NMBI has launched a new data report, the State of the Register 2022, providing a breakdown of the number of nurses and midwives registered in Ireland.

Pictured (left to right): NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland, Chief Nursing Officer,

at the Department of Health, Rachel Kenna and President of NMBI, Essene Cassidy 

The new publication was officially launched at our office in Blackrock, County Dublin on 10 October 2022.

The event was attended by NMBI’s key stakeholders including the Department of Health, the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) in the HSE, education bodies, staff organisations, our regulatory colleagues and professional associations.

The headline information shows that as of 1 June 2022, there are 81,431 nurses and midwives on the NMBI Register, the highest number of registrants recorded. The data also shows that 75,871 self-declared as currently practising; and of these 66,471 state they are patient-facing in their role.

The report reveals that more than 90% (68,310) of all nurses and midwives registered in Ireland are women, while the majority of new registrants in the past year came from overseas, outside the EU.

In the 12 months from 1 June 2021 to 31 May 2022, a total of 4,937 applicants joined the Register, with 1,555 of these qualified in Ireland, 3,021 from outside of the EU and 361 from EU-based applicants.

Trends also indicate that the number of Irish-educated registrants is continuing to increase, with numbers from 2021 the highest since this element was first reported on in 2015.

Marking the launch, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly TD said: “This is a very welcome publication and a testament to the progress NMBI has made in digitising the Register of nurses and midwives. This data will be extremely beneficial for policy makers and those involved in workforce planning for the future of nursing and midwifery.”

The Chief Nursing Officer, at the Department of Health, Rachel Kenna who spoke at the launch said: “As a country we need to ensure that we are planning appropriately and effectively for the future of our health sector and the professions of nursing and midwifery. This publication provides us with reliable data on the nursing and midwifery resources that are available, including the core demographic details. This information is essential when we are engaged in evidence-based workforce planning.”

The President of NMBI, Essene Cassidy said, “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank all those who attended the launch of NMBI’s first ever ‘State of the Register 2022’.

“I would also like to thank all our registered nurses and midwives for their engagement with the online renewal process over the past two years. This engagement has made the publication of today’s report possible”.

NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland said, “We are delighted to present the State of the Register 2022. This is the first time that we have been able to produce information for use by stakeholders. It is vitally important that this data is available to workforce planners, policy makers and stakeholders across the sector as they respond to changing needs of Sláintecare.”  

“From the data, we can see an increase in the number of nurses and midwives coming onto the Register which is very encouraging”

NMBI Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy said “This report provides a comprehensive insight into the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland”.

“The data compiled on 1 June 2022, provides a breakdown of registrants across all NMBI divisions of the Register, those currently practising and patient-facing, as well a breakdown of registrant numbers across age groups and gender”.

Further information on registration figures and statistics can be found by viewing the full report here.

Pictured at the launch (left to right): NMBI Director of Operations, Kathyann Barrett, NMBI Director of Education, Policy and standards, Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland, President of NMBI, Essene Cassidy, NMBI Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy and NMBI Director of Professional Standards - Midwifery, Dawn Johnston 

Photography by Keith Arkins

In November, we will co-host a ‘Midwifery Going Forward’ event with Munster Technological University (MTU), University College Cork (UCC), University Hospital Kerry and Ireland South Women and Infants Directorate.

The event, taking place on Thursday, 3 November 2022 in Munster Technological University, Kerry North Campus, Tralee, provides a platform to discuss the future of midwifery in Ireland.

The event will focus on a professional discussion of key issues relating to the profession today and into the future, including what opportunities a career in midwifery provides today. Leading experts in the field from the Kerry, Cork and the wider Munster region will discuss key developments in midwifery. All are welcome to attend and can register here.

President of NMBI, Essene Cassidy, said: “This event aims to facilitate open conversations about the practice of midwives and the innovations taking place in the profession right now. Midwifery has been recognised as a distinct profession in Ireland through the Nursing and Midwives Act 2011, and this event aims to support midwives to understand how the discipline is evolving.

“We are very grateful to the Munster Technological University for hosting, as well as to University College Cork and University Hospital Kerry and the Ireland South Women and Infants Directorate for participating in and supporting this important conversation.”

NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland, said: “The NMBI is delighted to be visiting the region to discuss the latest developments in the field of midwifery, including the evolving role of the midwife and breastfeeding. We also look forward to sharing the latest statistics and details on how many midwives are registered to work in Ireland, as set out in the recently published 2022 State of the Register.

“Attendees will also hear from Professor Patricia Leahy-Warren, Professor in Maternal and Infant Health, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork; Professor Maggie Cusack, President of Munster Technological University and Denise Lawlor, Chair of the Midwives Committee, NMBI.”

NMBI Director of Professional Standards – Midwifery, Dawn Johnston, said: “This event provides an important opportunity to reflect on the evolving nature of midwifery in both hospital and community settings. We look forward to meeting with practicing midwives, students and those interested in the field to discuss the advances and learn more from their unique perspectives.”

A panel discussion on the Evolving Role of the Midwife will be chaired by Dr Rhona O’Connell, Midwifery Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork. Panellists include:

• Katie Bourke Director of Midwifery, Cork University Maternity Hospital
• Sandra O’Connor, Director of Midwifery, University Hospital Kerry
• Joann Malik RAMP, Maternity Services, University Hospital Kerry
• Louise Chawke, CNM2 Perinatal Mental Health Specialist
• Nicola O’Brien, recently qualified midwife, University Hospital Kerry
• Kirsty Hawthorn, self-employed Community Midwife

A second panel discussion on Breastfeeding: Getting it over the line will be chaired by Dawn Johnston, Director of Midwifery NMBI. Panellists include:

• Louise Galvin, Kerry footballer
• Laura McHugh, National Infant Feeding Coordinator
• Mairead O’Sullivan Infant Feeding coordinator, University Hospital Kerry

The event is free and is taking place from 2pm to 4.30pm on Thursday, 3 November 2022. Tickets are available on EventBrite for in-person or live streaming attendance.

NMBI’s Annual Student Midwife Debate will take place at 2pm on Friday, 4 November 2022. This year’s debate is being hosted by the School of Nursing and Midwifery in University College Cork (UCC).

The debate is organised in conjunction with the six education bodies that provide midwifery education leading to registration.

One student midwife is selected to represent each of the six education bodies and the teams will be challenged to debate a motion related to midwifery practice. 

This year, the motion for debate is ‘This house believes that the diminishing ‘normal birth’ rate is a threat to the midwifery profession'.

The student midwives taking part in this year’s debate include:

• Nadia Hutton, Trinity College Dublin
• Laura O’Sullivan, University College Cork
• Khayla Timothy, University of Limerick
• Claudia Donnelly, Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Hannah Flaherty, University of Galway
• Lia Kehoe, University College Dublin     

The event will also feature speakers Fran McConville, Midwifery Advisor to the World Health Organization and Sarah Benson, Chairperson of Women’s Aid.

Admission is free but registration is required to confirm a place. You can register to watch the event here.

Our CEO, Sheila McClelland, presented on the regulatory challenges faced by the NMBI and the wider healthcare sector at the recent Medical Council’s Staff and Council Member Conference.

Taking place on 17 October, the conference aimed to foster engagement and increase understanding of the wider healthcare system, and the challenges it faces among the Medical Council’s staff and council members.

Presenting under the topic of Regulatory challenges in a health system under pressure, Sheila spoke about the challenges from the perspective of the NMBI, alongside contributors from the Medical Council, Mental Health Commission (MHC), the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA) and CORU.

Sheila presented an overview of the NMBI’s role across registration, education and fitness to practise, and the challenges in those areas as identified through engagement with stakeholders and responses to our recent public consultation on NMBI’s future strategy for 2023-2025. Current challenges include the need for better data to inform workforce planning, more pathways and career progression for the midwifery and nursing professions and supporting the growing diversity in the sector.  

She also outlined how the NMBI operates as one part of a wider environment that is focused on ensuring the safety of patients, emphasising the importance of working collaboratively with partners including the Department of Health, the Health Service Executive (HSE), employers, managers, unions, educators, other regulatory bodies, service users, their representatives and registrants.

The event also heard discussions on Health Leadership - The challenges faced by leaders, and The Patient Perspective.

NMBI recently approved the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) aptitude test for overseas nurses wishing to be considered for registration as a Psychiatric (Mental Health) Nurse.

Any overseas applicant in possession of an active Psychiatric Division Decision Letter stating the requirement to undertake an adaptation programme, now also has the option of an aptitude test.

For more information and to register for the aptitude test, please visit the RCSI website.

Further information on the validity of Decision Letters can be found on our website.

We have commissioned research that aims to future proof undergraduate education programmes to evolve with emerging healthcare delivery models in the context of Sláintecare.

The goal of this project is to ensure that nursing and midwifery education is responsive to the changing needs, developments, priorities and expectations of health care wherever healthcare is needed.

In collaboration with the research group from University College Dublin (UCD) School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Systems; The University of Notre Dame Australia (UNDA); St John of God Community Services (SJOG); Technological University of the Shannon: Midlands Midwest (TUS) and Atlantic Technological University (ATU) we are conducting a curriculum review of undergraduate nursing and midwifery programmes leading to registration in Ireland.

2022 nursing and midwifery graduates are critical to the review and are encouraged to share their unique experience with the programmes. Further details about the review and to how to participate is available here.

New graduates can also have their say by scanning the QR code below.

The research group acknowledges that future nursing and midwifery programmes will need to be high quality, sustainable and innovative in to ensure registrants are equipped to respond to the changing needs of the people in their care. The nursing and midwifery workforce is itself an ever-changing demographic, as are the population they care for. This means that equality, diversity and inclusion need to be at the core of curriculum development.

Education and training needs to equip future nurses and midwives to work effectively in interprofessional teams and have the capacity for leadership to address future challenges in an agile and flexible way. All of this is within the context of person-centred care where future leaders will retain the values of compassion, care, and commitment.

The Research Team for the RUN ME Project are:

• Principal investigator, Associate Professor Mary Ryder (UCD)
• Associate Professor Michael Connolly (UCD and Our Lady's Hospice and Care Services)
• Professor Maria Brenner (UCD)
• Assistant Professor Dr Freda Browne (UCD)
• Associate Professor Sadie Geraghty (UNDA)
• Assistant Professor Mary Curtin (UCD)
• Associate Professor Eileen Furlong (UCD)
• Ms Margaret Prendergast (ATU)
• Mr John Larkin (TUS)
• Ms Margaret Meegan (SJOG)
• Chairs of Expert Advisory Group, Professor Fiona Timmons (Head of School, UCD) and Mr Paul Gallagher (Chair of Group Directors of Nursing and Midwifery Group)

An expert advisory panel of students, patient representatives, national and international nursing and midwifery experts and key stakeholders will oversee the Review Research Project.

The National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey closes 31 October

The National Maternity Bereavement Experience Survey is currently underway. It aims to give a voice to parents bereaved by pregnancy loss and drive improvements in the standard and quality of maternity bereavement care in Ireland.

It is the first national survey asking women and their partners about the bereavement care they received in an Irish hospital following a pregnancy loss or perinatal death.

Women and their partners who experienced a second trimester miscarriage, the stillbirth of baby or the early neonatal death of a baby between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2021 and received care in an Irish maternity hospital or unit can fill out the survey. The survey closes on 31 October 2022.

The survey is being carried out by the National Care Experience Programme - a partnership between the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health.

To find out more about the survey and the eligibility criteria, please click here.

Healthcare workers encouraged to avail of seasonal flu vaccine

The Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly, the Chief Nursing Officer, Rachel Kenna and the Chief Medical Officer, Professor Breda Smyth have encouraged everyone to get their flu vaccine this winter season.

The Department of Health reports that over 600,000 flu vaccines have been administered so far season. Speaking as he received his vaccination, Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly said: "I warmly welcome the positive uptake of flu vaccine we have seen since the HSE launched the programme earlier this month. We know that vaccines offer good protection from both Covid-19 and seasonal flu, and I urge everyone eligible to avail of this opportunity as soon as possible. The vaccine is also available free of charge to healthcare workers. It is really important that our healthcare workers take every step possible in order to protect themselves from viruses like flu this winter.”

Recommended groups are encouraged to get their free flu vaccine. This includes people who are:

• aged 65 years and older
• aged 2 to 17 years (can get a nasal spray flu vaccine)
• a healthcare worker
• pregnant
• living in a nursing home or other long-term care facility
• have a certain underlying health condition.

Recommendations to address shortage of carers in home support and nursing homes

On 15 October, Minister of State for Mental Health and Older People, Mary Butler published the Report of the Strategic Workforce Advisory Group on Home Carers and Nursing Home Healthcare Assistants. The report outlines 16 recommendations to the workforce challenges in front-line carer roles in home support and nursing homes. The recommendations are set out under the headings of:

• Recruitment
• Pay and conditions of employment
• Barriers to employment
• Training and professional development
• Sectoral reform
• Monitoring and implementation

The full report can be read here.

Menopause education and awareness resource launched

The Government of Ireland launched a new campaign on Menopause Awareness Week to inform, educate and ‘lift the taboo’ around menopause.

The new campaign, accompanied by national advertising, aims to support people in Ireland to know more about menopause, whether that means understanding their own symptoms or supporting a loved one, friend or colleague through their menopause.

Research cited by the Government states that less than 20% of women currently experiencing menopause/perimenopause today describe it as a positive experience. Furthermore, it reports that 82% of people agree that menopause is not openly discussed.

For more information, please click here.