FAQ Repository

What do I enter if I work in two different places?

If you are currently working at more than one workplace you should include the details of your primary workplace.

Are Registered Nurse Prescribers allowed to prescribe MDA/controlled drugs?

Yes. Registered Nurse Prescribers can prescribe controlled drugs independently, but they are subject to abiding by Schedule 8 of the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulations of 2007 for restrictions for MDA Schedule 2 and 3 drugs. 

It should be noted that  the Department of Health are currently reviewing the MDA Schedule 8 listing with a view for its expansion for RNPs. For further information visit this section of the Department of Health website.

Are registered nurses and midwives required by NMBI to double-check medications as part of their role in administering medications?

Firstly, it is appropriate to clarify what is meant by double-checking. An independent, double check of any medicines is termed independent verification. The nurse or midwife conducts their own calculation of the medicines and then compares with a colleague.
 
It is recognised that there are circumstances in care settings where the nurse or midwife is not working alongside other nurses or midwives – for example, working in the community, residential care units or on night duty. Double-checking the administration of medicines is not a statutory requirement. You may consider asking another nurse or midwife colleague to double-check a medicine if you determine that assistance is needed.
 
For patient safety and risk management purposes, health service providers may have a policy for independent verification of medicines, particularly for those that are considered high-alert (such as insulin, heparin and chemotherapy) or that require complex calculations in preparation for administration.  

Are there any other factors that need to be considered in improving the standards of recording keeping?

You should consider including a review of local guidelines and policy on clinical record keeping as part of the audit process. You should discuss with your Director of Nursing a process and plan for examining and improving nursing staff documentation.  

As a nurse with concerns about a request by my line manager to be redeployed to another ward, how should I go about exploring those concerns with my manager?

You can raise the following points for exploring the concerns you have with your manager (and any other relevant individuals) about safe professional practice caring for patients in a different environment from your current practice setting.  

1. Assessment of your own learning needs for the competencies required for caring for patients in the particular setting you are asked to work in. The Standards and Requirements of the Nurse Education Programmes may be a good starting point to examine specific nursing competencies and knowledge relating to the various nursing divisions of the Register.  

2. Organisational and nursing supports that you can use for developing the competencies to provide safe care. These supports may include professional development opportunities such as the nursing practice development department, Centre of Nurse Education, NMPDU and the organisation and specific patient units Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines (PPPGs). Ask about the resources and availability of the nursing staff and other health care professionals to assist you in assessing, planning, providing and evaluating the care specific to the needs of the patient population. They may include other members of the healthcare team, such as ANPs, CNSs, and medical staff.

3. Appropriate review and assessment of the patient(s) for planning care which addresses the general and specific health needs of patients. This should be a multidisciplinary approach referring to the various specialities as identified.   

4. Establishment of communication structures and processes between staff and management to regularly review and discuss changes in practice and nursing care responsibilities within the work environment and specific patient units. The opportunities for orientation, preceptorship and peer support are also important to explore when you transition to a different practice environment.  

5. Reference to national standards established by the HSE, HIQA or other statutory bodies. There may be particular standards that may direct care requirements and staff competencies.

As a public health nurse, I usually work on my own and have to rely on clients or family members to check medication with us. I have concerns about patients who receive drugs through a syringe driver, especially MDA Schedule 2 controlled drugs. Are public health nurses supposed to have two nurses with us when dealing with these drugs?

There are a number of key points to consider in addressing your concern. Does your health service provider have a medicine management policy that includes the management of controlled drugs? If so it should be used in association with current medicines legislation and the NMBI’s guidance on medicine management to guide your practice.

NMBI acknowledges that local need may dictate specific Policies, Procedures Protocols and Guidelines(PPPGs) authorising the practices of individuals involved with medicines. The local health service provider policy may require two persons to conduct the administration of MDA drugs. The checking, preparation, administration or destruction of these drugs by two individuals may also be mandated for in the policy. However there is no legal requirement for controlled drugs to be checked and/or administered by two individuals. 

In your situation, in the community, it may be apt for you to ask the client (if appropriate) or a family member to witness the checking of the prescribed medication. Clear and direct communication with the client and their family about your role and responsibilities for medicine management should be undertaken at the initial stage of caring for the individual.
 
If you identify concerns about medicine practices including MDA use, either from your point of view, the client or family it may be helpful to organise a team meeting to openly talk about these issues. Maintaining good clinical records are also essential in providing care safely and effectively. You should read the NMBI’s guidance for recording clinical practice. 

As children’s nurses in a busy paediatric unit, we are constantly receiving telephone queries from concerned parents and caregivers about the illness of their infants and children. We are concerned about the basis on which we give advice to the parents by telephone.

The concepts of accountability, autonomy and competency within the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework can be used to guide you in determining your scope of practice in relation to telephone inquiries. 

You must practice within the limit of your own competence and assist parents/clients to make informed decisions. For each individual situation you will need to consider the overall benefit and best interests of the infant's or child's care and safety. 

If you are not competent to carry out a particular role or function, then to do so would be outside your scope of practice and would be in breach of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. When a nurse or midwife makes a judgement that they are competent to carry out a particular role or function then they are fully accountable for that decision and any subsequent actions.

The development of polices and protocols to advise and support the staff should be taken at local level taking cognisance of the Code and the Scope Framework. The HSE resources on the development of policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPGs)  may also be of benefit and inform in the development of local policies and protocols.  

Another resource is the National Clinical Effectiveness Committee’s Standards for Clinical Practice Guidance 

Can I catheterise male patients? I have never done this before and it was not part of my nurse training.

You must make a judgement about whether you are competent to carry out this function. Competence is understood as the “attainment of knowledge, intellectual capacities, practice skills, integrity and professional and ethical values required for safe, accountable and effective practice as a registered nurse or registered midwife.” For further definitions, visit our glossary of terms.

For many nurses catheterising male patients is an expansion of practice and this must occur within the context of the definitions of nursing and midwifery. It is recommended that a local policy and a clinical guideline be devised and put in place in the clinical area. 

An evidence-based policy and guideline, which also addresses patient consent, needs to be developed. Due to the nature of the practice, there needs to be interdisciplinary involvement in terms of developing the policy/guideline and the training and assessment process. Appropriate education, training and competence assessment supports for the registered nurse are critical in the clinical area.

The individual nurse is accountable for decisions they make in determining their scope of practice. This includes decisions to expand or not to expand their practice. For more information:

• The Professional Responsibility & Accountability section of the Code
• The Responsibility, Accountability & Autonomy section of the Scope of Practice

Can I change the information about the division I am registered in?

Yes, you can update this information in Step 3 Divisions of Current Practice. For more information, please refer to pages 9-10 of the Annual Registration Renewal Guide. 

You can update information about practising or patient facing in Step 3 Divisions of Current Practice. To add a division, please refer to the Add a New Division section of our website. If you would like to remove a division, details are available on the Voluntary Removal section. 

If your Divisions of Current Practice is incorrect, please contact us at IEreg@NMBI.ie.

Can I choose which compensation measure to take?

If you are applying to the general nurse division, then you will be offered a choice of completing an adaptation period or an aptitude test. For all other divisions, the applicant only has the option of an adaptation period. A person can decide to change his/her mind after selecting a compensation measure. However, if an applicant for general nursing fails to successfully complete either an aptitude test or adaptation period, he/she cannot then decide to commence the alternative to the failed test. 

Can I complete the annual renewal on my phone?

MyNMBI is mobile enabled, making it more convenient to access the range of services. For the best user experience, we still recommend registrants use a laptop or desktop to renew their registration.

Can I pay my annual renewal over the phone?

NMBI no longer accepts renewal payments by phone, please renew your registration via MyNMBI.

Can I take a verbal or telephone order from a doctor particularly in an emergency situation?

The only acceptable time a verbal or telephone order should be taken from a doctor is in an emergency situation. Accepting a verbal or telephone order should not be considered a substitute for a comprehensive medication policy or protocol for routine medication management. The overall benefit to the patient and ensuring their safety should be prioritised in these situations.

The key considerations of responsibility, accountability, autonomy and competency should guide the individual nurse or midwife in determining their own scope of practice relating to emergency situations. These are outlined in the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework.

A registered nurse or midwife utilising the framework and the principles of the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics in their provision of care would be considered to be practising in a safe and competent manner. You should also refer to our Guidance on Medication Management.

The development of policies and protocols to support verbal or telephone orders in emergency situations should be undertaken at a local organisational level which reflects this guidance.

Can I update my workplace details?

You can confirm or add your workplace details by tying in the specified fields. 

If Ireland is selected for Workplace Country, you must select the correct county from the Workplace County drop-down.

Can my employer or anyone else such as a community pharmacist check the Register to check if my registration is active and my CPA is valid?

Yes. Anyone can check the Register of Nurses and Midwives. If your name is listed on the Nurse Prescribers Division of the Register an additional section will state the status of your CPA, whether it is valid or invalid. 

Do I have to give my name when making a complaint about a nurse or midwife?

Anonymous complaints cannot be considered unless further enquiries provide information that causes concern about a nurse or midwife’s conduct and their ability to practise safely. NMBI takes any complaint about a nurse or midwife seriously.

The more information that is provided in relation to a complaint (including the names of any witnesses or persons raising a concern), the more efficiently that complaint can be investigated.  

Do I need to provide proof that I am able to speak English?

All applicants must satisfy NMBI that they have the necessary knowledge of English to communicate effectively in their practice. This is a requirement of the registration application process (after qualifications are recognised). Language competence is a critical aspect of patient safety.  

There are three pathways: 

1. Completed nursing or midwifery training in a NMBI recognised majority English speaking country.
2. Registered and practised in a NMBI recognised majority English speaking country for three years within the last five years. 
3. Completed IELTS (Academic) or OET English language test to the minimum levels accepted by NMBI. The test must be less than 2 years old at the date you submit your application for registration. We only accept one test result (sitting) and do not accept combined results.

Further information on NMBI’s English language requirements can be found in Section 11 of the Applicant User Guide. 

Do I need to provide translated documents?

Yes, NMBI will need a certified English translation of any document which is not written in English. 

The translation must be: 

• Carried out by a qualified translator
• Signed and stamped by the translator

The translator must confirm, in the English language, that the translation is an exact translation of the original document. The translation must be in writing and must include the translator’s professional contact details (telephone number, address and email address).

Do I need to set up a new account this year if I used MyNMBI last year?

No. If you used MyNMBI last year, please do not create a new account this year as it will not connect to your existing records and you will not be able to renew your registration.

You should select the ‘Already have an Account’ button.

Does NMBI have a customer service charter which sets out how the organisation word missing, supports (?) deals with members of the nursing and midwifery professions, members of the public and other parties?

Yes. NMBI has a Customer Service Charter which sets out the principles for how we engage with our customers. We also welcome comments, compliments and complaints about NMBI through our online Customer Feedback Form.

How can I ensure that there are no delays in processing my application?

The single biggest cause for delays in processing applications is the failure to provide all the required documentation from the outset. NMBI cannot complete the evaluation of your application until we have received all required forms and documents which we requested. You can login to the MyNMBI portal to check the status of your application. If you submit an incomplete application, an email will be sent to you showing which documents are outstanding. This will add to the delays in your application.

How can I join the Advanced Practise division of the Register?

For registration in the Advanced Nurse Practitioners division of the Register, certain criteria about the existing registration status, educational qualifications and experience must be met. It is necessary, for example, to be educated to Master’s degree level or higher and have a minimum of seven years post-registration details. Full details are available on our Registering as an ANP/AMP page.

How can I track the progress of my application?

You can view the current processing stage of your application on MyNMBI. To check the status of your application, please click on ‘My Applications’. You will be able to see the application status and the date the application status was last updated.

How do I access the MyNMBI portal?

You can access MyNMBI by clicking on the MyNMBI button on our website, using the link provided in your renewal notice or by typing my.nmbi.ie into the address bar of your browser.

How do I apply for admission to an education programme leading to prescriptive authority for nurses and midwives?

The following Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) been approved by NMBI to provide the education programme for prescriptive authority:

•    The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland,
•    University College Cork,
•    University College of Dublin
•    University of Limerick
•    National University of Ireland – Galway 
•    Dublin City University
•    Trinity College

For further information on the course details you should visit the HEIs for more details of these programmes.   

How do I change my date of birth, nationality or place of birth?

To amend your date of birth, nationality or place of birth, please contact us at IEReg@NMBI.ie and provide the appropriate documentation. 

Appropriate documents must be a certified copy which is a photocopy of the document which has been certified by an appropriate authority. The certified copy must be a first-generation copy - that’s a photocopy of the original document, not a photocopy of a photocopy or a fax. 

Further details on certified documentation can be found on our website.

How do I change my name on the Register to the full Irish version of my name?

You need to provide NMBI with proof that you use this version of your name. You can do so by sending us a certified copy of your name in Irish on your passport, driving licence or on a utility bill.

We will not do a partial name change to Irish. For example, if your name in English is "Mary Ann Kelly" we will translate your name in full to "Máire Áine Uí Cheallaigh", but not "Mary Ann Uí Cheallaigh".

Learn more about certified copies. 

How do I change my personal details, such as my email address and password?

It is the responsibility of all registrants to ensure that their personal details, including their email address, are up to date on MyNMBI. 

You can change your email address by clicking on My Account and selecting My Personal Details. Update the email address field and save. You will receive an email to your new email address. You must click on the link provided to confirm your new email address. If you do not confirm, your email address will remain the same. 

You can also update your employment details under the My Account section

How do I know if I am considered as a practising nurse or midwife?

Practising nurses and midwives provide services directly to patients or work in administration, management, research and other posts without direct contact with patients. If you need NMBI registration for your work, then you are a practising nurse or midwife.  

Unemployed or retired registrants are not considered practising.

How do I know if I am patient-facing?

If you are providing care directly to patients, then you are patient-facing. If you work in administration, management, research and other posts without direct patient contact, then you are not patient-facing.

How do I make a payment?

To complete your online payment, NMBI is required to capture billing information, including an address for the cardholder whose card is being used to make this payment. NMBI is required to do this under an EU payments directive and will only use this information to complete this payment. 

Please input the cardholder details of the debit/credit card that is being used for payment. It is important that the cardholder information is provided as verification of payment may be required by the card provider/bank. 

You will be redirected to our Secure Payment facility where you will input your card details. You may be required to verify your payment with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). This involves going into your banking app or inputting a code received via text (different banks have different processes). Then confirm in the browser the action has been completed.

How do I prepare for an aptitude test?

Before starting the aptitude test, you should familiarise yourself with the structure of the test and the method used for testing your skills, knowledge and competences. 

The Royal College of Surgeons currently provides aptitude tests for those seeking registration as general nurses in Ireland. For further information on the structure and format of the test please visit the RCSI website.  

How do I register as a Nurse Prescriber?

Only those who have successfully completed an education programme for prescriptive authority approved by NMBI and are currently employed may apply for registration in the Nurse Prescribers Division. 

To register with NMBI on the Nurse Prescribers Division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives, you must complete and submit an application form for this division. You are also required to have an approved Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) on file with your health service employer. You need to log into the site to access the Prescribing/CPA forms through MyNMBI.

How do I set up Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)?

Your bank/card provider can advise you on their requirements for setting up SCA. We recommend that you contact your card provider/bank for more information about payment authentication.

How do I voluntarily remove myself if I do not want to renew?

You can remove your name from one or all divisions in which you are registered through the Registration Services section of MyNMBI. This service is free of charge and will be available during the annual renewal period. Should you choose this option, you can restore your name to the Register at any time by selecting the Restoration option on the MyNMBI portal.

A step-by-step guide to this process is available on pages 16-17 of the Annual Registration Renewal Guide.

How long does it take to complete my annual renewal on MyNMBI?

Please allow 10 minutes to complete the renewal process.

How long does it take?

The timelines depend on the type of application. The main factors determining the length of the process are:

• Having all the correct documents uploaded when you submit your application. The documents need to be valid, current and translated to English. You will need to provide correctly certified copies of certain documents. See Section 9 of the Applicant User Guide for further details. You will also need to upload the forms competed by your college and employers. 
• The level of checks required to determine if your qualifications meet the standard. All non-EU applications must go through a qualification assessment process.
• If you are requested to complete a compensation measure. Details are available in Section 10.3 of the Applicant User Guide.
  
  
  • Adaptation periods are a minimum of 6 weeks and up to 12 weeks or more if an extension is approved.
  • Aptitude testing is booked up to 17 weeks in advance, the testing itself can be done in approximately a fortnight. 
• If you have not provided all the required documents and forms your application cannot progress and may ultimately be closed. 

How long does the complaints process take?

NMBI is aware that the complaints process can be a stressful and worrying time for anyone involved, including the person who has made a complaint, potential witnesses and the nurse or midwife herself.  

Under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC) is required to make reasonable efforts to ensure that complaints are processed in a timely manner. The amount of time it takes to process a complaint can vary, depending on how complex the complaint is.  

In some cases another body or authority such as An Garda Síochána may have to complete its investigation before the PPC can begin its own investigation. 

If a complaint is referred to the Fitness to Practise Committee for an inquiry, it can take another 18-24 months to hold the inquiry, but this again can vary, depending on how complex the complaint is. 

You can find out more about the complaints process on this page. 

How many CEUs a year is it necessary to maintain registration with NMBI?

Nurses and midwives are required to continuously develop their knowledge and skills through Continuing Professional Development (CPD). Such programmes award CEUs to those who attend.

Currently there are no requirements from NMBI to have a minimum number of CEU’s to maintain registration with NMBI. However, such a requirement is planned and is under discussion between the NMBI and the Department of Health. Once this has been approved, NMBI will communicate the details with the nursing and midwifery professions.

How much does it cost?

For information on our current fees please visit the registration fees section of our website.

How much is the annual renewal fee?

The annual renewal fee is €100.

How often do I need to renew my registration as a nurse prescriber and my Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA)?

To maintain your registration with NMBI as a nurse prescriber you must pay your Annual Retention Fee (ARF). Failure to pay the ARF will result in your name being erased from the Register of Nurses under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. 

You will be in breach of NMBI regulatory framework for prescriptive authority if you prescribe medicines without having a valid CPA. Changes to your CPA are managed locally at Health Service Provider level; however you must notify NMBI if you:

• Terminate your CPA

• Recommence prescribing following termination of your pervious CPA

Please log into MyNMBI to access the CPA termination and recommencement forms.

 

I am a community nurse and my work supports clients with self-administration of medication. Sometimes I encourage clients to use a dosette box to help them organise their medications for the week. What should I be aware of for safe and appropriate practice?

Many individuals in the community may use a medication administration aid to assist them in organising and taking their medications. Various terms describe this type of system (e.g. compliance aids, dosette boxes, monitored dosage systems). Compliance aids are designed to aid self-administration by patients or clients.
 
The client’s individual requirements and needs should be assessed to ensure there are no contraindications related to using the compliance aid. Consultation with the client’s pharmacist and GP should be considered for guidance in assessing the need for using such a system and in supplying medicines in this manner. Systems for the on-going evaluation of the appropriateness of the compliance aid should be documented in local policy, based upon the client’s condition and their prescribed medicines.

Optimally, the compliance aid should be filled by the person’s pharmacist. NMBI’s guidance on the medicine management provides detailed advice to support you in the use of compliance aids. Additionally the regulator of pharmacists the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland has prepared guidance for  pharmacists on this topic.

 

I am a Director of Nursing of a community hospital and we are planning an update in medicines management. We plan to initially address this need by providing an in-service study day. What kind of resources we should consider for this topic?

Consider examining the concept of medicines management and its activities as first step. Sources from health care regulators include:

• NMBI’s guidance to nurses and midwives on medicines management 
• The associated eLearning programme  which can be accessed by logging onto HSEland.ie 
• Some HIQA’s publications: Guidance for health and social care providers and Medicines Management Guidance and principles of good practice in medication reconciliation.

You should determine prior to the study day which topics and issues are most pertinent to your staff. Is it the general principles of medicines management that you want to review or more specific issues such as medicine reconciliation, dealing with medication errors, management of MDA controlled drugs?

Other resources for planning the in-service day that may compliment the above information provided are:

• The organisation’s policy for medicine management 
• Personnel from risk management and pharmacy, and service user representative to discuss medicine management concerns pertinent from their perspective 
• HSE Medicines Management Programme 
• HSE Quality Improvement Division which also includes details about its medication safety  programme 
• Institute of Safe Medication Practices, which is a US agency
• Health Product Regulatory Authority for current information about medications, adverse reaction report form and other topics 

I am a general nurse and want to pursue further studies that will lead to registration in other divisons of the Register of Nurses and Midwives and that will give me additional recongised qualifications. How can I research the courses that are available?

A good starting point is to review the post-Registration courses that NMBI has approved. In each case this will show you the Higher Education Institution (HEI) or other provider offering the course  and the course title. You will also find links to specific details in each HEI/coure provider‘s website where you can review further details of these courses. All of these details are available on our Post Registration Courses page 

I am a nurse who has qualified in the UK. What do I need to do to get my Irish registration; I am registered with the NMC?

Please visit our Qualified Outside Ireland page to read our information and guidelines for nurses who trained outside Ireland.

I am a nurse working for a telephone triage service. I am not a midwife. Is it possible to provide antenatal and post-natal advice over the phone?

The provision of antenatal and post-natal advice (in person or over the phone) is within the scope of practice of a midwife. A nurse who is not a registered midwife is practicing outside their scope if providing professional advice in such matters. In such situations you should refer the woman to another professional such as a midwife or to a GP.

All registered nurses and midwives must practice within the limit of their own ompetence. Interpersonal relationships is one of the five domains of competence identified by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). An indicator for this domain of competence is that nurses must assist clients to make informed decisions.    

This is fundamental to the role as a telephone triage nurse. However, the freedom for you to act in accordance with you professional judgement in relation to areas within your scope of practice brings with it the principle consequence of accountability for your decisions and actions. 

The provision of antenatal and post-natal care is identified within the scope of midwifery practice referred to within the Practice Standards for Midwives.

For more information:

• Scope:  Competence 
• Code : Professional Responsibility & Accountability

I am a nurse working in a nursing home. I am the only staff nurse in a ward. Administering medication is difficult for me to manage and I am concerned that residents are not receiving their medicines on time. Can I delegate the task of administering medicines to a healthcare assistant?

As a registered nurse, you are accountable to NMBI for your professional practice, which includes the safe administration of medications. Each situation should be reviewed individually as it arises. It is also important that you know what your employer's policy is for the staff responsibilities nurses and non-nurses - in the administration of medications. 

The resident's best interests and safety should be the primary factors in making your decision while the nursing care plan for the resident should help to determine the assistance they require. 

When considering delegation of this activity, you should ensure that the care assistant is an appropriate person to delegate to. You must consider the level of experience and competence of this person before assigning this task:

• Has the care assistant the necessary skill to administer the medication to the individual resident/patient?
• Are they familiar with the resident and aware of any special needs in assisting them to take the medication?
• Has the care assistant been informed of their responsibilities in taking on this task? For example, does the care assistant need to report any information back to you after completing the task? If so, this should be reviewed with the care assistant prior to the actual administration of the medication. 

You as the registered nurse are responsible and accountable for ensuring that the delegation of medication administration is appropriate in each particular situation.

The NMBI guidance on delegation is covered in Principle 5 Collaboration with others of Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics. Also, the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework also contains detailed guidance on the issue of delegation and supervision. Working through the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Flowchart should assist you in considering whether or not you should delegate this activity of medication administration to a healthcare assistant in a specific and defined circumstance.

I am a postgraduate student in an education programme which leads to prescriptive authority. Is it necessary for me to register as a student for NMBI's Candidate Register?

Yes, you must submit the Application Form (Post Graduate Candidate Register Form) for entry in the Candidate Register - Post-Graduate no later than 30 days after starting the prescribing education programme. This needs to be done in conjunction with your Higher Education Institution. If you have a change of name or address during the programme you must inform NMBI of this.

The form is available by logging on to MyNMBI.

I am a Registered General Nurse (RGN). My employer would like me to be deployed to the Children’s Ward in the hospital on an interim basis. However I have concerns about this because I am not a Registered Children’s Nurse. What is NMBI’s advice?

NMBI as the regulator does not control how staff are deployed or utilised in health care settings. 
 
It is the responsibility of your health service employer to determine the criteria such as the competencies, skills, knowledge and experience required to nurse in a particular setting. This may include establishing what division(s) of the Register or Nurses and Midwives a nurse must be registered with NMBI to work in that particular area. We do not dictate that a nurse is registered in a particular division for him or her to work in a specific practice setting or care for a group of patients. 

The quality of practice section of our Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives and the competence section of the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework aim to support and provide best practice for all nurses and midwives which will ensure protection of the public. 

If you are being asked to provide nursing care in a different practice environment, you should review the key considerations section in the Scope Framework. 

I am a registered midwife. I’m aware that a complaint has been made about me. Can I remove my name from the Register of Nurses and Midwives?

A registered nurse or registered midwife may apply to the Board of NMBI to have his or her registration removed from the Register or from a division of the Register. However, if you are the subject of a complaint that has not been dealt with under the relevant parts of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011, the Board will not consider your application until this process is complete. 

I am a registered nurse (RNID) in an Intellectual Disability Service and I work in a community residential facility. Am I allowed to provide first aid in this residential setting?

NMBI advises that you review the Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework and accompanying flowchart to consider your role in providing first aid in your community residential setting. It is critical you have the competencies needed to give first aid.  

In particular, you need to review the Considerations for determining your scope of practice section. This says that you need to ensure you have the knowledge and skills to perform first aid safely and your employer supports this activity in the facility. NMBI supports the development and implementation of evidence based Policies, Procedures Protocols and Guidelines (PPPGs) to support nursing staff in meeting the interests of patients and residents who require first aid.   

In addition to your employer’s direction you and your line manager may want to examine health and  safety legislation which is available on this section of the Health and Safety Authority’s (HSA) website. The HSA website also provides guidance specific to first aid provision. These resources should be used alongside applying the values and standards of conduct detailed in the Code and Scope guidance. They can support you to explore any future role and responsibility for providing first aid in emergency situations in your care facility.

I am a staff nurse in a surgical clinic. A consultant has prescribed a medication and I am concerned about the dosage amount. Our pharmacist said although that the dosage prescribed was outside the license it would be considered ‘off label use’. What does this mean?

The term ‘off-label prescribing’ has been replaced by the term ‘authorised medicine prescribed for an unauthorised indication'. The Health Product Regulatory Authority* (HPRA). which was formerly called the Irish Medicines Board, defines this as an authorised medicine prescribed for an illness or condition that is not listed on the medicine’s summary of product characteristics. 

There is no restriction in the relevant medicines regulations for a registered medical or dental practitioner to prescribe an authorised medicine for an unauthorised indication. The Medicinal Products (Control of Placing on the Market) Regulations 2007, as amended, do not prohibit the sale, supply, manufacture, possession or procuring the sale, supply, manufacture of an authorised medicine for an unauthorised indication.

Prescribing by a RNP of an authorised medicine for an unauthorised indication must be in accordance with Regulation 5A of the Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) Regulations 2003 as amended. The Practice Standards and Guidelines for Nurses and Midwives with Prescriptive Authority provides detailed guidance on this topic. 

A nurse or midwife has authority to administer an authorised medicine for an unauthorised indication once it has been prescribed by a registered medical, dental practitioner or nurse prescriber. It is important that you have an understanding of the reasons for administering the medications, particularly as it relates to your assessment and evaluation of the effectiveness of the prescribed medication for the patient.  

It is advised that you speak with the medical practitioner who has prescribed the medication if you have questions regarding the indications including dosage, for its use for the patient. 

I am a student nurse/midwife. Am I required to renew my registration?

Student nurses and midwives are not required to complete the annual renewal process.

I am completing a form to register with NMBI as a nurse tutor? Why does the form need to be completed, signed and stamped by the higher education institution (HEI) where I did the programme?

This is a standard procedure that NMBI applies when registering nurses or midwives for additional divisions. We need formal confirmation from the HEI that you completed the programme and relevant dates. In the event that you took longer to do this programme than normal, the HEI must also indicate in writing to NMBI why this was the case. It will not be possible to process an application for the Nurse Tutor Division unless the HEI completes the form.

I am planning to go abroad to work. What happens with my registration and what do I need from NMBI to ensure I can work abroad?

You can decide whether to maintain your registration when you are abroad and the decision you make will depend on your circumstances and your plans over the coming years. If you plan to work in another country, you will have to go through that country’s overseas registration process by that country’s relevant authority.
 
You will be asked for a Verification (CCPS) from NMBI and we will share certain registration information with that competent authority. For more details visit our Working outside Ireland page.

To apply for a Verification (CCPS), you need to complete the Verification (CCPS) Form, which is available when you log in through MyNMBI 

I am reviewing some of the entries on the Register of Nurses and Midwives. The status of some is shown as “inactive”. What does that mean?

Individuals on the Register who are inactive are nurses or midwives who for a number of reasons are no longer practising. They have not paid the Annual Retention Fee, one of the conditions which is necessary to maintain active registration and to practise as a nurse or midwife in Ireland under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.

I am still having difficulty with an aspect of the annual renewal process, what should I do?

If you require support to complete the annual renewal process, please call: 0818 200 116 (+353 818 200 116 from outside Ireland) or email regservices@nmbi.ie. Opening hours are Monday to Friday 9am - 5:30pm

I didn't get my renewal notice, what do I do?

NMBI has sent a renewal notice by email to registrants which provides detailed instructions on how to renew online. If your renewal notice has not arrived by 31 October 2023, please check your spam, junk or other email folders. If you still have not received the email, you can contact our customer care centre at 0818 200 116 (+353 818 200 116 from outside Ireland) or email regservices@nmbi.ie to request your notice.

I have a common name and share it with many other nurses on the Register. How do I ensure that I am not confused with someone else with the same name on the Register?

Your record that is publicly available on the Register of Nurses and Midwives includes names as per your birth certificate. While it is common for people to share first names and surnames it is rare to share a birth name, second name and surname. There are also details on your public record (such as when you joined the Register) that are unique to you.

Everyone on the Register has a PIN. This is a unique number for each individual on the Register

I have been asked to update our documentation and medicine management policies and to include guidance on the use of abbreviations in the hospital setting. What should be considered?

A policy on the use of abbreviations within your practice setting is an excellent way of improving patient safety. NMBI’s  Recording Clinical Practice addresses the use of abbreviations stating “Abbreviations should only be used if drawn from a list approved by the healthcare facility….The list should be periodically reviewed and, if necessary, updated”.

Collaborate with other members of the inter-professional team and departments such as risk management, quality and safety, pharmacy. Policies, Procedures Protocols and Guidelines (PPPGs) should be directed at all staff using abbreviations in their documentation and communication for patient care.

Other NMBI guidance that may aid your work include Medicine Management. If a nurse or midwife finds a medicine prescription to be unclear which may occur with use of abbreviations, they should seek clarification from the prescriber.   

I have concerns about a nurse but am unsure about whether to raise an official complaint. Who do I contact in the first instance?

If you are a patient, the relative of a patient or another person supporting a patient, you should raise your concerns at a local level first. Contact the ward, hospital or clinic management to find out how they deal with concerns and complaints. 

If you feel it is necessary to take further action, you can contact the Fitness to Practise Department at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). 

You can find out more about making a complaint and the complaints process on these pages: 

• Making a complaint 
• Complaints process 

Other organisations and agencies may be able to help you by providing support or advocacy. Go to our Who can help page.

If you are an employer you can find out more about making a complaint on the Complaints from employers page.

If you are a nurse or midwife you can find out more about making a complaint on the Complaints from nurses and midwives page. 

I have concerns about a particular nurse but I am not sure how NMBI assesses the complaints it receives. What should I do?

People make complaints about nurses and midwives for different reasons. There are several grounds for complaints set out in the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. 

You should report a nurse or midwife if you know or suspect their behaviour:

• Has harmed or may harm you, a patient or someone else
• Has been so unprofessional that unless the Board of NMBI takes action, the general public will lose trust in the nursing and/or midwifery professions. 

If you are a registered nurse or a registered midwife you have a professional responsibility to report any safety concerns you have about the healthcare environment. This responsibility extends to reporting your concerns where you consider patients’ dignity is not being respected.  

Signs that you should be alert to are listed on the Complaints from employers page and Complaints from nurses and midwives pages. 

I have not used MyNMBI before, what should I do?

Please do not create a new account as your registration details are already stored on the MyNMBI system. If this is your first time logging into MyNMBI, please contact regservices@nmbi.ie.

I have received a subpoena to attend an inquiry as a witness but I will be on holiday. What can I do?

A subpoena or witness summons served in advance of the inquiry legally requires you to attend the inquiry to give evidence. However, in circumstances such as being on holiday, you should notify the Fitness to Practise Department or the CEO’s solicitors as soon as possible. You may be asked to produce evidence that you will be out of the country. 

I haven’t practised as a nurse for eight years but I am considering going back to work as a nurse. I have been told that I need to do a course to update my skills. Why ?

NMBI strongly recommends that a nurse who is returning to practice after an absence of five years or more should complete a Return to Nursing Practice Course before she begins practising again as a nurse.

We also recommend that this should be applicable to nurses returning to practice in one discipline of nursing, having practised for many years in another discipline of nursing or in midwifery. The reason for this is to give the nurse the opportunity to update her/his knowledge and clinical skills in order that she/he is a competent.

You should research doing a return to nursing course or a return to midwifery course. Course content for return to nursing courses is determined by standards and requirements which NMBI sets for educational programmes for members of the Irish nursing and midwives professions. To learn more about these types of courses, you shoulld visit the return to nursing practice course page or the return to midiwifery practice course page. Please follow this link to view out list of Post Registration courses where you will find a list of Return to Nursing Practice Programmes. 

I made a complaint but now I wish to withdraw it. What should I do?

You should notify NMBI that you wish to withdraw your complaint. If you withdraw your complaint while it is being considered by the Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC), the PPC may either decide to take no further action or may continue to deal with the complaint. 

If you with draw your complaint while it is being considered by the Fitness to Practise Committee (FtPC), the FtPC may either decide to take no further action or may continue to deal with the complaint.
The Board must agree with the committee’s decision in any case. 

I qualified outside the EU/EEA and don’t meet the minimum requirements for English language competence. What should I do?

You should not apply for registration with NMBI until you meet the English language competence requirements. Find out more about the three pathways to meet our English language requirements on our website.

I received one of the following error codes following an attempted payment, what should I do?

• 101 - Declined: Generally insufficient funds or incorrect card data supplied, for example, expiry date or security code. You may try to complete payment again, check details provided are correct.

If you receive any of the below error messages while attempting to make payment, please contact your bank who should be able to assist you with the issue that you are experiencing.

• 110 - Transaction blocked by merchant's 3D Secure 2 configuration - authentication failed
• 111 - Strong Customer Authentication Required

To attempt payment again, you can access the Draft or Awaiting Payment annual renewal via My Applications. You will have to click through Steps 1-5 and add your billing details again at Step 6. 

Please ensure that you have Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) set up with your bank. 

I was recently appointed as a CNM1 in a small nursing home that receives patients from the regional hospital. Two nurses just joined our staff from this hospital who have suggested our documentation of nursing care for residents need to be improved. Can you advise how this might be approached ?

Record keeping is an essential part of delivering safe, effective evidence based nursing and midwifery practice. Nurses and midwives are professionally and legally accountable for the standard of practice.  
The importance of good record keeping, and the consequences of poor quality record keeping have been highlighted repeatedly in a number patient safety reports.  

As an overview to nursing staff you should stress the importance of quality documentation by referring to the NMBI guidance. The Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics refers to the values and standards involving communication and documentation. Our Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework and Recording Clinical Practice publications are also guidance resources. 

I work as a nurse in a nursing home which is introducing the practice of intravenous medication administration for residents. The majority of these IV medications are antibiotics. I am concerned about the safety aspect of this practice particularly possible adverse reaction and anaphylactic shock. What kind of resources should I refer to?

There are a number of resources NMBI can direct you to regarding developments in practice and best practice guidelines in relation to intravenous medication administration and therapy. Firstly NMBI has published guidance on medicine management Guidance to Nurses and Midwives on Medication Management which provides guidance for nurses and midwives. The accompanying eLearning programme which is available on HSELand.ie should also be reviewed. HSELand.ie also lists courses on peripheral intravenous cannulation.

Each nurse or midwife should take appropriate steps to develop and maintain competence with regard to all aspects of medicine management, ensuring that her/his knowledge skills and clinical practice are up to date. This point is significant for you in view of your nursing home initiating intravenous medication administration as an expanded service for residents. The Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework is also a useful tool for you in considering your professional responsibilities. 

Assistance and support from your employer should be sought. This should include emergency management of anaphylaxis and adverse events associated with IV therapy. 

Also, there is an international speciality organisation for nurses interested in IV therapy called the Infusion Nurses Society which has an Irish chapter.

I work as Nurse Practise Development Co-ordinator and support nursing staff taking on new procedures and responsibilities. Nurses often ask if they are “covered” to undertake these responsibilities. Apart from Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice Framework and the decision-making flowchart, are there other issues I should consider?

“Am I covered?” may have various meanings from one individual to another. You may find it helpful to explore with the nurse(s) what they actually mean when they use this phrase. You are building a good foundation by using the Scope Framework for discussing their concerns. As a nurse practise development coordinator you know individual decisions about scope of practise are complex so reviewing the Considerations and the Principles section is important.

The Scope Framework’s resources can help you direct the nursing staff to explore the particular issues about “coverage”. These include determining whether there is any legislation prohibiting the proposed role or activity. All relevant legislation and statutory instruments legislation can be accessed on the Irish statute book website.

You should refer to the HSE website and particularly the Policies, Procedures, Protocols and Guidelines (PPPGs) section to determine if precedence has been set regarding the proposed activity. The Scope flowchart can help staff pinpoint their concerns and act on them. Another avenue to explore may be your organisation’s risk management and quality and safety resources. 

The topic of indemnity can also form part of the discussion about concerns of “coverage”. The Professional responsibility and accountability section of our Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives gives advice on indemnity. 
 

 

I work for an agency, what employment details should I enter?

If you work mainly in one location, please specify the hospital/facility which you work in. 

For agency nurses/midwives who work in multiple locations, please insert your agency’s details.

I’m working as a practice nurse. One of the GPs wants me to see all women who come in for repeat prescriptions for the oral contraceptive pill. He does not want to see them unless they have a problem. Is it OK to do this?

The Scope of Practice Decision-Making Flowchart is good tool for you to use to reflect on this question and to assist you in identifying your concerns. By working your way through the flowchart one of the issues to consider is the legislation that governs the issuing of prescriptions for medicines. Only a doctor, dentist, registered nurse prescriber or veterinary surgeon can legally write a prescription. The issuing of a repeat prescription is the responsibility of these professionals and they may are accountable for that decision.

As the practice nurse, it may be appropriate for you to be involved in the assessment of the woman that informs the decision-making process. You must communicate the findings of your assessment to the GP so that the decision to issue the repeat prescription is based on informed consultation process. You must document all the findings of your assessment and the consultation with the doctor. 

For reasons of patient safety and risk management, you should not write out the repeat prescription and present it to the GP for signing. 

I’ve changed my address. How can I update my contact details with NMBI?

You can do this yourself by logging on to the site and updating your contact details. If you haven’t got an account already, you need to set up an online account with us. Visit the MyNMBI page to learn about setting up an account for the first time.

If a complaint has been made about me, can I continue to work or practise as a nurse or midwife?

You can continue to work or practise as a nurse or midwife while there are no restrictions on your registration. 

In some circumstances the Board may apply to the High Court to suspend a nurse or midwife’s registration temporarily. The Board may do this even in situations where no complaint has been made but where suspension of the nurse or midwife’s registration is considered necessary to protect the public. 

When considering any complaint the NMBI’s Preliminary Proceedings Committee (PPC) will always assess whether or not the nurse or midwife’s registration should be suspended. If the PPC considers that the nurse or midwife’s registration should be suspended, it will pass the matter on to the Board. 

If the complaint is referred for an inquiry, you may still continue to work or practise. 

If I can’t remember my password, what should I do?

If you do not remember your password, click on the 'Forgotten Password' button on the MyNMBI home screen and follow the steps to reset. You will receive an email into your personal email account with a link to reset your password. Please note, the forgotten password link is only valid for one hour. Your new password will be active at subsequent login, once the process is completed within an hour. 

If you are unable to access your account after you have reset your password, please contact regservices@nmbi.ie.

If I do a post-registration course that is approved by NMBI, am I eligible for a qualification allowance?

This is not determined by NMBI. Qualifications allowances are paid by employers once nurses and midwives get additional qualifications following completion of certain programmes by nurses and midwives. NMBI has no role in this.

Our only role with such courses is to indicate if the course you completed meets the standards we set under what is called Category II approval by NMBI, which applies to post-registration courses. Your employer will determine if an allowance is granted. Please refer to our post registration list of current approved courses.

In such a case, how should a practise nurse go about assessing a patient?

Again, you should refer to the Scope of Practice Decision-Making Flowchart. This encompasses considering if the woman will derive an overall benefit from your actions and whether it fits with the definitions and values that underpin nursing.
 
You must also assess your own level of competence in relation to the assessment of women requiring repeat prescriptions for the oral contraceptive pill. Do you have the necessary knowledge and clinical skills to carry out the appropriate assessment? If not, you should not carry out the assessment. You need to take steps to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills. 

Ultimately, you have to make a judgement about your own level of competence and what you will undertake. You, and not the GP, are accountable for your actions. You should also apply the standards set out in the Professional Responsibility and Accountability section within the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for Registered Nurses and Registered Midwives.

You should also note the Medical Council of Ireland has given direction to doctors about their responsibilities for prescription writing and patient assessment.

My job title is not listed, what should I do?

If your job title is not listed, please select Other on the Employment Details page and type your job title in the Please Specify box that opens. Further details can be found on page 11 of the Annual Registration Renewal Guide.

My late mother was a nurse and a letter marked for her attention has been received from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. How can I ensure that her name is removed from your database?

NMBI apologies to you and your family for any distress caused by the receipt of this letter. To ensure that your late mother’s name is removed from the Register of Nurses and Midwives, it would be appreciated if you would send an email to Registration@NMBI.ie or send a letter to the Registration Department, Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, 18/20 Carysfort Avenue, Blackrock, County Dublin.

In your letter or email, please include the full name and PIN or date of birth of your late mother so that we may make the necessary change to the Register. Please also provide your contact details in case we need to make further contact with you.

My name has been removed from the Register for non-payment of the Annual Renewal. What is the process for restoring my name?

You need to complete the Restoration Form which is available by logging on to the website through MyNMBI. You need also to pay the Restoration to the Register Fee which is set out on our Fees page and pay the outstanding Annual Renewal. NMBI’s Registration Department will then process your application and will notify you when your name has been restored to the Register. 

Should the nursing home’s policy on medicine management be updated in the light of the decision to introduce intravenous medication administration for residents?

Yes. Your nursing home’s policy on medicine management should be updated with regard to intravenous therapy and IV medication administration including the areas of:

• Infection control and safety observance
• Site selection and placement for IV access
• Site care and maintenance
• Staff education
• Patient education
• Infusion equipment
• Documentation/communication standards and IV related complications treatment and reporting.

This list is not exhaustive and consultation with other members of the health care team is suggested for policy development and monitoring.

The unit that I work in has no phlebotomy service. My line manager asked me to provide this service to patients. Am I covered to take blood?

Taking blood is generally considered within the scope of practice of a nurse or midwife who must be competent to do so. If a nurse has not developed or maintained competence in the area then to take blood would be outside their scope of practice. Your manager should not delegate this activity to you if they know you are not competent to perform phlebotomy.

In such a situation, you should take measures to develop or to update, your competence. This may require continuing professional development (CPD) within the organisation. Development of policies, procedures, protocols and guidelines (PPPGs) should be undertaken at a local level to ensure that such practice is evidence-based.

Nursing and midwifery practice should develop to meet the ever-changing needs of the population and the health service. Expanding the role of the nurse and midwife involves becoming competent, reflective practitioners, developing expertise and skills to meet the patient’s needs in a holistic manner.

For more information, read the Principles for Determining Scope section of the Scope.
 

What are the functions of NMBI and how is the organisation run?

We have primary functions which are to protect the public and ensure the integrity of nursing and midwifery practices. As the regulator in Ireland for the nursing and midwifery professions, our work is governed by legislation. NMBI is run by a non-executive board, which has several sub committees, and which delegates functions to NMBI’s management and staff.

You will find more details of the Board of NMBI, board committees and the functions of individual departments in our What we Do section.

What are the possible outcomes of an assessment of my application?

Following the assessment of your application, NMBI will inform you of one of the following assessment outcomes:       

1. Your qualifications have been recognised or 
2. Further information is required or 
3. Provisional refusal to recognise qualifications. This means that there are significant deficits in theory or/and clinical content of your training compared to NMBI requirements or 
4. You are required to successfully complete a compensation measure, which refers to a period of adaptation or an aptitude test that needs to be successfully completed before we can recognise your qualifications.

This decision is taken: 

• If the theory and clinical content or hours of your overall nursing or midwifery education and training falls short of NMBI requirements, and
• You have enough hours or appropriate content to allow you to complete compensation measure(s).

Your qualifications need to be recognised first in order to proceed to the next stage (applying for registration). This happens when:

• NMBI informs you that the clinical and theoretical components of your education and training meets the NMBI standard (meaning no compensation measure is needed), or
• You have successfully completed a compensation measure - a period of adaptation or an aptitude test - as requested by NMBI.

What can I do on MyNMBI, other than annual renewal?

When you are logged into your account on MyNMBI you can view all the other applications, apart from annual renewal, by clicking on the Other Services button. If you have completed an additional qualification, you will be able to add a new division. There is also the option to Voluntarily Remove from the Register. If you require your name to be restored to the Register, you can submit a restoration application. If you were qualified outside of Ireland, you can submit an Overseas Recognition application to have your qualification recognised by NMBI.

What can the NMBI do about a complaint?

Once we have investigated your complaint there are several courses of action that can be taken. These include referring the complaint to another body, offering mediation between yourself and the nurse or midwife or imposing one or more sanction on the nurse or midwife. 
NMBI cannot award compensation to you.

For more information on the possible outcomes of an investigation of a complaint, please go to page:
How complaints are dealt with 

What do I need to know before preparing my documents?

It is important that you submit valid and translated documents to avoid any delays in processing your application. You will need to obtain certified copies of the documents we list. You will also need to download forms when you apply online and provide these to your college and employers to complete. You must upload all the documents and forms to your application before you submit. 

Please refer to Section 9 of the Applicant Guide for more information.

What does a CEU mean and and how does NMBI award CEUs to courses it approves?

CEU is an abbreviation for Continuing Education Unit. NMBI approves short or online courses for registered nurses and midwives which earn CEUs. NMBI awards one CEU for 40-60 minutes of contact or participation in teaching and learning activity during suuch a course. It should also be noted that CEUs may be awarded for clinical skills training sessions but are not awarded for clinical placement elements within a course.

To learn more about this, visit our page on Continuing Education Units.

What email and password should I use?

You should use the email address that your renewal notice was sent to. Your password is either what you created last year or the temporary password provided by NMBI in 2020.

What employment information do I need to provide?

When you apply online you will need to enter details of all your relevant employments since qualifying. You will also download an employment form which you will need to send to your current and previous employers to complete. The form must be completed by the director of nursing/midwifery, matron or nurse/midwife manager. Once completed and returned to you, you will need to upload the forms to your online application. These forms will be the evidence of your post qualification experience (PQE) which may be considered if relevant, during the qualification assessment. Please note if you do not upload the employment forms then your PQE will not be considered during the qualification assessment. 

What happens at an inquiry?

The inquiry is similar to a hearing before a Court or Tribunal. The Fitness to Practise Committee (FtPC) will hear the evidence presented at the inquiry. First the FtPC will hear from by the legal representatives acting for the CEO of the NMBI. These legal representatives will open the inquiry, present evidence and call witness to give evidence in support of the complaint. 

The nurse or midwife or her representative may question these witnesses about their evidence. The FtPC may also question these witnesses. Then the nurse or midwife or her representative may make submissions to the FtPC and call witnesses to give evidence. The nurse or midwife’s witnesses may be cross-examined by the CEO’s legal representative and by the FtPC.  

There can be long periods of waiting at inquiries. If you are called to give evidence, it is suggested that you bring reading materials or a laptop. Free Wifi is available at the NMBI premises. 

Inquiries are usually held in public. Depending on the individual circumstances of each inquiry, the whole inquiry or parts of the inquiry may be held in private. 

For more information about what happens at inquiries, go the Inquiries page. 

What happens at the end of the period of adaptation?

At the end of your placement, the Director of Nursing or the Director of Midwifery will be asked to recommend whether or not you are eligible for recognition of your qualifications.

What happens if I do not renew my registration?

If you do not renew or voluntarily remove your registration, NMBI will be obliged to remove your record from the Register. All nurses and midwives who practise in Ireland must by law be listed on the Register of Nurses and Midwives. Practice includes clinical practice, nursing or midwifery management, education and research. 

After NMBI’s annual renewal process closes and reminder emails have been sent to nurses and midwives removal notices are then issued to those who were registered with NMBI in 2023 but who did not renew for 2024. The process is approved by the Board of NMBI under Section 77 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011.

What happens if my practice area changes again and in my new job I need to prescribe?

If you change the practice area within your current place of employment, for example, you move from working in the Accident and Emergency Department to working in an Orthopaedic Unit, you must inform NMBI  within five working days and outline the reason for same (e.g. change of practice area).

In such a case, if the RNP wishes to continue prescribing, he or she will need to fulfil the CPA requirements again for the new practice area. This means an RNP will have to develop a new CPA with collaborating medical practitioners, and have it approved by the authorised individuals at their place of employment. The new CPA will also need to have Attachment B (Medication Listing) signed off by the organisation's Drugs and Therapeutic Committee.

What happens to my details on the Register of Nurses and Midwives if my surname changes, because of marriage or civil partnership or because I’ve changed it by deed poll?

If you would like us to record your change of surname, you must send us a certified copy of your marriage certificate or civil partnership certificate. Please indicate, in a covering letter, whether you want to change your surname following marriage or civil partnership.  

You should also indicate, in a covering letter, whether you would like us to use a double barrelled surname. We cannot use your church marriage certificate to change your name.

If you have officially changed your name since birth (other than a change of surname by marriage or civil partnership), you need to send us a certified copy of your legal change of name by Deed Poll.

Learn more about certified copies. 

What information do I need to provide about my registrations in other countries?

You will need to provide a Certificate of Current Professional Status (CCPS), otherwise known as a Certificate of Good Standing from all the countries or jurisdictions where you are currently or were previously registered. You will need to obtain these from the relevant competent authorities and then upload to your online application. The issue date on the certificates must be within the 6-month period prior to the submission date of your application. 

What information is required in the annual renewal process?

The 2024 annual renewal process consists of six steps.

• At Step 1 and Step 2, you will confirm or update your personal details and contact information.
• At Step 3 and Step 4, please ensure your division and employment details are up to date and reflect your current work status. 
• You must accept the declaration at Step 5.
• Step 6 requires you to input the cardholder details of the debit/credit card that is being used for payment. If this is your own card, these will be your own details, however if you are using another card, the details supplied must be that of card holder. It is important that the cardholder information is provided as verification of payment you may be required by the card provider/bank. 
• You will be redirected to our Secure Payment facility where you will input your card details.
  • You may be required to verify your payment with Strong Customer Authentication (SCA). This involves going  into your banking app, or inputting a code received via text (different banks have different processes). Then confirm in the browser the action has been completed.

For a detailed description on each of the steps, please refer to the 2023 Annual Registration Renewal Guide.

What is a certified copy of a document?

A certified copy is a copy of the document which has been certified by an appropriate authority as a true copy of the original. To obtain a certified copy you must bring your original document(s) to one of the approved certifying authorities. The certified copy must be a first-generation copy - i.e. a photocopy of the original document, not a photocopy of a photocopy or a fax. It is important that you make sure that the documents are certified correctly by the authority. Not doing so will delay how quickly NMBI can process your application. 

The documents which must be certified as true copies of the original are:  

• Proof of identity to include:
  
  
  • Current passport or national identity card
  • Evidence of change of name e.g. marriage certificate, birth certificate, deed poll 
• Evidence of qualifications to include:
  
  
  • Qualification Parchment (document showing the award of qualification)
  • Qualification Transcript
  • Certified translation of document

What is a compensation measure?

A compensation measure refers to either a period of adaptation or an aptitude test that needs to be successfully completed before your qualifications will be recognised in Ireland. They are mechanisms which allow you to demonstrate that you have met the required standard in the gap or shortfall areas that have been identified in your qualifications when compared to NMBI standards. 

You may be required to successfully complete a compensation measure if gaps have been found between your professional qualifications and experience, compared with the required Irish standards and requirements.  

For more information, please refer to the compensation measures section of our website. 

What is a period of adaptation?

A period of adaptation is a period of supervised practice and is subject to an assessment. The supervised practice is under the responsibility of a qualified member of the profession. The period of adaptation may, by a decision of the NMBI, be supplemented with additional independently assessed academic education. 

Periods of supervised practice must be undertaken at an approved Irish healthcare facility. You will be able to choose from a list of hospitals matched to the division of the Register you are applying to and approved by NMBI. A list of approved healthcare facilities is available on our website. 

The training during the adaptation period should be provided through a combination of theoretical and clinical modules. The minimum timeframe to complete the clinical learning component of an adaptation period is 6 weeks (in addition to any introduction and other theoretical learning). The period to complete the clinical component may be extended to 12 weeks and beyond if required. 

For more information, please see Section 10.3 of the Applicant User Guide.

What is a qualification assessment?

The transcripts of your training will be assessed by a specialised Education Assessor. The Assessor will examine in detail whether the clinical and theory content of your qualifications meets EU Directive and NMBI requirements. If relevant, courses additional to your graduate and post-graduate qualifications and work experience will be considered. The qualification assessors may require further information from you in certain cases such as a syllabus or course handbook. 

In your online application you will need to enter details of your relevant employments since qualifying. You will also need to provide employment forms completed by your employer as evidence of your post qualification experience (PQE), which the qualification assessors may take into account. Please note that if you do not submit the employment forms then your PQE cannot be considered.  

The assessor will consider the duration and type of your education programme(s), the quantitative requirement (combined hours as per transcript), qualitative Clinical Placement Component (CPC) requirement, theoretical and clinical instruction content, and also post qualification experience (PQE) where relevant, to address deficits identified in the education programme.

What is an administrative assessment?

Your application will undergo an administrative assessment to ensure that all the required documentation is submitted and correct. You will be advised by email if any additional information is required. NMBI will also verify all your documentation. If your application is complete it will proceed to qualification assessment.

What is an aptitude test?

The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland’s (RCSI) Faculty of Nursing and Midwifery coordinates and manages an aptitude test for applicants qualified outside the Republic of Ireland. The aptitude test option is only available to those applying to the general nurse division. The test is composed of two parts:

• Part 1: Theory or knowledge test or Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQ), which must be successfully completed before part 2 can be attempted.
• Part 2: Practical or Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) test

Please refer to this link for full details on this Test. 

The process to complete the test is:

• Complete RCSI’s online application form. 
• RCSI will send you a confirmation email with an invitation to the test.
• You might need a visa to travel to Ireland to complete the test. NMBI has no role in organising or answering visa related queries. For more information, please contact INIS.

Once you complete the test, you can inform NMBI of the result through MyNMBI.

What is my annual renewal fee used for?

This annual renewal fee goes towards our work to support nurses and midwives to provide 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.

For more information on the work of NMBI see the NMBI website. 

What is NMBI’s role in setting pay and conditions for Irish nurses and midwives?

NMBI has no role in this. We are the regulatory body and our work is determined by the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. Pay and conditions are set by health service employers in consultation with employees and their representatives.

What is Strong Customer Authentication (SCA)?

Strong Customer Authentication is an EU regulatory requirement for authenticating online payments. SCA has been introduced to enhance your security when banking online and reduce the risk of fraud. SCA adds an extra layer of security and applies to credit/debit card holders, and online, mobile and in-app banking customers. 

SCA, also referred to as two-factor authentication (2FA), requires customers to use two of the three forms of authentication below.

• Knowledge: something you know (for example, a password or a PIN)
• Possession: something you own (for example, a mobile phone, card reader or other device)
• Inherence: something you are (for example, a fingerprint, voice recognition or facial recognition).

What is the annual renewal fee used for?

There is an annual fee of €100 for renewing your registration. This 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, and
• Investigating complaints made against registrants.

What is the usual timeframe for NMBI to process my application for the Nurse Prescribers Division of the Register for registration?

Following successful completion of the education programme in an NMBI-approved education programme, the individual nurse or midwife seeking to be registered as a nurse prescriber must submit the following:

• Nurse Prescriber Application Form, which is available by logging into MyNMBI.

• Pay the Post Graduate Application fee, which is detailed on our fees page 

​The applicant must also have an approved Collective Practice Agreement (CPA) on file with his/her employer as a requirement for registration.

Confirmation of registration is typically given by NMBI within 10 working days. Notice will also be sent to the Director of Nursing/Midwifery or authorised individual of the health service employer.

What other bodies apart from NMBI should I refer to in relation to the use of abbreviations.

The HSE has published guidance  in drawing up an approved list of abbreviations. This is included in a document Code of Practice for Healthcare Records Management document.

Internationally there is much guidance on the use of abbreviations within healthcare settings. The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) compiled a list of more than 60 commonly used abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations that have been implicated in medication errors. The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organisations (JCAHO) is another useful resource.

ICAHO has conducted research finding the use of abbreviations in health care may be efficient, however this may be at the expense of patient safety by contributing to medication errors. In addition to publishing a list of approved abbreviations the JCAHO has published lists of approved and prohibited abbreviations. 

What qualification documentation do I need to provide?

You will need to enter your qualification details in your online application. This should include your undergraduate qualification and any relevant postgraduate qualification.

You will be asked to download a qualification form in your online application which you will need to send to your college for completion to be returned to you. The qualification form must be completed by the head of nursing or midwifery education, or the registrar. You will also need to ask the college to provide you with a qualification transcript (showing a breakdown of theory and clinical hours) and a qualification parchment if you do not have these already. You will then need to obtain certified copies of the transcript and qualification parchment. This is where an approved authority certifies the photocopy as a true copy of the original (see Question 9). If any of the documents are not in English, you will also need to have these translated. See Section 9 of the Applicant Guide for further details.

You will need to upload the completed qualification form, the certified copy of the transcript and the certified copy of the qualification parchment to your online application. DO NOT proceed to pay the fee and submit your application until you have all the documents and relevant forms uploaded. You will be able to save your draft application and edit later.

When can I renew my annual registration with NMBI?

You can renew online from 25 October 2023 up to 31 January 2024

When will I get the results of the aptitude test?

Results of the theory test are issued via email on the day of the test. If you are successful in the theory test, you are invited to the OSCEs/practical test. Unless specifically requested, you do not need to bring any documentation with you. 

Results of OSCEs/practical test are issued via email by following the test. If you pass then your results are sent to the NMBI, where you can then progress with your registration. 

If either part of the test is failed on the first attempt, then a proposed date for the repeat is offered. If an applicant fails either part of the test on the second attempt, then the NMBI is informed and qualification recognition will be refused.  

An applicant may appeal a decision to refuse qualification recognition following a failed aptitude test. The Registration Committee will consider all the information provided by the applicant and the report provided by the aptitude test centre (and from the NMBI assessor) where provided.  

If however there are no mitigating factors for which evidence is provided by the applicant or confirmed by the test centre, the committee will have no option other than to uphold the decision to refuse qualification recognition.   

Where can I find my registration certificate?

Once payment has been received your certificate will be available in your My Documents section. Please note that it may take up to 30 minutes for the certificate to generate. It will remain there on future visits, should you need to download it or provide it by email to your employer. 

If you can’t find it, log out and log back in again. If it does not appear, you can email regservices@nmbi.ie.

Where do I get a certified copy of a document?

To get a certified copy of your document, you must bring your original document(s) to one of the certifying authorities listed below: 

• Solicitor or Lawyer
• Notary Public
• Peace Commissioner
• Justice of the Peace
• Commissioner for Oaths
• Post Office (United Kingdom only)

It should be noted that the certifying authority must confirm they have seen the original document.
They must state their full name and profession and stamp, sign and date the photocopy of the document.

Who pays for the cost of translating documents?

Applicants must pay the cost of translating these documents. You will need to factor this into the cost of the application process.

Who pays the annual renewal fee?

All nurses and midwives practising in Ireland are required to be registered by the NMBI on the Register of Nurses and Midwives and to complete annual renewal to maintain their registration.

Student nurses and midwives are not required to renew their registration. Any nurses or midwives who have registered for the first time, on or after 1 September 2023, are not required to renew until the 2025 annual renewal cycle

Why are compensation measures imposed?

Compensation measures may be imposed if: 

• your education programme covers significantly different matters to the undergraduate education provided in Ireland; 

       or

• the nursing or midwifery profession in Ireland comprises one or more regulated professional activities which do not exist in the corresponding profession in the applicant’s home State, and the education required in Ireland covers substantially different matters from those covered by the applicant’s attestation of competence or evidence of formal qualifications.

Why does NMBI publish details of findings and decisions against registered nurses and midwives through its Fitness to Practise inquiries on your website?

The decision to publish complies with NMBI’s publication policy is set out in Section 9 of the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. A publication policy to give effect to this requirement was approved by the Board of NMBI in April 2015. You can read on this page of our What we Do section.

Why is it necessary for me as a registered nurse prescriber to inform NMBI if I leave or terminate my job?

This is set out in relevant medicines regulation, specifically Medicinal Products (Prescription and Control of Supply) (Amendment) Regulations 2007 and the Misuse of Drugs (Amendment) Regulation 2007. These regulations set out that you are only authorised to prescribe if you are employed by a health service provider. 

In addition to be accepted to the Nurse Prescriber's Division of the Register of Nurses and Midwives it is necessary to notify NMBI of any change in the name or address of the employer or the location of the place of employment.

The Collaborative Practice Agreement (CPA) is specific to your current position as a Registered Nurse Prescriber. NMBI's requirements state that all CPAs are considered null and void on the termination or movement of employment for which the CPA is originally intended. You are required to complete and submit the Termination of CPA form, which you can access by logging onto MyNMBI.

If you decide to leave your current place of employment, you must inform NMBI in writing within five working days outlining the reason for same (e.g. change of employment).

Why is it so important to maintain a high standard for clinical records ?

There are several reasons:

1.    To document nursing and midwifery care. At a minimum the clinical record should include:

• An accurate assessment of the person’s physical, psychological and social well-being, and whenever necessary, the views of family and carers in relation to that assessment
• Evidence in relation to the planning and provision of nursing care, and an evaluation of the care provided

2.    To aid communication between the patient, the family and the health care team

3.    To provide documentary evidence of the delivery of quality patient care.

In addition to the NMBI guidance it is critical that your organisation operates to any relevant recordkeeping and documentation standards from other relevant agencies. An example is HIQA’s National Quality Standards for Residential Care Settings for Older People in Ireland. This standards document addresses record keeping requirements including the details required of each resident. Another example is the Mental Health Commission.

Regular audit has been shown to improve the standard of record keeping in nursing and midwifery and hence the standard of patient care. 

Why was the organisation’s name changed from An Bord Altranais to NMBI?

This happened as a result of Nurses and Midwives Act 2011. It provided for the name to change to Bord Altranais agus Cnáimhseachais na hÉireann/ Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and recognised midwifery as a separate profession.