We have published our State of the Register 2024 Report. As of 1 June 2024, there were 89,496 nurses and midwives registered with NMBI. This represents a 5% increase on the same time period from the previous year and is the largest number of registrants ever held by NMBI.

84,213 nurses and midwives state that they are currently practising and 76,054 state they are patient-facing.

This is the third year that NMBI has published the State of the Register. Over the three-year period, the number of registered, practising and patient-facing nurses has increased. Since the Report in 2023, the number of practising nurses and midwives has increased by 6% (4,724) and the number who are patient-facing has increased by 7% (5,085).

Most divisions have seen an increase in the number of registered, practising and patient-facing nurses and midwives. The largest increase was in the number of registered General Nurses, up 6% (4,169). Children’s Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses both saw a 1% increase with Children's Nurses up by 52 and Psychiatric Nurses up by 113. 

While the overall number of registered Intellectual Disability Nurses has declined slightly by 0.2% (12), more importantly, the number of practising and patient-facing in this division has increased with an additional 1% (28) practising and 2% (78) patient-facing. This is also true in the Midwives division which was down overall by 3% (269), while the number of Midwives practising increased by 1% (59) and patient-facing increased by 3% (106).

There has been a 14% increase in the number of new nurses and midwives joining the Register year on year.  At the time of reporting there were 7,120 new registrants, which includes nurses and midwives who qualified in Ireland, the EU and non-EU countries.

As with last year, most new registrants came from non-EU countries, which includes the UK since 2022. The top countries of education of new overseas registrants were India (3,717), Philippines (828), United Kingdom (281) and Ghana (191).

Since 2023, there has been a 20% (159) increase in the number of Advanced Nurse Practitioners and a 23% (7) increase in Advanced Midwife Practitioners. Nurse Prescribers have increased by 16% (359), and Midwife Prescribers by 27% (22). The number of Public Health Nurses also increased by 1% (27).

Minister for Health, Stephen Donnelly commented on the report, stating, “Year on year, the number of new registrants has increased by over 14%. The number of nurses and midwives registered with the NMBI has never been higher and this report reflects the continued growth in the professions which this Government has supported over the last 4 years.

“I welcome the notable increase in the number of registrations in the advanced practice divisions. Advance Practice is an important career pathway for nurses and midwives and the continued growth in registrants reflects the ongoing investment from this Government in supporting these career opportunities.”

Chief Nursing Officer, Rachel Kenna, added, “For the third year in a row, the data from this Report is providing valuable information for policy makers. Working in partnership with the NMBI and other regulators is a key step for the Department in terms of overseeing flexible and innovative approaches to regulation that supports nursing and midwifery professionals and enhances public safety.”

NMBI President, Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride, said: “This report offers a comprehensive overview of the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland and aims to inform positive change within the healthcare sector for the benefit of the professions and the public. The data in this report is essential to our stakeholders for future planning and provides insights into the emerging trends in the Irish healthcare system. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank our registered nurses and our registered midwives for their continued commitment and dedication.”

NMBI Interim Chief Executive, Carolyn Donohoe, remarked, “The 2024 State of the Register paints a positive picture and is a valuable tool for workforce planners, policymakers and our stakeholders, as they work to improve healthcare in Ireland and ensure that it benefits the public now and in the future. It is encouraging to see that our Register continues to grow and is at the highest level it has ever been.”

The State of the Register 2024 report provides an in-depth look into the registration data for the nursing and midwifery professions in Ireland. It is available for download on the NMBI website.

The data is based on the information collected by NMBI as part of the annual renewal process. Data is compared annually in June each year and covers the 12-month period from 1 June 2023 to 31 May 2024.

Earlier this month, we held our inaugural Student Nurse Ambassador Forum.

The event was a unique opportunity for undergraduate student nurses to meet with NMBI and understand the role of the regulator in supporting them throughout their careers. Lecturers from each education body were also invited to attend and support students. The Student Nurse Ambassadors will partner with NMBI in promoting the profession of nursing, as well as participate in NMBI events throughout the year. 

Opening the Forum, NMBI President Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride said: “We hope that our Student Nurse Ambassadors will become a strong and active network to collaborate with NMBI and foster ongoing student engagement. By bringing together student nurses, educators and the regulator, we believe our Forum will prove to be an enabling environment where we can exchange ideas and engage in meaningful dialogue. 

“The Student Nurse Ambassadors demonstrate commitment to the profession and to continuous learning throughout their careers. I believe they will inspire the next generation of students interested in a career that makes a difference,” she said.

Pictured (L to R) from NMBI: Áine Lynch, Vice-President and Director of Nursing at Tallaght University Hospital; Lorraine Clarke Bishop, Professional Officer: Orla Crowe, Director of Fitness to Practise; Carolyn Donohoe, Interim Chief Executive, Carolyn Donohoe; Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride, President; Dr Ray Healy, Director of Registration; Kathyann Barrett, Head of Operations; Mary Devane, Professional Officer and Dr Karn Cliffe, Director of Professional Standards - Midwifery and Interim Head of Education

21 student nurses from the four primary nursing divisions, General Nursing; General and Children’s Nursing; Mental Health Nursing and Intellectual Disability Nursing, attended the forum from the higher education institutions.  

Speakers at the event included NMBI Interim Chief Executive, Carolyn Donohoe; Dr Ray Healy, Director of Registration; Dr Karn Cliffe, Director of Professional Standards - Midwifery and Interim Head of Education; Mary Devane, Professional Officer, Education; Orla Crowe, Director of Fitness to Practise and Kathyann Barrett, Head of Operations.  

Pictured above: Carolyn Donohoe and Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride with Student Nurse Ambassador, Inderdeep Kaur and her lecturer 

The student nurses participated in a series of round table discussions on topics such as the priorities for student nurses/new graduates and the state of nursing in Ireland. They also shared their thoughts on the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives. 

NMBI Interim Chief Executive, Carolyn Donohoe said “The Forum provides an opportunity for NMBI to listen to the views of students about to embark on their careers in nursing.” 

Áine Lynch, NMBI Vice-President and Director of Nursing at Tallaght University Hospital brought proceedings to a close. “The importance of the Student Nurse Ambassador Forum is the creation of a strong relationship between the regulator and student nurses, while empowering student nurses to take ownership of shaping their professional futures,” she said. 

Pictured above: Carolyn Donohoe and Áine Lynch with Student Nurse Ambassadors, Aaron O'Sullivan and Brooke O'Connor 

We would like to remind registrants that the 2025 annual registration renewal window is open and you can renew until 31 January 2025.  

To date, more than 24,000 nurses and midwives have completed their annual registration renewal. 

We would like to thank everyone who has completed the process and we encourage those who have yet to renew, to do so as soon as possible.  

Renewals must be done through our online portal, MyNMBI. We cannot accept annual renewal payments by phone. Renewing online is easy and only takes a few minutes to complete. You can renew on your mobile however, we recommend that you use a laptop or desktop for the best experience. 

Student nurses and midwives, as well as those who have registered for the first time, on or after 1 September 2024, are not required to renew until the 2026 annual renewal cycle.  

We have developed several useful guides to assist you through the process. They can be found on our website. 

If you need support, please call 0818 200 116 (+353 818 200 116 from outside Ireland), Monday to Friday 9am - 5:30pm or email our Registration Department at regservices@nmbi.ie. 

You can voluntarily remove your name from the Register of Nurses and Midwives on MyNMBI, free of charge until 31 January 2025. More information about the voluntarily removal process can be found on our website.  

Your annual registration fee goes towards our work to support nurses and midwives to provide the highest standards of professional practice. Through our registration, education and guidance, and fitness to practise functions we enhance the safety of service users. Further information about the work we do can be found on our website.   

Guidance for programme providers on awarding Continuing Professional Development (CPD) hours is now available on our website.

The documents provide guidance on two pathways:

1. Short course pathway: this is where programme providers are guided on how they may award CPD hours for a range of educational activities.
2. Competency-based programme pathway: this is where programme providers are guided on submission criteria required to apply for NMBI programme approval.

CPD is how nurses and midwives continue to learn, develop and maintain their knowledge, skills and behaviours to provide quality, safe and effective care. 

Each individual nurse or midwife is responsible for undertaking relevant CPD activities to develop and maintain their professional practice. NMBI recognises that a core principle for practising nurses and midwives is to engage in lifelong learning. 

The guidance is now available on our website.

Earlier this month, our President, Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride spoke to attendees at the annual conference of the Irish Association of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners (IAANMP) in Portlaoise.

Louise delivered the opening address along with Deputy Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health, Kelly Mofflin.

Louise also took part in an expert panel discussion which examined the topic of 'modernising healthcare using an advanced practice model. Also on the panel were Melissa Hammond, RANP; Dr Emily Lockwood, RANP; Dr Geraldine Shaw, ONMSD Director; Sandra McCarthy, DON Lead in Integrated Care and Dr Michelle Acorn, CEO of the Nurse Practitioners’ Association of Ontario, Canada.

The IAANMP was established to provide a forum to support and promote advanced nursing and midwifery practice in Ireland and this year, the conference celebrated its 20^th anniversary.

The event provided an opportunity to hear the views and experiences of ANPs and AMPs practising in Ireland.

Last month, our President, Dr Louise Kavanagh McBride, took part in a panel discussion at the Regional Nursing and Midwifery Research Conference in Galway.

During the discussion, Louise spoke about the importance of nursing and midwifery led research and how it improves patient outcomes and shapes healthcare policies.

Nursing and midwifery led research empowers registrants to contribute to scientific knowledge, influence healthcare policies and enhance health initiatives.

The panel discussion was facilitated by Professor Michael Kerin, Director of the Cancer Managed Clinical Academic Network (MCAN). Panel members included Professor Jane Coad, Professor in Children and Family Nursing, Coventry University; Paul Hooton, Chief Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Saolta Group; Dr Geraldine Shaw, Assistant National Director at the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director (ONMSD); Professor Martin O’Donnell, Professor of Neurovascular Medicine at NUI Galway, and Consultant Geriatrician at University Hospital Galway, and Ann Cosgrove, Chief Operations Officer at the HSE.

Members of NMBI recently hosted the Senior Nursing and Midwifery Executive Programme. 

The event is the first part of a two day programme designed to enhance skills among senior nurses and midwives. With the aim of preventing fitness to practise cases from arising, the programme focuses on strategic thinking, decision-making, communication and team building. The programme blends theoretical learning with practical applications and case studies. 

The first day focussed on clinical risk, with expertise from the State Claims Agency and medical negligence, delivered by Hayes on how to potentially reduce this risk going forward. This was followed by discussions and case studies on serious incidents leading to fitness to practise. 

The day was hosted by senior members of NMBI, including our Director of Registration, Dr Ray Healy; Director of Fitness to Practise, Orla Crowe; Liaison Officer, Niamh McDonald; Professional Officer, Education, Lorraine Clarke Bishop; Director of Education, Policy and Standards – Midwifery, Dr Karn Cliffe and our Interim CEO, Carolyn Donohoe.

The second day of the programme will be held in early 2025.

We are inviting registrants to apply to become a committee member of the Education, Training and Standards Committee. 

There is one committee member seat available. Registrant applicants must hold current registration with NMBI as a nurse and/or as a midwife. Ideally, they should also have knowledge of both acute and community services.

How to apply 

1. Read the information booklet carefully. 
2. Submit a cover letter quoting your NMBI PIN and setting out your suitability for the role. 
3. Attach a CV of not more than two pages including the names and contact details of two referees (not related to you). 
4. Return by email to Orla Coady at ocoady@nmbi.ie  before 12 noon on Tuesday, 3 December 2024.