International Day of the Midwife – a message from Dawn Johnston and Denise Lawler
 

 

May 5 has been recognised as International Day of the Midwife around the world for many years. This year’s celebrations to mark the day will be different and the International Confederation of Midwives has provided some advice regarding marking the day in a meaningful way.

 


 

May 5 has been recognised as International Day of the Midwife around the world for many years. This year’s celebrations to mark the day will be different and the International Confederation of Midwives has provided some advice regarding marking the day in a meaningful way.

 

The International Day of the Midwife provides an opportunity to think again about our values and being with women, as noted in the Practice Standards for Midwives (NMBI, 2015)

 

This year has been challenging. What is most noticeable is the adaptations that you and your colleagues have made during the pandemic to ensure that women and their babies are safe and that they continue to get the best care.

 

The austere nature of working at a distance with women and the need to wear PPE should not hinder being with women. Being with women is realised through the use of effective communication, by assisting women to make informed decisions, by advocacy for women and through acknowledging that each woman’s needs and requirements are different and can change over time. Being with women is also about being present with the woman.

 

So, despite the pandemic, for midwives nothing has changed. Midwives continue to have ongoing respect for questions and the provision of non-judgmental answers, enabling women to make informed choices. Midwives can still listen when with women. Midwives can still work in partnership with women, they can advocate, they can ensure that all concerns, fears and worries are heard and supported as they should be.

 

These current times are testing for midwives and all healthcare professionals but midwives, collectively and individually, have an abundance of resilience that ensures they do not lose sight of the core values.

 

In the meantime, do celebrate the work of midwives this evening, stay safe and remember the fundamental contribution midwives make through the act of being with women

 

International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife - We Would like to Celebrate and Recognise all that you do
 

 

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the World Health Organization has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

 


 

To celebrate the 200th anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, the World Health Organization has designated 2020 as the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife.

In previous years, nurses and midwives celebrated in many different ways and while the circumstances this year may have changed, the care, compassion and commitment remains unchanged.

 

Starting this week we are asking you to send stories and pictures of you and your colleagues so that we can shine a light on the dedicated nurses and midwives on our Register, not just on May12 but for the rest of the year.  Please email your pictures along with your name, current position and message for publication on our web site to communications@nmbi.ie

 

Celebrating the Role of the Midwife Today
 

 

Today the Office of the Nursing & Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) marked the International Day of the Midwife by distributing some short messages of support and thanks to midwives across our healthcare system. Our CEO, Sheila McClelland was happy, on behalf of all at NMBI, to lend her support.

 


 

Today the Office of the Nursing & Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD) marked the International Day of the Midwife by distributing some short messages of support and thanks to midwives across our healthcare system.

 

Our CEO, Sheila McClelland was happy, on behalf of all at NMBI, to lend her support.

 

A message from Geraldine Shaw, Nursing & Midwifery Services Director & Assistant National Director

Message from Ms. Rachel Kenna, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer, Department of Health

Message from Ms Sheila McClelland, Chief Executive Officer of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) 

Watch a message from Ms Margaret Quigley, National Lead Midwife/ONMSD

Watch a message from Ms Mary Brosnan, Director of Midwifery & Nursing at the National Maternity Hospital

NMBI Welcomes COVID-19 Amendments to Medicines Regulations
 

 

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris recently approved amended regulations to facilitate how prescription-only medicines, including controlled drugs, could be supplied to patients by pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic*. This was done to ensure continuity of care and access to treatment for patients and to reduce some of the burden on prescribers and the broader healthcare system.

 


 

The Minister for Health, Simon Harris recently approved amended regulations to facilitate how prescription-only medicines, including controlled drugs, could be supplied to patients by pharmacists during the COVID-19 pandemic*. This was done to ensure continuity of care and access to treatment for patients and to reduce some of the burden on prescribers and the broader healthcare system.

 

“NMBI as the professional regulator of nurses and midwives has a responsibility to patients and service users to assure safe and effective medication management practice by nurses and midwives and so we support nurses and midwives in prescribing and administering medicines that provide for continued care in the emergency, “ said Anne Marie Ryan, Director of Professional Standards and Education.

 

“Nurses and midwives should be guided in their practice of medication management by our 2007 guidance on medication management. These new amendments, along with Section 2 of the guidance provide the basis for practice decisions and so it is important that nurses and midwives familiarise themselves with the changes.”

 

The changes to the regulations will impact all those involved in the medication management cycle, including the nurse or midwife as a prescriber or administrator of medicines.

 

The electronic transfer of prescriptions

The amendments allow for the electronic transfer** of prescriptions between prescribers and pharmacies, removing the need for a patient to attend a surgery to collect a paper prescription during the emergency.

 

Validity period of prescriptions

The maximum period of validity of a prescription for non-controlled drugs is temporarily increased from six to nine months as of the date specified on the prescription.

 

Repeat prescriptions

Temporary changes to the way in which prescriptions can be repeated by pharmacists have been introduced. Patients with a prescription script for six months will now see its period of validity automatically extended to nine months. Pharmacists have been given discretion to carry on a repeat prescription for a patient even if that patient has not got a new script. The Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland and the Medical Council have issued joint guidance for Pharmacists and Prescribers in relation to these amendments.

 

Controlled drugs

With regard to schedule 2 or 3 controlled drug prescriptions, the prescription writing requirements still apply, however these do not need to be in the prescriber’s own handwriting.

 

Medicine supplies

There is no need for hospitals or healthcare professionals to order extra quantities of medicines, or for prescribers to issue additional prescriptions.

 

Further details can be accessed on the Department of Health website.

For professional guidance please contact professionalguidance@nmbi.ie

 

Ends/

 

 

Notes:

*The changes amend the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 (as amended) and the Misuse of Drugs Regulations 2017 (as amended).

 

**The Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply Amendment) Regulations 2020 allows for the electronic transfer of prescriptions to a pharmacy via the HSE’s Healthmail system.

 

 

NMBI Publishes Updated Radiological Procedures (Nurse Referral) Guide
 

 

NMBI has updated the guidance on educational standards and requirements for nurses to refer a person for radiological procedures. 

 

These guidelines replace those originally published in February 2008 Requirements and Standards for Nurse Education Programmes for Authority to Prescribe Ionising Radiation (X-Ray) (First Edition).

 


 

NMBI has updated the guidance on educational standards and requirements for nurses to refer a person for radiological procedures. 

 

These guidelines replace those originally published in February 2008 Requirements and Standards for Nurse Education Programmes for Authority to Prescribe Ionising Radiation (X-Ray) (First Edition).

 

The standards and requirements apply to Education Providers (EPs), Higher Education Institutes (HEIs) and Associated Healthcare Providers (AHCPs) who should inform the development, delivery and evaluation of nurse educational programmes for medical radiological and other imaging procedures.

 

The amendments reflect the changes made to the European Union (Basic Safety Standards for Protection Against Dangers Arising from Medical Exposure to Ionising Radiation) Regulations 2018 and 2019.

 

The updated guide is available on the NMBI website.

If you have questions please do contact us on professionalguidance@nmbi.ie

 

NMBI Approves Interim Pandemic Guidance on Pronouncement of Death
 

 

We have approved the ‘Interim Clinical Guidance for the Pronouncement of Death by Registered Nurses in Identified Services in the Context of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic.’ This guidance was released today by the Office of Nursing and Midwifery Services, HSE and can be accessed in the HSE Dr. Steeven’s Library.

 


 

We have approved the ‘Interim Clinical Guidance for the Pronouncement of Death by Registered Nurses in Identified Services in the Context of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic.’ This guidance was released today by the Office of Nursing and Midwifery Services, HSE and can be accessed in the HSE Dr. Steeven’s Library.

 

The guidance document will replace the ‘National Policy for Pronouncement of Expected Death by Registered Nurses’ (HSE, 2017) for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak in Ireland. Online education and training resources facilitate implementation - www.hseland.ie

 

Before a registered nurse can undertake this expanded role s/he must successfully complete this on-line programme with the following supports in place:

  • National HSE Interim Clinical Guidance for the Pronouncement of Death by Registered Nurses in identified services in the Context of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
  • Local communication policy in place to support the Interim Clinical Guidance for the Pronouncement of Death by Registered Nurses in identified services in the Context of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
  • Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework (2015)
  • The Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (2014)
  • Local line management support

Following on from completing the online programme, registered nurses must:

  1. Complete the Self-Assessment of Competency for a Registered Nurse in the Pronouncement of Death in the Context of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic. A copy of this completed self-assessment must be discussed with her/his line manager and a copy logged in her/his human resources file
  2. In the event that further support is required, please complete the Prerequisite to Pronouncement of Death by a Registered Nurse in the Context of the Global COVID-19 Pandemic

Queries about this interim clinical guidance and further information can be addressed to Patrick Glackin, Area Director NMPDU, ONMSD at patrick.glackin@hse.ie

 

Information Update on Medicines from HPRA
 

 

The 96th edition of the HPRA Drug Safety Newsletter includes information on the following medicines:

  • 'Ulipristal acetate 5mg (Esmya) for uterine fibroids – suspension of marketing authorisation during ongoing review of liver injury risk
  • Paracetamol – reminder to prescribers on risk of hepatotoxicity in patients with risk factors
  • Durvalumab (Imfinzi) – risk of myasthenia gravis
  • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) – not for use as thromboprophylaxis in patients who have recently undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) – persistent sexual dysfunction after drug withdrawal'.

 

The 96th edition of the HPRA Drug Safety Newsletter includes information on the following medicines:

  • 'Ulipristal acetate 5mg (Esmya) for uterine fibroids – suspension of marketing authorisation during ongoing review of liver injury risk
  • Paracetamol – reminder to prescribers on risk of hepatotoxicity in patients with risk factors
  • Durvalumab (Imfinzi) – risk of myasthenia gravis
  • Rivaroxaban (Xarelto) – not for use as thromboprophylaxis in patients who have recently undergone transcatheter aortic valve replacement
  • Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) and Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRI) – persistent sexual dysfunction after drug withdrawal'.

For further newsletters, including the 97th edition which published today please visit the HPRA website.