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: