There are just 11 days left for registrants to renew their annual registrations for 2021.

NMBI Director of Registration Nadia Dagash is urging registrants to complete the new MyNMBI online process “sooner rather than later”.

NMBI decided last month to extend the renewal deadline until Sunday, 28 February.

NMBI is working with the HSE and other employers to ensure that nurses and midwives willing to return to healthcare settings to assist with the Covid-19 pandemic response, including the vaccination programme, are temporarily restored to the register for free.

A new guide about the NMBI complaints process has been launched.

The publication – Complaints Against Nurses and Midwives, A Plain English Guide – is designed to help nurses and midwives who are subject to a complaint to easily understand the complaints process.

NMBI would like to invite applications from suitably qualified individuals interested in becoming a member of the Panel of Expert Witnesses working on behalf of the CEO of NMBI and the Fitness to Practise Department.

Whilst expert witnesses are required across all areas of practice, there is a shortage of experts at present in the care of the older person in a Nursing Home/Community Hospital context. 

NMBI is aware of a website purporting to be a register of nurses and midwives in Ireland. 

The website is not connected with NMBI. (There is also a disclaimer on the website saying it is not connected.)  

The role of nurses and midwives in the targeted Covid-19 immunisation programme has been set out by NMBI and its partners.

The High-Level Task Force on Covid-19 Vaccination and its strategy has been developed by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) and the Department of Health. This has been endorsed by the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) which has resulted in the development of a targeted immunisation programme for vaccine recipients against Covid-19.

The Health Products Regulatory Authority has issued a special edition of its Drug Safety Newsletter which focuses on Covid-19 vaccines and relevant monitoring activities.

The newsletter contains important information on which vaccines have been approved for use in Ireland.

Ireland remains at level 5 restrictions. You can see the measures in place here. Everyone is asked, for the protection of our friends, family and the frontline, to please stay at home.

This month’s news round up features stories including:

• RCSI to stream 40^th Annual Nursing and Midwifery Conference
• Nurse Nicola part of Ladies gaelic football drive
• Royal support for Ulster University nursing students

Deirdre Lang, Director of Nursing/National Lead Older Persons Services, Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director/Clinical and Integrated Programmes