Now as we head into the last few months of the year we have our usual daily duties and the planning for next year but most excitingly we can also look forward to the launch of the new online registration system, MyNMBI. While many regulators are moving towards new technology, we will be one of the first to launch and in this context I wanted to take a moment to give you an overview of what to expect.

I think it is important to note first off that while it’s great to be leading the way, trailblazers also get to experience the bumps, as the reference points are few. Since we started on this path it is safe to say that we have hit a few bumps. Now however when we launch you will have a system that has everything you need in one place and a fast, easier and more transparent way of retrieving your NMBI documents, making requests and checking the status of an application. We will also publicly publish a searchable Register of Nurses and Midwives and the Candidate Register, for the first time.

The graduates of 2020 from nursing and midwifery programmes in Ireland will, for the most part be the first to use the system and as the rest of our registrants follow suit we expect to see a decrease in the 50,000 items of post we get and the 150,000 notices we send out every year, giving us the opportunity to focus on reducing our processing times and responding more efficiently to applicant and registrant requests.

From 5am on Monday 21 September all of the data from our old database will be transferred to our new Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system. It will take the full week to transfer the data of 8,000 candidates, 6,000 applicants and over 100,000 registrant records – those currently registered and those who were removed. 

For the week-long period of 21 – 25 September while the Register data is being migrated, we cannot update or change details on the Register or add new registrants as this work would not be reflected in the new system.

By Monday 28 September the migration of records will have been completed and verified. All candidates to include final year nursing and midwifery students will have received their credentials by letter to login to the new system to update their details and apply for registration. Once registered, they will also download their certificate online. The first-time login process will collect an applicant’s or registrant’s up to date email address as the email addresses that we have on file have not been updated for several years.

During October all registrants will receive a letter with their personal login details which will provide access to MyNMBI. User guides will also be available on our website to support you as you login for the first time. If you need further support you can email registration@nmbi.ie or call 1890 200 166. We have added extra capacity in our customer service area through to the end of this year to ensure we can support all those who need help.

MyNMBI is a significant milestone in the development and progression of NMBI and is the culmination of much work by a dedicated team. To everyone who has worked on or contributed to MyNMBI, I wanted to say thank you and to all our registrants I hope you find using the new system faster and easier for everything you need. As with the beginning of our journey we may experience a few more bumps in the coming weeks but I believe we will prevail and emerge as a more efficient and effective regulator.

Thank you in advance for your patience and your feedback,

Sheila McClelland

The electronic ballot to vote in the election for three people to join the Board of NMBI is open. Voting will close on Wednesday, 23 September 2020 at 12 noon. 

Every nurse and midwife who was registered with NMBI at 1pm on Tuesday, 11 August 2020 is eligible to vote and should have received voting information in the post. Registrants can contact election@nmbi.ie before 5pm on Tuesday, 22 September 2020 if they have not received this information.

The voting website can be accessed by clicking on the ‘Vote now’ button on the Board Election 2020 banner on the NMBI website. 

This year was designated by the World Health Organisation as the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife and in some good news for the professions it has been extended into 2021 in acknowledgement of the impact nurses and midwives make and also in recognition of the fact that we have not been able to celebrate in the ways we had hoped during 2020.

‘The Board stands behind the WHO decision to extend the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife in Europe into 2021,’ said Sheila McClelland, CEO NMBI. ‘Irish nurses and midwives have stepped up this year in our time of need and it is important that we remember the worth of their compassion and professional contribution during and beyond this pandemic.’

SIGN UP NOW! – Free Virtual Conference - Reflect, Recover, Renew: Celebrating the International Year of the Nurse and Midwife in Ireland 2020

We are working with the Irish Association of Nursing and Midwifery (IADNAM), the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Service Director (ONMSD) and the Chief Nurse’s Office (CNO) on a celebratory conference scheduled for 1 October.

We will hear from Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly; Paul Reid, CEO of the HSE; Annette Kennedy from the International Council of Nurses; Grace Thomas from the World Health Organisation and Gretta Westwood from the Florence Nightingale Organisation. Audrey Carville from the RTE Morning Ireland programme will be the master of ceremonies.

The conference is a virtual one and is on from 10am to 2pm on Thursday, 1 October. It is free to all those who sign up here:

Each year we publish a booklet on Nursing and Midwifery careers, the booklet is also helpful if you are considering embarking on a post graduate approved programme to further your career.

The 2021 edition of our information booklet

Nursing/Midwifery – A career for you is now on our website.

The booklet provides an overview of the entry requirements, the application process and the theoretical and clinical components for nursing and midwifery programmes. Registered nurses or midwives can also find further information on post-graduate approved programmes.

If you have any queries about nursing and midwifery post-graduate programmes or careers in general, please do contact our careers department at careersinformation@nmbi.ie.

NMBI is delighted to publish the Guidance for Registered Nurses and Midwives on Medication Administration (2020).

This publication outlines the practice standards for nurses or midwifes in relation to medication administration, based on the five principles of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (NMBI 2014). The practice standards are intended to be used in conjunction with the relevant legislation, Health and Information Quality Authority (HIQA) guidance, standards and audits on medicines management and health care provider’s policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPGs).

The new guidance document is available to view on the NMBI website.

From time to time students contact us to request guidance, insights and statistics to support their studies. We cannot help everyone but we would like to help as many students as we can as these are our future nurses and midwives. With this in mind we are going to run a pilot programme for the next twelve months to see how student research support might work.

Our parameters for the pilot are as follows and we will publish this policy on our website as a reference point:

1. If a student would like to request input from registered nurses and midwives in Ireland it needs to be done in survey format online (Survey Monkey or similar). It also needs to be short (one-to three minutes to fill out) and be easy to follow
2. The student needs to understand that not everyone will fill it out
3. The student owns the survey, its compilation and its results
4. We cannot guarantee when or if it will go out in an ezine but we will be fair in our processing and time of receipt (at least two months in advance) will be important in this determination
5. Our decision on inclusion in the ezine is final, and
6. We may discontinue this process at any point.

We expect to include one student update or request per month which you can consider. It would be great if you had time to offer your input to students but your participation will be completely at your discretion.

Board Decisions in Cases of Convictions

In cases where a complaint is made to the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC) concerning a conviction for a triable offence, the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 provides for the PPC to refer the complaint to the Board of NMBI for consideration. The Board has the option to cancel the registrant’s registration.

Decisions following Fitness to Practise Inquiries

The Board of NMBI has made a decision as to findings and sanctions arising from a complaint received under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.

The decisions are published in full on our web site on the Findings and Decisions page.

As we continue to shine a light on the important and committed work of nurses and midwives in Ireland, this month we talk to Tom Cummins, Director of Cherry Grove Nursing Home.

If you would like to get involved, please send your story along with pictures to communications@nmbi.ie.

Our interview with Tom

Why did you choose a career in nursing/midwifery?

I assisted my brother when aged 15 to full recovery after a serious farm accident by attending to his dressings and rehabilitation.

Why do you think it’s important to celebrate the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife? What message would you like to send in this context to your team or your profession in general?

It’s important for the public to fully understand that nursing is much more than care of a patient or resident - we become their eyes and ears, their advocate, their best friend in a time of need, for the young a parent, for the elderly an adopted son or daughter, providing care attention and support.

My advice for colleagues is always to do your best for patients, it is not their wish to be in the position they are in. Always empathise and show understanding and always use a problem solving approach.

How have you made a difference as a nurse/midwife?

By always remaining human and trying to understand patients’ needs and requirements - giving my 100% to them even when physically or emotionally drained. I’ve also made a difference as manager of my own nursing home by providing top quality care to residents, relatives and staff.

Do you have a memory in your job that really stands out?

I gain new memories every day - some good, some bad but every single day is different with different experiences. As Robbie Williams sang - “life is a rollercoaster”.

Has COVID -19 made a difference to nursing? Are there any positives that you will take with you?

The difference is huge. Nursing will not return to where it was for a long time. We have been advised to reduce our interaction with residents, this is the opposite of what nurses are trained to do.

There are a number of positives in relation to COVID and the future. Nurses in nursing homes will need to upskill and look at the possibility of giving IV fluids or antibiotics to the residents in their care and enhanced care provision to reduce admissions or long stays in hospitals and become more proactive in the care of their residents.

If you could, what advice would you give to 19 year old you, starting out?

I have three student nurses in my house - three daughters.

My advice is to always ask questions and do not do something that you are unsure of.

Use a common-sense approach when problem solving with patients.

Remember that the patient also has a brother, sister or parent and it is generally not their choice to be in the place that they are currently.