The 2023 annual registration renewal process is underway and registrants can renew up to 14 February 2023.

All nurses or midwives practising in Ireland are required by law to have their name on the Register of Nurses and Midwives which is maintained by NMBI and each year it is necessary to pay the annual renewal fee to maintain their registration.

Please note that student nurses and midwives are not required to renew as candidate registration is a once-off.

We would like to thank the more than 13,000 nurses and midwives who have completed their annual registration so far. While the renewal window is open until 14 February 2023, we encourage registrants to log in and renew online as soon as possible to avoid any delays in processing during peak hours.

The annual renewal process must be completed through our online portal, MyNMBI. Renewing your registration is easy and should take no more than 10 minutes to complete. You can pay online using your own debit or credit card or if you are using a card issued to another person, please ensure that you have authorisation to do so. Under new EU requirements, the card provider or bank will request authentication with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) to complete the payment. Please note that we no longer accept renewal payments by phone.

There is an annual fee of €100 for renewing your registration. This fee goes towards our work to support nurses and midwives to provide patient care to the highest standards. This work includes:

• Maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives and the Candidate Register for students,
• Developing standards and guidance for nurses and midwives,
• Assessing and approving education programmes for the professions, and
• Investigating complaints made against registrants.

To assist registrants through the annual renewal process, we have created a number of useful guides and we advise that registrants view these before renewing their registration. The guides can be accessed through the links below and are also available on our website.

• Annual Renewal video guide
• 2023 Annual Registration Renewal Guide
• Frequently Asked Questions

For those who require assistance to complete the renewal process, please call 0818 200 116 (Monday-Friday 9am to 5:30pm) or email our Registration Department at regservices@nmbi.ie.

Please note that due to Christmas holidays, our offices and call line will be closed between 24 and 27 December 2022, and 31 December 2022 to 2 January 2023.

Earlier this month, we hosted a Midwifery Going Forward event in Munster Technological University (MTU), Tralee.

The discussion allowed us to hear from leading experts in midwifery from the Kerry, Cork and wider Munster region on the evolving role of midwives and getting breastfeeding over the line.

Professor Patricia Leahy-Warren, Professor in Maternal and Infant Health at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, University College Cork (UCC) outlined how breastfeeding is both a public health issue and a woman’s choice, highlighting the evidence that exists to support it.

Dr Ray Healy, NMBI’s Director of Registration, discussed the midwifery demographics in the State of the Register 2022 report. As of 1 June 2022, there were 9,661 registered midwives in Ireland, with 4,561 currently practising and 3,850 in patient-facing roles. Dr Healy explained how the number of practising midwives has increased while there are approximately 2,500 midwives maintaining their registration who are not currently practicing in the country.

Attendees then heard from two panel discussions on the Evolving role of the midwife and Breastfeeding: Getting it over the line.

Evolving role of the midwife panel:

Pictured (L to R): Kirsty Hawthorn, a self-employed Community Midwife; Joann Malik, RAMP in University Hospital Kerry (UHK); Louise Chawke, a CNM2 Perinatal Mental Health Specialist; Dr Rhona O'Connell, Midwifery Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC; Katie Bourke, Director of Midwifery at Cork University Maternity Hospital; Nicola O’Brien, a recently qualified midwife working in UHK; and Sandra O’Connor, Director of Midwifery at UHK.

Breastfeeding: Getting it over the line panel:

Pictured (L to R): Sheila McClelland, NMBI CEO; Laura McHugh, National Infant Feeding Coordinator; Mairead O'Sullivan, Infant Feeding Coordinator at UHK; Louise Galvin and son Florian; Panel Chair, Dawn Johnston, NMBI Director of Midwifery; and Essene Cassidy, NMBI President.

NMBI Director of Midwifery, Dawn Johnston, said: “Midwifery Going Forward was an engaging discussion on the future of midwifery in Ireland and on the challenges the sector is facing. It fostered conversation on the retention and recruitment of midwives, as well as the various roles and flexibility the career can offer through various pathways in the community, acute and self-employed opportunities.

“Attendees also highlighted the need for the profession to become more comfortable with supporting and promoting breastfeeding where it is possible, as well as the need for new mums to have access to supports and resources when breastfeeding their infants.

"The event came at a good time as we are finalising our new strategy for 2023-2025 which aims to address the issues facing midwifery, including ensuring applicants are registered to practise as quickly as possible and making information available to inform service planning.

“I would like to thank MTU for hosting the event and the regional hospitals for their support and an engaging discussion on the future of midwifery in Ireland. I would also like to thank all the panelists for their meaningful contributions on the day.”

A summary of the discussion and a photo gallery can be found on our website.

Our annual National Student Midwife Debate took place on 4 November to debate the motion: ‘This house believes that the diminishing ‘normal birth’ rate is a threat to the midwifery profession’.

The debate was organised in conjunction with the six education bodies that provide midwifery education leading to registration with NMBI in Ireland, with this year’s event hosted by University College Cork.

Over 90 guests attended in person, and more than 250 logged in to watch the online live stream.

Debating for the motion were Nadia Hutton representing Trinity College Dublin, Laura O’Sullivan representing University College Cork and Claudia Donnelly representing Dundalk Institute of Technology debating for the motion. Debating against the motion were Khayla Timothy representing University of Limerick, Lia Kehoe representing University College Dublin and Hannah Flaherty representing University of Galway.

Pictured (L to R): Against the motion - Khayla Timothy, UL; Hannah Flaherty, UG and Lia Kehoe, UCD

Pictured (L to R): For the motion - Nadia Hutton, TCD; Claudia Donnelly, DKIT and Laura O’Sullivan, UCC

Khayla Timothy, from Galway, who is a third year student midwifery at University of Limerick won the prize for best speaker at the debate.

Pictured (L to R): NMBI President, Essene Cassidy; Khayla Timmons, winning speaker, UL and NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland

Speaking after the event, President of the NMBI, Essene Cassidy, said: “This annual debate gives students an excellent opportunity to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the profession and inspire new thinking around topics relating to midwifery. Midwives play an instrumental role in supporting, monitoring and encouraging women and their families at all stages of a woman’s pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postnatal period. Debating skills are essential in advocating for the best care at all these stages of care.

“This year’s event was a lively and engaging debate and the speakers were a credit to their team and their education bodies. They showed conviction and passion. I would particularly like to congratulate the winning student, Khayla Timothy who passionately argued against the motion.”

Fran McConville, Midwifery Advisor to the World Health Organization, joined the event via video stream to thank the debaters for their robust arguments. She shared her insights into how the midwifery profession will be critical in the 21st century.

Sarah Benson, Chairperson of Women’s Aid, provided an overview of domestic violence in Ireland and how it can be identified in maternity settings.

Attendees also heard from Sheila McClelland, CEO of NMBI; Dawn Johnston, Director of Midwifery at NMBI and Dr Geri McLoughlin, Midwife Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC.

Pictured (L to R): Dr Geri McLoughlin, Midwife Lecturer at the School of Nursing and Midwifery, UCC; Khayla Timmons, winning speaker, UL and Dawn Johnston, Director of Midwifery, NMBI

This year’s judging panel included Denise Lawler, Chair of the NMBI Midwives Committee; Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid Ireland and Mary Higgins, retired midwife and former Board Member of the International Confederation of Midwives.

You can watch the debate in full here. 

Our CEO, Sheila McClelland, presented at the Irish Association of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners Conference last Thursday, 24 November.

The theme of the event was “Resilience and self-care in a rapidly changing world”.

Sheila spoke at the event about the key challenges in the changing healthcare sector going forward, and how NMBI will work with the professions to meet these challenges.

She spoke about changing health policy, addressing workforce challenges, and supporting career progression and the pathways to enter into the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) and Advanced Midwife Practitioner (AMP) divisions.

Sheila also highlighted our role, and the latest data on ANPs and AMPs from our State of the Register 2022 report.

The event also presented an opportunity for us to listen to the views and experiences of ANPs and AMPs practising in Ireland. 

The 2023 edition of our careers information booklet, Nursing/Midwifery: A career for you, is now available on our website.

The booklet provides information to support students applying through the 2023 CAO process for a nursing or midwifery college place. It includes a comprehensive overview of the entry requirements, the application process, and the theoretical and clinical components of the different types of nursing and midwifery programmes available.

Information on post-registration courses leading to additional registration can also be found in the booklet and on our website.

If you have any queries about nursing and midwifery programmes, please contact our Careers Department at careersinformation@nmbi.ie.

The Board of NMBI has made decisions on findings and sanctions arising from three complaints received.

The findings are published in full on our Findings and Decisions page.

We have published a new Statement of Strategy Consultation Report 2023-2025.

The report details the feedback we received as part of the public consultation on our new strategy over the Summer, and how we are planning to respond.

The public consultation survey was open to all stakeholders, including registrants, staff organisations, employers, managers, patient advocate groups and the general public. Over 120 responses were received.

Some of the key areas highlighted by respondents included the need to:

• retain nurses and midwives;
• attract new nursing and midwifery talent from overseas;
• evolve the education of nurses and midwives; and
• further promote the role of NMBI and work with and through partners to amplify our impact.

Respondents also highlighted the need to respond to:

• greater diversity in the workplace;
• changing models and settings of healthcare; and
• challenging work settings.

Our CEO, Sheila McClelland, said: “The consultation process has provided us with valuable insights, suggestions and practical steps that we can take to improve our focus, efficiency and effectiveness. We would like to thank everyone who submitted their feedback. The outcomes will be reflected in our new Statement of Strategy 2023-2025, which will be published in early 2023 and made available on our website.”

The Statement of Strategy Consultation Report 2023-2025 is available on our website here.

We are inviting expressions of interest from registrants and members of the public to fill vacancies on the Registration Committee.

We also hope to create a panel of shortlisted applicants from which to fill vacancies on this committee between March 2023 and March 2024.

Details of the vacancy and how to apply are on our website.

Please share this link with anyone who you think may be interested. The closing date for applications is Monday, 9 January 2023 at 3pm.

The role of the Registration Committee is to perform certain of the Board’s delegated functions regarding registration and as set out in its terms of reference and to make recommendations to the Board where required.

More information on the committee, including its membership and terms of reference, is available on our website.

Eileen Whelan has been appointed the National Lead for the Testing, Contact Tracing and the Vaccination Programme. Prior to this, Eileen was Chief Director of Nursing & Midwifery & Quality in the Dublin Midlands Hospital Group.  

Eileen is a registered nurse, with over 30 years’ experience in health services in Ireland and internationally. She has spent her career delivering integrated care to patients, and enhancing professional practice to support better outcomes and a better experience for patients.

Taking up the role, Eileen discussed the current trends in vaccination this Winter and urged all healthcare workers to take up the vaccine:

“Healthcare workers are encouraged to protect themselves, their families and vulnerable patients from circulating viruses this winter.

“This year, there is a heightened risk of a tripledemic from the combination of influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and Covid-19 which could seriously impact people’s health and overwhelm our health services. 

“The data also shows low immunity in certain cohorts of the population, which places increased risk of infection from respiration viruses on certain groups of people, as well as low uptake of both the influenza vaccine and the Covid-19 boosters.

“Another concern is the low uptake of the vaccines by healthcare workers. By quarter 4 2021, 80% of healthcare workers received their first Covid-19 booster vaccine. Since the availability of a second booster for healthcare workers in August this year, only 17% of all healthcare workers have availed of the vaccine. The uptake of Covid-19 booster by medical and dental staff is 24%; 19% by nursing and midwifery staff and 15% by healthcare support staff. Furthermore, flu vaccination uptake is lower this year than in previous years ranging from 22% to 46%. The flu vaccine uptake among healthcare workers in 2021/22 was 64% and 71% in 2020/21. 

“This is a significant concern, particularly as we approach the festive season where there is increased opportunity for viruses to transmit. 

“Vaccination remains the most important step in preventing respiratory illness. Both the flu vaccine and Covid-19 booster vaccine reduce respiratory related illness and the risk of complications that can result in hospitalisation or even death. With the Covid-19 vaccine immunity wanes over time, so it is important to get the booster vaccine when recommended. 

“I would urge everyone who can to take up vaccination. There is still time to get your influenza and Covid-19 booster vaccine and help protect yourself and those around you.”

The Department of Health, in partnership with Indecon, is conducting a survey of healthcare workers, including nurses and midwives.  

The survey, which is supported by the European Commission, will inform a new system to forecast the supply and demand for nurses, midwives, doctors, and other health and social care professionals in Ireland.   

To help with the research, the Department of Health and Indecon would like to gather some additional information on working patterns among nurses and midwives. Please note, this survey is independent of the NMBI. 

If you would like to take part, you can complete this short questionnaire here. 

New National Forensic Mental Health Service opens

Earlier this month, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly opened the new National Forensic Mental Health Service in Portrane, Co Dublin.

The forensic mental health campus will replace the Central Mental Hospital (CMH) in Dundrum and will provide care for 170 patients as well as community and prison in-reach services. A Forensic Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and an Intensive Care Rehabilitation Unit will also be located on site.

More about the announcement of the National Forensic Mental Health Service can be found here.

HSE encourages people to get their winter vaccines

The HSE is encouraging people to get their winter flu and Covid-19 vaccines to help protect themselves and their families and friends from serious illness.

Covid-19 vaccinations can be booked online and anyone who has had Covid-19 should wait four months post-infection before booking their appointment. Eligible groups for a flu vaccine should contact their GP or check with their local pharmacy. You can check which pharmacy is delivering flu vaccines via the pharmacy finder.

Further information on the eligibility for the flu and Covid-19 vaccines can be found on the HSE website.

National Nursing Home Experience Survey findings published

The findings of the first ever national survey of nursing home care in Ireland has been published.

The National Nursing Home Experience Survey was developed in collaboration with public and private home care providers.

The survey aimed to gather information from residents about their experiences of living in a nursing home and their experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The National Nursing Home Experience Survey was conducted as part of the National Care Experience Programme, a joint initiative from the Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA), the Health Service Executive (HSE) and the Department of Health.

The findings will also be used by the Department of Health to inform the development of policy and strategy in relation to nursing home care, as well as informing national standards and HIQA’s regulation of nursing homes.

The full report is available on the YourExperience website.

Anne Marie Duffy: Board member, member of the Education, Training and Standards Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee (2011)

Could you tell our readers a bit about your background?

I started my career in teaching and then moved into the area of examinations and assessment, finally holding the role of Director of Qualifications for the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment in Northern Ireland (CCEA). In this role, I led the development of examination specifications, writing and grading of public examinations, and held the role of Responsible Officer. I represented the Awarding Body on a three-country regulatory Maintenance of Standards committee alongside colleagues from England and Wales, and represented CCEA on the Joint Council for Qualifications in London. I also led CCEA’s digital transformation programme which earned the organisation a NextGen UK Public Service Transformation award in 2017. As director of CCEA, I worked within a highly regulated sector and was involved in the investigation and imposition of sanctions for teacher, student and centre malpractice. I also worked on curriculum projects at European level and currently serve as a non-Executive Director at Qualifications Wales' regulatory body and as a school governor.

When did you join the Board of NMBI and why?

I joined the Board of NMBI in January 2020. The work of the NMBI interested me from two perspectives – firstly, having a background in education, regulation and governance I felt that I could make a positive contribution to the work of the Board and its Education, Training and Standards Committee. Secondly, the position focused on experience of digital transformation which is an area within my sphere of expertise. I led internal staff teams through a very creative and challenging transformation process, building capacity, capability and confidence among service users. These projects enabled my organisation to gain useful candidate and system performance data which fed into greater effectiveness, efficiency and improvements in outcomes. The work of the NMBI is crucial in maintaining a high-quality nursing and midwifery service and helping this in any way is a very worthy public service. Although not coming from a nursing or midwifery background, I felt that my skillset and experience would complement the work of the Board and provide an objective view on education and change from a neutral vantage point. 

You are also a member of the Education, Training and Standards Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee (2011). Can you tell our readers about the important work of these committees?

Firstly, it is important to state that the work of both committees is to carry out certain aspects of the Board’s delegated functions and to make recommendations to the Board when required. The Board then decides whether or not to accept any recommendation proposed.

The key focus of the Education, Training and Standards Committee is to advise the Board on nursing and midwifery education standards and their implementations, including adherence to relevant legislation. The committee makes recommendations to the Board on the approval of education programmes, outcomes of the monitoring of regulatory compliance, setting educational standards for registration and advising on ethical standards and guidance. An important aspect of the committee’s work is to set out standards of practice to prepare nurses and midwives for the future. I believe that having a diverse committee promotes more informed discussions in this area.

The Fitness to Practise Committee (2011) hears inquiries into complaints made against registrants through a formal inquiry process. I believe the work is a vital aspect of the role of every professional regulator, ensuring that complaints are given due consideration and that the public is assured of the knowledge, competence and professionalism of nurses and midwives. While the Fitness to Practice Committee itself is large with 33 members, it carries out its core work in groups of three persons at inquiries, with one of the three a nurse or midwife representing the division of the Register relevant to the registrant subject to the complaint. The entire committee meets twice per year where it deals with routine matters, undertakes training and also reflects on its work.

There is a synergy between Fitness to Practise and Education, Training and Standards committees in the feedback and data sharing which influences change to the content of nursing and midwifery education programmes. This also influences changes and provisions to the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics and the Scope of Practice for both nurses and midwives. 

What have been your biggest achievements as a Board member?

I have learned an amazing amount about the nursing and midwifery professions, much of which is reflective of the teaching profession’s standards and ethics. I have also learned about the detailed and technical approach taken within NMBI to complaints management. Some of these complaints end in Fitness to Practise Inquiries and, as a Board member, I am provided with high-quality information that enables me to exercise balanced judgment and provide robust rationale, taking all factors into account. I hope that I have made a positive and constructive contribution to the Board’s continual drive for improvement through attention to detail and process and look forward to future achievements.

What challenges have you faced during your time on the Board?

Working within a quasi-judicial framework in relation to Fitness to Practise Inquiries, particularly within the past year with remote and hybrid hearings, has been challenging. To effectively make informed recommendations to the Board, there is a large amount of reading required and considerations to be taken and both can be demanding. As a lay member of the Board, becoming familiar with the technical and medical vocabulary has also been challenging but this has also presented many new learning opportunities.

Being part of the Board requires a lot of commitment. How do you find a balance between your work on the Board and Committees, your career and your home life?

As a self-employed consultant, I have more flexibility to balance the competing aspects of my personal and professional life and voluntary commitments. This flexibility enables me to accommodate the needs and requirements of the Board and the two committees on which I sit. Planning and scheduling are key so that I can allocate appropriate time to read and consider papers, prepare for meetings and accommodate Fitness to Practise Inquiries.

Finally, what advice would you give someone who is interested in joining the NMBI Board or one of the NMBI Committees?

Firstly, I would say that the work is hugely rewarding. Knowing that you are supporting continuous improvement and ensuring the highest standard of patient care and nursing and midwifery competence is very motivating. My advice would be to research the work of the NMBI and ensure that it is something that you would be interested in contributing to. Avail of all the induction and training opportunities that will be presented to you. More experienced Board and committee members will be there to answer any queries that you may have, especially during your first few months. As we emerge from this very unprecedented time of restrictions imposed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, attend as many meetings as possible in person to form positive and effective working relationships with Board members and the executive team.