We would like to remind registrants that the 2024 annual registration renewal window is open and you can renew up to 31 January 2024.

To renew your registration, you must complete the process through our online portal, MyNMBI. The renewal process is easy and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. To date, more than 16,000 nurses and midwives have completed their annual registration.

While the annual renewal window is open until 31 January 2024, we encourage registrants to login and renew online as soon as possible.

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

When completing the process, please ensure that all contact information is up to date, including address, email address and phone number. This is a legal requirement under Section 53 of the Nurses and Midwives Act, as amended.

There is an annual fee of €100 for renewing your registration. You can pay online using a debit or credit card and we would like to remind registrants that we no longer accept renewal payments by phone. The annual renewal 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
• Investigating complaints made against registrants.

Please note that student nurses and student midwives are not required to renew. Any nurses or midwives who have registered for the first time on or after 1 September are not required to renew until the 2025 annual renewal cycle.

We have developed several useful guides to assist registrants through the annual renewal process which can be accessed through the links below. Further details can be found on the Annual Renewal page of our website.

• Annual Renewal video guide
• 2024 Annual Registration Renewal Guide
• Frequently Asked Questions

For those who require assistance to complete the renewal process, please call 0818 200 116 (+353 818 200 116 from outside Ireland), open Monday to Friday 9am - 5:30pm or email our Registration Department at regservices@nmbi.ie.

Registration is open for the fourth and final event in the NMBI Series 2023 – Partnership in Practice in Dundalk on Wednesday, 22 November.    

The event is part of a series which NMBI has been jointly hosting in collaboration with HSE Centres for Nursing and Midwifery Education (CNMEs) in Waterford, Tralee, Galway and Dundalk.  

The series has focused on education and continuing professional development opportunities for nurses and midwives; health and wellbeing; State of the Nursing and Midwifery Register and NMBI’s Fitness to Practise process. 

Three events were held in September in Waterford, Tralee and Galway.

The NMBI Series is free to attend. You can find out more and register for the final event through the Events page of our website. 

A full report and video recording of each event will be available once the series concludes.

Our annual National Student Midwife Debate was held on 10 November at University College Dublin. The event was hosted by the UCD School of Nursing, Midwifery and Health Sciences. The debate was organised in conjunction with the six education bodies that provide midwifery education.

The motion for debate was ‘This house believes that midwives will meet all needs of women’s reproductive health within Irish society.’ Six student midwives, one from each of the six education bodies, competed in two teams to debate the motion with one student midwife voted Best Speaker.

The speakers debating for the motion were Clodagh Vaughan, representing Dundalk Institute of Technology; Ann Nwagwu, representing University College Dublin and Andrea Pasztor representing University of Limerick. The speakers debating against the motion Aryth Stryker, representing University College Cork; Suzanne O’Toole representing Trinity College Dublin and Shannon McHugh representing University of Galway.

Pictured (Top row L to R): Shannon McHugh, UG; Suzanne O’Toole, TCD and Aryth Stryker, UCC

(Bottom row L to R): Andrea Pasztor, UL; Clodagh Vaughan, DkIT and Ann Nwagwu, UCD

Shannon McHugh, studying midwifery at University of Galway won the prize for Best Speaker at the debate, while the team who spoke against the motion were judged to be the Winning Team.

Pictured (L to R): Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride, NMBI President; Shannon McHugh, winner of the Best Speaker award and Sheila McClelland, NMBI CEO

Opening the debate, NMBI President, Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride, said: “This NMBI National Student Midwife Debate takes place annually to allow students to engage and collaborate whilst practise their debating skills on topical issues of relevance to midwifery. Student midwives have a unique opportunity to broaden their knowledge and understanding of the profession of midwifery as they research the topic in preparation for the debate. While we often talk about care, compassion, and competence in midwifery - communications is also key. The speakers this afternoon showcased their exceptional communication and presentation skills. I am confident that these future midwives will go on to make an important meaningful contribution in advocating for women and delivering excellent care in their chosen careers ahead. Well done again to all six student midwives today.”

“I would particularly like to congratulate Shannon McHugh on winning the award for Best Speaker. Shannon spoke with such conviction and passion against the motion,” she said. 

Pictured (L to R): Shannon McHugh, Best Speaker 2023 and Khayla Timothy, Best Speaker 2022

The prizes to the winning team and the best speaker were presented by Dr Margaret Murphy, Chair of the NMBI Midwives Committee and Khayla Timothy, a student midwife at University of Limerick and winner of the best speaker award at last year’s NMBI National Student Midwife Debate 2022.

The judging panel was comprised of Loraine Mulligan, Member of the Midwives Committee, NMBI; Georgina Farren, Barrister-at-Law, formerly NMBI; Sinéad Heaney, Midwife Advisor, The Chief Nursing Officer and Professional Regulation Division and Angela Dunne, National Lead Midwife, HSE’s National Women and Infant’s Health Programme. 

Pictured (L to R): Angela Dunne; Loraine Mulligan; Shannon McHugh; Sinéad Heaney and Georgina Farren

Speaking at the event, Barrister and midwife, Georgina Farren outlined how midwives can be armed with a better sense of professional security. While Dr Caroline Munyi, Migrant Women’s Health Co-ordinator, AkiDwA, spoke on the care of women with Female Genital Mutilation within maternity services.

Those in attendance also heard from Sheila McClelland, NMBI CEO; Dr Karn Cliffe, NMBI Midwife Project Lead; Associate Professor Barbara Coughlan, Head of Subject Midwifery, at the UCD School of Nursing and Health Science, UCD; Katie White, a student currently studying on the Higher Diploma in Midwifery programme at UCD and Angela Dunne, National Lead Midwife, HSE’s National Women and Infant’s Health Programme.

Pictured (Back row L to R): Barbara Coughlan; Angela Dunne and Dr Margaret Murphy

(Font row L to R): Sheila McClelland; Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride; Georgina Farren; Katie White; Dr Caroline Munyi, and Dr Karn Cliffe

This year’s debate was held at the Fitzgerald Debating Theatre, UCD and streamed online.

NMBI’s Registration Committee has decided to extend the period of validity for English Language test results for a defined cohort of applicants. 

This is in response to requests from applicants who were impacted by recent ATWS visa issues, and with the aim of supporting more nurses and midwives to join our Register and become part of the Irish healthcare workforce. 

A three-month extension is now available for applicants who meet all the following requirements:

• Have previously passed an English language test with a satisfactory score.
• Have a test which expired within three months of application for registration.
• Have evidence of delay in application due to ATWS issues (evidence of rejections in 2023).
• Have successfully completed a compensation measure in 2023.

To register with NMBI, all applicants are required to have the necessary knowledge and competency in English to communicate effectively and safely in their practice. This requirement is important in our role in protecting service users and the broader public.

NMBI recognises both the International English Language Test System (IELTS) and Occupational English Test (OET) and verified test providers. IELTS and OET are valid for two years across all Irish regulators, as well as Canadian, Australian, American and UK regulators. This is also the standard validation period across immigration services internationally.  

For more information, please see the English language requirements section of our website.

NMBI continues to support applicants from outside of Ireland who wish to join the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We are keen to register more nurses and midwives to meet the demands of the health sector, while ensuring that all nurses and midwives working in Ireland provide excellent quality of care.  

Last month our Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy and Director of Fitness to Practise, Orla Crowe spoke at the Annual Conference of the Irish Association of Directors of Nursing and Midwifery (IADNAM).  

The title of this year’s conference, which took place on 5 and 6 October in Sligo, was ‘Healthcare at a Crossroads; Leadership, Integration and Consensus for the future’. 

Ray provided an update on the State of NMBI’s Register. Orla provided some up-to-date information on the Fitness to Practise process and outlined the Compassion Project initiative.   

Among the speakers at the conference were Rachel Kenna, Chief Nursing Officer at Department of Health; Bernard Gloster, CEO of the HSE and Dr Colm Henry, Chief Clinical Officer at the HSE.

Our Director of Education, Policy and Standards, Carolyn Donohoe took part in a panel discussion at the National Patient Safety Office (NPSO) Conference 2023 on 19 October.

Pictured (L to R): Seán Egan, Professor Catherine McHugh; Bernie O’Reilly, Carolyn Donohoe; Maurice O’Donnell; Lorraine Schwanberg; Angela Tysall and Georgia Cruise

The conference offers a forum for health professionals, regulators, policy makers, educators, researchers, health service managers and patient representatives to areas of quality, patient safety and clinical effectiveness.

The panel, chaired by Kate O’Flaherty, NPSO Director, discussed the Next Steps for Open Disclosure which was followed by a questions and answers session. Carolyn discussed the importance of role of nurses and midwives within the multidisciplinary team and having the confidence to speak up and follow up when things don’t always go right in healthcare. One way put forward of strengthening our professions is to engage in inter-disciplinary learning from day one of our education as students to enable every member of the team to feel that their voice is valued and respected.

Joining Carolyn on the panel discussion were:

• Bernie O’Reilly, Representative from Patients for Patient Safety Ireland
• Maurice O’Donnell, Head of Patient Safety Legislation and Advocacy, NPSO
• Lorraine Schwanberg, HSE Assistant National Director, QPSIM (Incident Management, Open Disclosure and NIMS)
• Angela Tysall, HSE General Manager National Open Disclosure Office, Quality and Patient Safety Directorate
• Georgina Cruise, National Manager of the Patient Advocacy Service
• Seán Egan, Director of Healthcare Regulation, Health Information and Quality Authority (HIQA)
• Professor Catherine McHugh, Open Disclosure Champion, Consultant Endocrinologist at Sligo University Hospital.

Attendees also heard from Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly; Rachel Kenna, Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health; Robert Watt, Secretary General, Department of Health and Bernard Gloster, HSE CEO.

NMBI is seeking expressions of interest from registered midwives and lay members of the public to participate in the work of its Fitness to Practise Committees.

Preliminary Proceedings Committee
We are seeking expressions of interest from registered midwives only to participate in the work of the Preliminary Proceedings Committee.

Registered midwife applicants must hold current registration in the Midwives Division of the Register with NMBI.

Fitness to Practise Committee
We are seeking expressions of interest from lay members of the public only to participate in the work of the Fitness to Practise Committee.

Lay members must not be, and never have been, registered as a nurse or as a midwife in this or in any jurisdiction.
 
How to apply

Download and read the relevant information booklet:

• Preliminary Proceedings Committee booklet
• Fitness to Practise Committee booklet
• Submit a cover letter setting out your suitability for membership of the committee including how you meet the required criteria.
• Attach a CV of not more than two pages including the names and contact details of two referees (not related to you).
• Return by email to Orla Coady at ocoady@nmbi.ie

 The closing date for applications is Monday, 27 November 2023 at 3pm.

Preliminary Proceedings Committee
The PPC is a statutory committee of NMBI established under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, as amended. The role of the PPC is to consider complaints referred to it under this Act. The committee may investigate complaints and form an opinion as to whether or not further action is warranted. The PPC must act in accordance with Part 7 of the Act and any agreed procedures. More information is available here.

Fitness to Practise Committee
The FTPC is a statutory committee of NMBI established under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. This committee considers complaints which are referred to it by the PPC. More information is available here.

Data protection
NMBI will process any personal data provided by you in connection with an application for this role in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Acts 2018. The data will be kept for no longer than is necessary for the purposes for which that data is processed, and it shall be kept in a manner that ensure appropriate security of the data including the unauthorised or unlawful processing of data.

If your application is successful for this role, then your personal data will continue to be processed in accordance with the specified reason of the vacancy for which you have applied and your data will not be held longer than is necessary.

NMBI may disclose the data that you provided in your application to external sources for the following reasons: where there is an external assessor assisting in the shortlisting or during interviews for the vacancy to which you have applied, and to internal and external auditors.

Earlier this year, NMBI launched an emotional support service for our registrants and witnesses during the Fitness to Practice (FTP) process.  

NMBI understands that the FTP process can be a stressful time and the support service is part of our commitment to provide a more compassionate approach for everyone involved in the process.  

The emotional support careline is provided in collaboration with CiC, a leading Employee Assistance Programme provider. This is a freephone service, available 24/7, that enables those involved to speak with a qualified counsellor about any aspect of the FTP procedure. The support line is available to any nurse, midwife, nursing associate or witness going through the FTP process and any NMBI employee and committee member who may be adversely affected by a case or contact with a registrant. 

Details on how to access the service as well as information on other organisations and agencies in Ireland that can provide advocacy or support services is available on our website. 

Our Director of Fitness to Practise, Orla Crowe and a member of our PPC division presented to the Nurses Executive Meeting at St James’s Hospital on 25 October.

The session outlined the updates to the Fitness to Practise process and provided recent examples of cases. The interactive session allowed participants to ask questions relating to fitness to practise matters and our team were happy to answer.

The information session is part of our fitness to practise outreach programme and we intend to hold follow up sessions with staff nurses on the Code.