Resources and references for nurses and midwives
The following are resources and references that are of assistance to nurses, midwives, students and others.
Children and young people
The HSE publishes a wide variety of guidance, strategy and policy documents in the publications section of its website. For details of the future National Children’s Hospital see the New Children's Hospital website.
Community health care
The HSE has completed this review of community health care organisations.
Department of Health
You can download the Department of Health’s policy on health and wellbeing (Department of Health (2014) Healthy Ireland: A framework for improved health and wellbeing - 2013 – 2025 from this section of its website (PDF, 4.7MB).
Disability services
The HSE publishes a wide variety of guidance, strategy and policy documents on intellectual, sensory and physical disabilities in its publications section.
HSE nursing and midwifery reports
The Health Services Executive (HSE) publishes reports, guidelines and other documentation for the Irish nursing and midwifery professions in the Corporate Reports section of its website. On the Corporate Reports section of the HSE website, select "Nursing and Midwifery Services" from the dropdown menu.
Legislation governing nursing and midwifery professions
Full details of all Irish legislation and statutory instruments of relevance to the nursing and midwifery professions are available on the Irish Statute Book website. The site provides the full text of the Nursing and Midwives Act, 2011, the 1985 Nurses Act and statutory instruments, including Nurses Rules. Visit the Irish Statute Book website.
Mental health and suicide prevention
The HSE publishes a wide variety of guidance, strategy and policy documents on mental health and suicide prevention on this section of its website.
You can find out more about the Department of Health strategy for reform of mental health services in Ireland. The HSE has published a strategy for implementation of Vision for Change for mental health nurses in the following report by the Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director - A Vision for Psychiatric / Mental Health Nursing: A shared journey for mental health care in Ireland. Strategic Policy Framework.
Download the strategy document 9PDF (4.3MB).
Maternity services and midwifery
The HSE publishes guidance on maternity services in Ireland.
National disability databases
The Health Research Board publishes the National Intellectual Disability Database annually. It is also responsible for the National Physical and Sensory Disability Databases.
National qualifications framework
The Qualifications and Quality Ireland (QQI) gives further guidance on the National Framework of Qualifications.
Nursing and midwifery services
The Office of the Nursing and Midwifery Services Director of the HSE gives guidance on nursing and midwifery roles and professional development.
Nurse / midwife prescriptive authority
The HSE published a national strategy for nurse / midwife prescribing (1.9MB). More details may be found on how to become a nurse / midwife prescriber on this section of the HSE website.
Nurse prescribing of ionising radiation (X-Ray)
The HSE publishes guidance and policy documents on nurse prescribing of ionising radiation and details of how to apply for courses for nurse prescriptive authority of ionising radiation.
Older people services
The HSE publishes a wide variety of guidance, strategy and policy documents on care of older persons.
Postgraduate education
The HSE gives details of postgraduate education and continuing professional development opportunities through the Centres for Nursing / Midwifery Education.
Primary care
The HSE publishes a wide variety of guidance, strategy and policy documents on primary care.