoe took part in a World Health Organisation (WHO) sub‑regional workshop on health workforce education and regulation in Yerevan, Armenia.

Based on Ireland’s experience, Carolyn contributed to sessions on professional standards, entry to practice, complaints and fitness to practise. She facilitated a workshop focused on strengthening health practitioner regulation, examining how regulatory systems can be designed, reformed and implemented to protect the public while supporting evolving healthcare roles.

The two‑day event, held on 16 and 17 March, brought together policymakers, regulators, educators and professional leaders from Eastern Partnership countries to explore practical reforms to nursing and medical education and regulation, with a strong focus on patient safety, workforce sustainability and alignment with international standards.

The workshop was part of broader efforts to strengthen health system resilience across the Eastern Partnership region. NMBI’s participation reinforced Ireland’s role as a leader in professional nursing and midwifery regulation and highlighted the value of sharing regulatory expertise to support international health workforce development.

We have published the site inspection summary report for Dublin City University. 

The site inspection of the university’s undergraduate and post-graduate nursing education programmes took place in November 2025 and was approved by the Board of NMBI in March 2026. 

As part of our mandate to protect the public, we assess and approve all education programmes in nursing and midwifery across the country, conducting site inspections of university and college departments, and their partner hospitals and health services to ensure high standards of nursing and midwifery education and practice.  

All site inspection reports of education bodies and their practice partners are published on our website and are available to the public. 

The inspection reports provide an in-depth look at each education programme and include a summary of the commendations, conditions and recommendations for best practice in professional education. 

We would like to thank Dublin City University and their practice partners for their collaboration. 

The report is available to view on our website. 

The Board of NMBI has published the outcome of a complaint following the fitness to practise process.

The finding is published on NMBI's Findings and Decisions page.

In February, NMB partnered with the HSE Talent Attraction and Engagement Team (TAE) and the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) to deliver an online information webinar for nursing and midwifery students studying in Great Britain.

The session aimed to support students considering employment in the Republic of Ireland by providing clear, practical guidance on professional registration and career pathways. NMBI outlined the recognition of UK qualifications, the registration process, and the steps required for graduate applicants seeking entry onto the NMBI Register. The HSE and ONMSD also shared information on career opportunities, workforce supports and transition resources for newly qualified practitioners.

Post‑event survey feedback, based on 30 responses, showed a strong level of interest in working in Ireland following graduation, with most respondents indicating Ireland as a potential destination for their early professional careers.

The survey also revealed that many students prioritise safe staffing, structured preceptorship, clear salary scales, and transparent recruitment pathways, underlining the importance of early, accurate information for internationally mobile graduates.

Nurses and midwives are invited to attend a national webinar on the National Shared Care Record (NSCR) on 6 May 2026 at 12 noon, as part of the National Webinar Series hosted by the National Digital for Care Nursing and Midwifery Advisory Group.

The webinar will introduce the NSCR and its role in supporting safer, more connected care across services. It will include a live demonstration of the platform and insights from the current Beta phase in the Wexford/Waterford Integrated Healthcare Area.

Speakers include Dr David Hanlon, National Clinical Advisor for Primary Care, Niall Halliday, Clinical Operations Lead, MyHealth@IE Programme and Niamh Murphy, Senior Engagement Manager for Change, NSCR.

The session is open to nurses and midwives across all settings who wish to learn more about national digital developments supporting clinical practice and integrated care.

Scan the QR code below to join the webinar and to find out more about NSCR, visit the HSE website.