On 27 November, we held the second Student Nurse Ambassador Forum.
Speaking at the opening of the Forum, NMBI President Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride said: "Our Student Nurse Ambassadors are a voice for our student community. Their input and engagement will raise the profile of students as valued members of the profession, while their commitment will inspire those considering a career in nursing to take that first step on the path.”
The event is a unique opportunity for undergraduate nursing students to meet with NMBI and understand the role of their regulator in supporting them throughout their careers. The Student Ambassadors will partner with NMBI in promoting the profession, as well as participate in NMBI events throughout the year.
Twenty student nurses from the four primary nursing divisions, General Nursing; General and Children’s Nursing; Mental Health Nursing and Intellectual Disability Nursing, attended the forum from the higher education institutions.
NMBI Chief Executive Officer, Carolyn Donohoe said: “By building this connection, we believe our Student Nurse Ambassadors will use the forum as a platform to shape their futures – we want to hear their voices and embrace their vision for the future, as they embark on their careers.”
Other speakers included Lorraine Clarke Bishop, Interim Director of Education, Policy, Standards; Dr Ray Healy, Director of Registration; Yvanne Kennedy, Interim Director of Fitness to Practise and Kathyann Barrett, Head of Operations.
Picture above (L to R): Lorraine Clarke Bishop, Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride and Carolyn Donohoe
The students participated in a series of round table discussions on topics such as why they decided to become a nurse and the priorities for student nurses and new graduates.
Colleagues from Pflegekammer Nordrhein-Westfalen, a German regulator, joined virtually to share insights into their student ambassador programme.
Bringing proceedings to a close, Lorraine Clarke Bishop, Interim Director of Education, Policy, Standards said: “This event serves to strengthen the connection between NMBI as the regulator and student nurses. We believe this partnership will inspire and empower students to play an active role in contributing to the advancement of the profession.”
