We are inviting submissions as part of a public consultation on our Draft Post-Registration Specialist Education Programmes Standards for Nursing and Midwifery.

These proposed standards represent an important development in the regulatory framework, marking the first time NMBI has established specific standards for specialist practice. They build on existing Standards for Entry to the Register and the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (2025). 

NMBI welcomes contributions from a wide range of stakeholders, including clinical and academic experts, those working in specialist practice, service providers, governance leads, health service users, and members of the public. As the statutory regulator, NMBI is responsible for setting and publishing standards for nursing and midwifery education and training, and for monitoring compliance with these standards in the interests of public protection. 

The draft standards will replace the current Post-Registration Nursing and Midwifery Standards and Requirements (2010, revised 2015) and introduce a clearer and more consistent approach to specialist education. 

Under the proposed standards, post-registration specialist programmes must be delivered at a minimum of NFQ Level 9, comprise at least 60 ECTS credits, and include a minimum of 10 ECTS dedicated to assessed clinical competence in the relevant specialist area. 

These programmes build on prior registration and professional experience, reflecting the increased accountability, clinical judgement, and responsibility associated with specialist practice. The standards are designed to support education providers and practice partners in preparing practitioners to deliver safe, effective, and high-quality care, while ensuring alignment with the broader NMBI regulatory framework and ongoing professional competence requirements. 

The standards are prospective in application and apply to specialist education programmes seeking NMBI accreditation following their implementation. They are not intended to affect qualifications previously awarded or specialist posts established to their implementation.

Visit our Consultations page to read the draft consultation document and submit your feedback through the online survey.

The closing date for submitting your feedback is 5pm on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.

The journey of our Board Member, John Horan is marked by diverse leadership roles and key insights into corporate governance. In the latest episode of NMBI Voice, he shares invaluable lessons learned in regulation and the critical role of lay members on state boards. 

As well as a member of our Board, John is the Chair of our Audit and Risk Committee. Before this, he served as Chairperson of a state board and he brings extensive senior management experience from organisations including Aer Lingus, the Irish Hotels Federation and Veterinary Ireland 

This episode looks at the essential role of lay members in maintaining high standards and robust governance within statutory bodies. It explores the positive aspects of professional regulation, the challenge of balancing standards with real-world pressures and the emerging risks facing every modern organisation. 

The episode is now available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Our CEO, Carolyn Donohoe recently spoke to the Irish Examiner about the wide-ranging and rewarding career opportunities available in nursing and midwifery. 

Reflecting on her own career journey, Carolyn discussed how nursing provided opportunities to work in frontline care, education, leadership and regulation. She highlighted the variety of pathways into the professions, the importance of clinical placements in preparing students for practice and the many options available for career development after registration. 

Carolyn also outlined how nursing and midwifery education is evolving to meet the changing needs of healthcare, with a growing emphasis on community-based care and preparing graduates for a range of practice settings. 

Encouraging students and early-career professionals to explore the opportunities available, she noted that nursing and midwifery offer the chance to build a meaningful career while making a real difference in people’s lives. 

“The day you get on the Register is Day One, the day your career starts.” 

The full interview is available to read on the Irish Examiner website. 

Pictured (L to R): Laura O’Shea, Trinity College Dublin; Sunita Panda, Trinity College Dublin; Dr Karn Cliffe, NMBI Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery; Úna Rogers, Office of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at the Department of Health and Lorraine Carroll, University of Dublin

Dr Karn Cliffe, our Director of Midwifery recently attended the 34th Triennial Congress of the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) in Lisbon, Portugal.  

The ICM Congress, takes place every three years and is one of the most significant global gatherings for the midwifery profession. This year’s event brought together thousands of midwives, educators, researchers, regulators and healthcare leaders from across the world to exchange knowledge and advance strategies to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes. 

Throughout the congress, Karn participated in a comprehensive programme of keynote sessions, workshops and policy discussions focused on advancing midwifery practice and strengthening healthcare systems internationally. 

Pictured (L to R): Dr Karn Cliffe, NMBI Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery and Úna Rogers, Office of the Chief Nursing Officer (CNO) at the Department of Health

Speaking about the congress, Karn said: “The insights gained from international best practice and emerging evidence will help inform our work at NMBI in supporting high standards of education, regulation and professional development for midwives in Ireland.” 

“Midwifery is a global profession. By learning from international colleagues and sharing our own experiences, we can strengthen the profession collectively and ensure women and families receive the highest standard of care wherever they are.” 

Learning from the congress will help inform ongoing, regulatory initiatives and engagement with stakeholders across Ireland’s maternity services.  

Pictured: Dr Karn Cliffe, NMBI Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery

Earlier this month, ⁠Carolyn Donohoe, our CEO attended the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (⁠NCSBN) Executive Officer Summit in Nashville, Tennessee.  

The annual summit, held from 9-10 June, brought together chief executive officers and registrars from nursing and midwifery regulatory bodies across the world. This year's summit focused on the future of professional health regulation in the face of shifting global demographic, environmental and technological landscapes.  

The summit allowed NMBI to share its perspective on right-touch regulation and to collaborate on cross-border initiatives. The lessons learned and shared evidence-based data gathered from international regulatory colleagues will help inform NMBI's ongoing work to ensure robust regulatory frameworks that build workforce resilience while preserving public safety. 

Speaking about the summit, Carolyn said: "Attending the NCSBN Summit highlights how interconnected our regulatory challenges and opportunities truly are. Engaging deeply with our international peers allows NMBI to help shape the global conversation on healthcare workforce stability, digital modernisation and proactive policy. As we advance our own strategic objectives over the next four years, continuing these global collaborations ensures our regulatory processes remain dynamic, robust and completely aligned with international best practices to serve both the professions and the public in Ireland."

Pictured at the fitness to practise information sessions: Niamh McDonald and Jeanne Tarrant with registrants from St Conals Campus, Letterkenny (top) and registrants from Blackrock Clinic (bottom)

Niamh McDonald and Jeanne Tarrant from our Fitness to Practise Department recently met with registrants at St Conal’s Campus in Letterkenny, Donegal and Blackrock Clinic in Dublin. 

During the session, they spoke about the complaints process and our commitment to provide a compassionate approach for everyone involved in the FTP process as well as the supports that are available.    

We received very positive feedback from attendees who found the sessions insightful. 

We would like to thank Maria McGuinness, Specialist Coordinator, Office of the Chief Clinical Officer, at St Conal’s Campus, and Angela Noguera Dominguez and Evonne Healy, Director of Nursing at Blackrock Clinic for inviting us to speak with them. 

About 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. 

NMBI held a webinar on 29 June to officially launch research exploring how film can positively influence secondary school students’ perceptions of nursing and midwifery as career choices. 

Our Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery, Dr Karn Cliffe and Dr John Goodwin from University College Cork (UCC) spoke about the study's findings, which demonstrated a significant positive shift in how secondary school students perceived nursing and midwifery careers after they watched targeted, short-form films. 

The study, Research into the Promotion of Nursing and Midwifery as a Career of Choice Involving the Medium of Film, was funded by NMBI and led by a research team at UCC. 

The study highlighted an innovative, age-appropriate solution to engage digital-native students. By replacing traditional brochures with cinematic, human-centric visual storytelling, the project successfully generated an informed interest in the professions among young people. We would like to congratulate the research team on their upcoming journal article publication highlighting this work.

The research report is available to read on our website.

Pictured: Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister for Defence, Helen MacEntee at the official opening of the Clinical Skills Training Facility

Last month our Director of Education, Policy and Standards, Lorraine Clarke attended the official opening of Dunboyne College of Further Education and Training’s new Clinical Skills Training Facility.

The facility was opened by Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Minister for Defence, Helen MacEntee.

The event marked a significant milestone in the advancement of healthcare education and training in the region. The facility reflects the college’s long-standing commitment to delivering high-quality, practical learning experiences and enhancing learning opportunities for students.

Pictured: Lorraine Clarke, NMBI Director of Education, Policy and Standards with students from of Dunboyne College of Further Education

The facility is equipped with advanced simulation technology, including high-specification training mannequins, enabling students to practise essential clinical and lifesaving skills in a safe, supervised environment. Unsing practical scenarios, students can develop their competence, communication, teamwork and professional judgement to prepare them to work in healthcare settings.

NMBI would like to congratulate Principal Catherine Fox and colleagues at Dunboyne College and wish them every success in helping to prepare students for diverse and rewarding careers in healthcare.