NMBI is the regulator for the professions of nursing and midwifery. It sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. The purpose of the NMBI Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives (December 2014) is to guide nurses and midwives and to help them understand their professional responsibilities.

The NMBI Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives deals with the issue of conscientious objection under Principle 2: Professional responsibility and accountability. 

• Standard of conduct 7. “If you have a conscientious objection based on religious or moral beliefs which is relevant to your professional practice, you must tell your employer and, if appropriate, tell the patient as soon as you can. If you cannot meet the patient's needs because of this objection, you must talk with your employer and, if appropriate, talk to the patient about other care arrangements.” (pg.17)
• Standard of conduct 8. “Even if you have a conscientious objection, you must provide care to a patient in an emergency where there is a risk to the patient's life” (pg. 17).

The Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Bill 2018 will be enacted shortly. NMBI has compared the forthcoming legislation with the NMBI Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives. NMBI is making no revision to the Code at this time. However, we have included an addendum for the purposes of clarity into the Code: It is not a breach of the Code to provide services under the Health (Regulation of Termination of Pregnancy) Act 2018. NMBI will commence a review of the Code in 2019 and would welcome your feedback at that time.