We have published the first Graduate Entry General Nurse Registration Education Programme Standards and Requirements for education bodies and their practice partners.
The publication provides the first education pathway in Ireland for people who already hold a National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) level 8 undergraduate bachelor’s degree and wish to complete an education programme leading to registration as a general nurse.
The standards set out that the programme will be delivered over a minimum of two calendar years, covering the following areas for study:
- Professional values and nurse conduct competencies
- Nursing practice and clinical decision-making competencies
- Knowledge and cognitive competencies
- Communication and interpersonal competencies
- Management and team competencies
- Leadership potential and professional scholarship competencies.
Launching the standards, our CEO Sheila McClelland said: “We are keenly aware in NMBI that we are experiencing a shortage of workers across the Irish healthcare sector. A key priority for us, as set out in our new Statement of Strategy 2023-2025, is to review the entry pathways into nursing and midwifery and try to establish alternative routes into the professions. Graduate entry nursing is a positive development which will open up the career to a wider audience and allow for a more diverse nursing workforce.
“The standards set out that a graduate entry nursing general education programme will aim to ensure that graduates will be equipped with the essential knowledge, values, attitude and skills necessary to be a competent and professional Registered General Nurse on completion of the programme.
“The standards and requirements we developed aim to support education bodies and their practice partners to develop high-quality training and education for graduate entry nursing to ensure quality and safe services to all patients. They also provide guidance for people considering entering nursing as a graduate on what to expect from the education programme.
“I would like to thank everyone who has involved in the development of these standards and requirements, including registered nurses and midwives, heads of nursing and academic curriculum leads, practice partners, and public representative groups. We look forward to working with all stakeholders as they develop the first programmes for approval by NMBI.”
The standards and requirements are now available on our website.
