We would like to remind all registered nurses and midwives that voting to elect three registrants to the Board of the NMBI will close at 12pm on Thursday, 1 October. 

Only nurses and midwives who were on the NMBI Register are eligible to vote. You will need your NMBI Pin and Voter Security Code which was sent by email or by post. 

The candidates for election in three categories are:  

Intellectual Disability Nursing 

• Karina O'Sullivan 
• Marian Spelman 

Midwifery 

• Caroline Earley 
• Gráinne Milne 

Care of Older Persons 

• Elaine Dunne 
• Melba Mary Vilson 

Further details about each of the candidates is available on the NMBI Election Portal. 

In the latest episode of our podcast, NMBI Voice, we shine a light on the rich history and lasting impact of Irish nursing, celebrating the generations of nurses whose dedication, care and professionalism have shaped healthcare both in Ireland and abroad. 

This month, Kathyann Barrett is joined by Paul Gallagher, former Regional Director of Nursing for the Dublin and South East region, and his father, Fionn Gallagher, a retired psychiatric nurse who helped shape mental health services following the 1945 Mental Treatment Act.  

They share their personal stories and reflections from nurses, offering an insight into how the profession has evolved over the years.  

The podcast celebrates the dedication, resilience and compassion that have been at the heart of nursing for generations. It draws attention to the challenges, achievements and resilience of those who pursued nursing careers at home and overseas. 

As the professions continue to evolve, this episode helps to preserve important stories and recognise the contribution nurses have made to society. By sharing these experiences, the podcast ensures that the voices of past and present nurses remain an important part of Ireland's healthcare history.  

Listeners can access the podcast on major podcast platforms and learn more about the remarkable individuals who helped shape the profession we know today.  

Listen now on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts.

Earlier this month, NMBI, alongside the Nursing and Midwifery Planning and Development Unit (NMPDU), and our Student Ambassadors were delighted to attend the National Ploughing Championships, where we spent three days meeting people from all over Ireland. 

Our team met with members of the public, registered nurses and midwives and students to promote awareness of NMBI and the vital role that nursing and midwifery professionals play in keeping communities healthy and safe. Board members Mark Johnston and Anne Marie Duffy joined us to promote the work of the Board. 

We provided hands on CPR experience which gave visitors the chance to learn how to resuscitate someone with chest compressions. 

Our team were pleased to meet with Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, who got the chance to practise her CPR skills. 

We would like to thank our Student Ambassadors Megan Guerin; Brian Rusk; Jessica Sheahan; Ava Casey; Killian Spain; Norina Nagy; Charis Tomb and Gabriela Magalhaes who made a great impression on young visitors to the stand. 

A special word of thanks to our colleagues from Midland Regional Hospital, Portlaoise; the NMPDU and Midland Regional Hospital Tullamore for their support and giving their time to help at our stand. They are Lucy Cassidy; Kathleen Fitzmaurice; Sinead Phillips; Grainne Keena; Caitriona Donelon; Sophie Kerins; Aisling Byrne; Jeremiah Nally; Finola Gill; Nicola Waters; Veena Lasrado; Lucy Lydon Foyle; Aoife Cahill; Saoirse Murphy and Katie Scully. 

As we continue our work to protect the public and support our nursing and midwifery colleagues, participation in national events such as the Ploughing Championships is an important way of engaging with registrants, future professionals and the wider public. 

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand and took the time to speak with the team. We look forward to continuing these important conversations in the future.

The Irish Times Higher Options fair took place this month and NMBI, in partnership with our colleagues from the Office of Nursing and Midwifery Service Director (ONMSD), and Student Ambassadors were there to meet students exploring their future education and career options. 

The fair took place from 12 to 15 September and across the three days, our team spoke with thousands of students about the many opportunities available in nursing and midwifery. Visitors to the NMBI stand were keen to learn about the professions, the educational routes available, and what it takes to become a registered nurse or midwife. 

Each day, NMBI Professional Officers, Mary Devane and Emer McCormack shared their experiences of the professions and discussed the pathways, programmes and opportunities available in panel discussions moderated by Jen Hogan and Janet Stafford from the Irish Times. 

We would like to thank the ONMSD and the Nursing and Midwifery Practice Development Unit (NMPDU) for their continued support and for sharing their insights of the professions.  

A special word of thanks to our Student Ambassadors and student representatives who took time out from their studies to answer questions and share their personal experiences of college life and practice placements at our stand.  

Thank you to everyone who stopped by our stand for a chat. We enjoyed meeting so many students and wish them every success as they take the next steps towards their future careers. 

If you know someone who is interested in a nursing or a midwifery career, they can find out more on our website. 

You can keep up to date by following us on X and Instagram @nmbi_ie through the hashtags: #CareerinNursing #CareerinMidwifery #ACareerThatMakesADifference

Earlier this month, we were delighted to contribute to the CLEAR 2026 Annual Educational Conference, an international regulatory gathering where our directors shared insights on communication, innovation and international registration. 

Our Director of Education, Policy and Standards, Lorraine Clarke, presented Revolutionising Nurse Registration Standards – Building a Future-Proof Workforce for Integrated Care, highlighting the development of NMBI’s 2025 Standards for Nurse Education and Standards of Entry to the Register. The presentation explored the key drivers for reform, including Sláintecare, changing population needs, workforce demographics, and the increasing emphasis on learner-centred education. 

The session outlined the extensive evidence-based review and stakeholder consultation process that informed the standards and examined the shift from prescriptive curricula to outcome-focused approaches that support critical thinking, active learning, leadership, and collaborative practice. It also highlighted the future practice placement model, including enhanced exposure to both acute and community settings and the introduction of an integrated care internship. 

The presentation generated significant interest and discussion on the opportunities and challenges of implementing these reforms, underscoring the importance of collaboration between regulators, education providers, and clinical partners in preparing a future-ready nursing workforce.

A highlight of the conference was a presentation by Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy, on 'Innovation in Action: Modern Credential Recognition for Regulatory Success'. The session explored how regulatory bodies can modernise credential recognition processes to respond to increasing international workforce mobility while maintaining public protection and professional standards. 

Following the presentation, Dr Healy joined a panel discussion that examined the practical challenges associated with verifying qualifications, registration status and professional standing for internationally educated nurses. Panellists discussed the growing complexity of cross-border credential assessment, including the need for reliable information sharing, consistency in verification practices and timely decision-making.

The discussion highlighted the critical role of collaboration between nursing regulators, credential assessment organisations and other stakeholders in strengthening registration pathways for internationally educated professionals. By working together, organisations can improve the efficiency and transparency of assessment processes, reduce unnecessary duplication, and support fair and evidence-based registration decisions. The session underscored the importance of international cooperation in ensuring that registration systems remain robust, responsive and focused on both public safety and workforce needs in an increasingly global healthcare environment.

Separately, our Director of Corporate Services and Strategy, Kathyann Barrett delivered a presentation on communications and stakeholder engagement, which showcased how tools such as podcasts, student ambassador forums, public events and digital communications are helping to make regulation more accessible, transparent and relevant. The presentation highlighted the importance of communication as a core regulatory function, demonstrating how meaningful engagement can build trust, improve understanding of regulatory processes and strengthen confidence in nursing and midwifery regulation.

The conference provided a valuable opportunity for NMBI to share its experience, learn from international colleagues and contribute to discussions on the future of professional regulation.

Our CEO, Carolyn Donohoe and Board Secretariat, Orla Coady recently attended the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) meeting at Stormont Hotel in Belfast, to share regulatory experience for better safer patient care.

The Council is the governing body of the NMC and sets the standards for nurses and midwives in the UK.

We would like to thank the NMC and CEO, Paul Rees for inviting NMBI to join them. Collaboration and shared experience are key to success for better safer patient care through effective regulation. Thanks also to Maria McIlgorm, Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland who provided excellent strategic insights.

We would like to remind all registrants and candidates to ensure that their contact details are correct and up to date. 

From time to time, NMBI will need to contact you and therefore it is important that your contact information including your postal address, email address, phone number and employment details are up to date. 

We would advise that you log into your account on MyNMBI and check that all your information is correct. If any of your contact information changes, you should ensure that you update your details on the portal within 30 days. 

This is a legal requirement under Section 53 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, as amended. 

On 19 September, we were delighted to speak at the Migrant Nurses Ireland Conference at The Richmond, Dublin. 

Patricia Nolan, Executive Officer in our Education, Policy and Standards Department spoke at the conference about the valuable contribution that migrant nurses make to our health service. Ireland's healthcare system benefits enormously from the knowledge, expertise, cultural diversity, and commitment that internationally educated nurses bring to patient care. She also highlighted our primary responsibility to protect the public by promoting high standards of professional practice and how the updated Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives is an important resource for all nurses and midwives. 

The event also heard from the Minister for Health, Jennifer Carroll MacNeill; the Indian Ambassador to Ireland, H.E. Manish Gupta; the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation; the Royal College of Nursing, UK and An Garda Síochána. 

Pictured (L to R): Phil Ní Sheaghdha, INMO General Secretary; Bejoy Sebastian, President of the Royal College of Nursing UK; H.E.Manish Gupta, Indian Ambassador to Ireland; Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister for Health; Gráinne Sheeran, Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health; Patricia Nolan, NMBI Executive Officer

NMBI continues to engage with Migrant Nurses Ireland to ensure we can continuously improve the service we provide.

Karn Cliffe, our Director of Midwifery and Christine Hughes, Professional Advisor from our Fitness to Practise Department recently met with Midwife Managers from Dublin and the Midlands maternity units in The Coombe Hospital in Dublin.

During the information session, Karn introduced the recently revised Practice Standards for NMBI Registered Midwives, which are underpinned by the principles of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives and the International Confederation of Midwives (ICM) definition of a Midwife. The standards for registered midwives set out the knowledge, skills, and professional behaviours expected of midwives at the point of registration, having successfully completed a programme of Midwifery Education, and the expected standards for ongoing competence and professional development.    

Christine provided an overview of the complaints process and our commitment to a more compassionate approach for everyone involved in the process as well as the supports that are available. The workshop focused on a real midwifery case from the UK that generated robust and insightful discussion amongst the participants. The workshop was very well evaluated showing the need for ongoing engagement with midwifery colleagues. 

We would like to thank everyone who attended the session and we look forward to meeting them in the future.

Nurses and midwives across Ireland maintain regulatory compliance whilst managing intensive clinical workloads on a daily basis. Our October NMBI Voice podcast explores the soon to be launched Professional Competence Scheme (PCS). 

Host Kathyann Barrett invites Mary Devane, NMBI Professional Officer and PCS lead, alongside St Francis Hospice colleagues Mairead MacDonagh and Rachelle Reyes, to share their first-hand experiences of the scheme pilot and preparation for the upcoming nationwide rollout.  

We hear how nurses and midwives are already undertaking continual professional development and how the PCS we be the process of recording and monitoring professional competence. Hear the full discussion in our October episode of NMBI Voice on the Professional Competence Scheme Pilot. 

The episode will air on 5 October and will be available on Apple, Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts. 

The Commission of Investigation into the Handling of Historical Child Sexual Abuse in Schools will launch a national survey in Autumn 2026 to examine how concerns about child sexual abuse were handled in Irish schools between 1927 and 2013. 

The survey will give survivors, witnesses and family members an opportunity to share information confidentially. Responses will help inform the next stages of the Commission's investigation.  

The Commission was established following the publication of the Scoping Inquiry into Historical Sexual Abuse in Day and Boarding Schools Run by Religious Orders. It will identify and investigate the failures by schools to respond to concerns of child sexual abuse in a way that adequately protected children, as well as examining the handling by An Garda Síochána, the Health Service Executive and the Department of Education.  

Further information about the Commission, its work and upcoming survey is available on the Commission's website.

The European Commission is conducting an EU-wide study and is seeking feedback on conversion practices in relation to LGBTIQ+ people in the European Union.

It looks at how professionals across different fields encounter and understand practices that may aim to change, suppress or discourage the gender a person identifies with, who they are attracted to, or how they express their gender.

They aim to hear a diversity of views on this topic. They would like to hear from professionals with a wide range of experiences, opinions and levels of familiarity with these questions.

The survey takes about 15–20 minutes to complete and is open until 23 October.

You can share your views through by clicking here.