The Nurses Act, 1985, together
with the European Union (EU) Directives ensures a fair and transparent processing of applications from candidates holding
EU nursing and midwifery qualifications. The assessment of applications for candidates holding non-EU qualifications requires
a comprehensive evaluation to ensure the suitability of the applicant to have their name entered in a division of the register
maintained by An Bord Altranais.
An Bord Altranais maintains
separate divisions of the register for:
Registered General Nurse
(RGN)
Registered Midwife (RM)
Registered Mental Handicap
Nurse (RMHN)
Registered Nurse Tutor (RNT)
Registered Psychiatric Nurse
(RPN)
Registered Public Health
Nurse (RPHN)
Registered Sick Children’s
Nurse (RSCN)
An Bord Altranais mindful
of its regulatory authority to promote high standards of professional education and training and professional conduct among
nurses and its mission to protect the public through these functions, presents the following information for nurse and midwife
applicants to Ireland.
Please read carefully the
information provided.You may then wish to proceed with an application for registration. Detailed information on the application
procedures to be followed and documentation requirements is provided on the application form.
Application for a single
Division of the Register the register maintained by An Bord Altranais is divided into divisions that indicate different specialities
within the nursing profession. In order to apply for registration in a certain division it is necessary to have been educated
and trained in that division. For example if you were educated and trained as a General Nurse alone and yet have gained considerable
experience working as a Sick Children’s Nurse you will not be eligible to register on the division of the register pertaining
to Sick Children’s Nursing unless you can demonstrate educational preparation. Applications for two or more Divisions
of the Register Applicants wishing to have their name entered on two or more divisions of the register are required to have
met the education and training requirements set out below and to have completed a post-registration course that meets the
Requirements for Nurse Registration Education Programmes .
Post-Registration as set out in the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education
Programmes (An Bord Altranais, 2000).
The post-basic programme
must have a balance of theoretical and clinical instruction commensurate with the requirements of An Bord Altranais (2000).If
a second registration is dependent on a primary registration the applicant must apply for primary registration at the same
time as applying for the secondary registration. An applicant may wish to apply to register on a division of the register
(e.g. the psychiatric division) but received education and training leading to registration in that speciality secondary to
a primary qualification (e.g. a general nursing qualification). In this case the applicant is required to apply for registration
in the division in which the primary registration was obtained (i.e.
the general division) as well as the division in which he/she obtained secondary registration (i.e. the
psychiatric division).
Evaluation of an Application
When An Bord Altranais has
received all required documents, duly verified, an officer in the Education Department of An Bord Altranais undertakes an
evaluation of the application for registration. Each application is evaluated on an individual basis. The evaluation of the
application for registration is undertaken to:
(a) Assess that the applicant
is established as a first-level1nurse in the country of origin and that he or she is of good standing in that country and
in any other country where the applicant may have been registered
(b) Determine the adequacy
of the education and training course when compared to an equivalent course in Ireland
(c) Examine proof of English
language competency in cases where English is not the first language or primary language of expression of the applicant Education
and Training Requirements.
In order to be considered
for registration, applicants must be registered as first level nurses in the country where the nursing education programme
was completed. In order to determine the adequacy of the education and training course when compared to an equivalent course
in Ireland all applications for registration as a nurse are compared individually to the Requirements and Standards for Nurses
in Ireland as set out in the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration Education Programmes (An Bord Altranais, 2000)
document.
In order to be registered as a nurse, applicants must comply
with the following minimum education and training requirements as set out in the document:
the programme of education
and training must have been not less than three years in length or 4,600 hours and
the programme must have demonstrated
a balance of theoretical and practical instruction of not less than one-third theoretical instruction and not less than one-half
clinical or practical instruction.
General Nursing Applications
In the case of general nursing
applications, the programme must have included theoretical and clinical instruction and experience in:
general and specialist medicine;
general and specialist surgery;
accident and emergency;
child care and paediatrics;
maternity care (obstetrics);
mental health and psychiatry;
care of the older person;
and home/community nursing
and operating theatre.
Psychiatric Nursing Applications
In the case of psychiatric
nursing applications, the programme must have included theoretical and clinical instruction and experience in
psychiatric nursing (including
in-patient and community care settings);
specialist care, care of
the older person and adult general nursing.
Mental Handicap Nursing Applications
In the case of mental handicap
nursing applications, the programme must have included theoretical and clinical instruction and experience in mental handicap
nursing to include: education and development of the child and adult;
disorders of human behaviour;
acute nursing; specialist
areas;
and management.
Post-registration Experience and Post-registration Courses
Credit may be given for relevant
post-registration experience associated with post-registration courses when detailed information on such is provided with
an application.
First-level nurse relates
to a fully qualified Registered Nurse as opposed to an Enrolled, Associate, Assistant, or Practical nurse.
English Language Competence
English is the primary language
of operation in Ireland. English language
competence is required at a level that supports communication and enables the applicant to practice nursing safely and effectively
in Ireland. Therefore proof of English
language competence in cases where English is not the first language or primary language of expression of the applicant is
required. The applicant is required to provide evidence of competence through achievement of an overall band score of 6.5
on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Test. This score may be achieved from a combination
score of the four modules, reading, writing, speaking and listening. To achieve an overall score of 6.5 the applicant must
achieve a score of no less than 6.0 in both writing and speaking module and achieve a score of no less than 5.5 in both reading
and listening module. As part of the application for registration process the applicant will be required to arrange to have
a Test Report Form issued by IELTS submitted directly to An Bord Altranais by the test centre where the applicant undertook
the test. Test Report Forms that have been forwarded by the test centre directly to An Bord Altranais only are accepted. The
test must have been undertaken no more than 2 years prior to the date of application or the applicant must provide evidence
of having worked as a full time nurse in an English-speaking environment since having completed the test. This will be assessed
on an individual basis.
Further information on the
test may be obtained from http://www.ielts.org.
Currently there are two test centres in Ireland.
University College Dublin,
Applied Language Centre,
Belfield, Dublin 4.
University College Cork,
Language Centre, Cork City.
Theoretical Shortfall Information
on the routes to registration is outlined in detail on the application form for registration with An Bord Altranais. If, on
evaluation of an application, a theoretical shortfall is found in the education and training programme that led to registration
as a nurse and subsequent educational experiences, the applicant may be required to undertake an educational component with
a competent educational authority to address the shortfall. Successful completion of the educational component with a competent
educational authority is required before reapplying for registration. An aptitude test to determine eligibility for registration
with An Bord Altranais, is currently being developed. In the future it may be offered to candidates as an alternative to requiring
candidates to undertake educational components to address theoretical shortfalls. Adaptation and Assessment Following evaluation
of an application for registration an applicant may be required to undertake a period of adaptation. A period of adaptation
is a period of supervised practice possibly being accompanied by further education and training. An applicant undergoing a
period of adaptation will have his/her name entered on a Candidate Register maintained by An Bord Altranais.A nurse undergoing
a period of adaptation is referred to as a Candidate Nurse. The period of adaptation is under the responsibility of a qualified
nurse and this period of supervised practice shall be the subject of assessment. The assessment shall represent achievement
of An Bord Altranais ‘Competencies for Entry to the Register’. The Director of Nursing will attest to the suitability
of the Candidate Nurse to have his/her name entered on the register as maintained by An Bord Altranais following this period
of adaptation and assessment.
Competencies for Entry to the Register
An Bord Altranais developed
a framework of five domains of Competencies for Entry to the Register of Nurses in November 2000. Candidates requiring adaptation
will be measured against the five domains of competence as identified in the Requirements and Standards for Nurse Registration
Education Programmes (An Bord Altranais, 2000) document. These domains represent a broad enabling framework that facilitates
the assessment of the Candidate Nurse’s clinical practice during the period of adaptation.
Timeframe of Adaptation Period
It is suggested that the
minimum time for completing the adaptation and assessment tool is 6 weeks with an acknowledgement that most Candidate Nurses
could require up to 12 weeks to achieve the identified competencies. The Director of Nursing of a hospital or an institution
approved for the education and training of nurses who agrees to accept Candidate Nurses for adaptation has a responsibility
regarding an orientation programme and providing supervision for the Candidate Nurse during the adaptation and assessment
period. The Director of Nursing is at liberty to extend the period of adaptation and assessment to a maximum of 12 weeks in
order to facilitate the achievement of the competencies as identified in the action plan associated with the Competence Assessment
Tool. Periods of further extension are notified to An Bord Altranais.Recommendation for Registration A Director of Nursing
of an institution approved for the education and training of nurses shall furnish to An Bord Altranais a report on each Candidate
Nurse for registration who has completed a period of adaptation in that institution and any clinical site attached there to.
The report shall state whether, in the opinion of the Director of Nursing, the Candidate Nurse has, or has not, demonstrated
competence to practice in the discipline of nursing in which registration is being sought and shall recommend or not recommend
registration accordingly.
Registration
Once An Bord Altranais has
received a report on a given Candidate Nurse from a Director of Nursing in which the Director recommends registration, staff
at An Bord Altranais will proceed with the registration procedure. The Candidate Nurse will have his/her name entered on the
appropriate division of the register. The Registered Nurse will be notified by An Bord Altranais within a period of two weeks
and will be given a personal identification number (PIN).A certificate will be sent to the nurse that can be used as evidence
of registration with An Bord Altranais. Appeals Process An applicant to An Bord Altranais may appeal the outcome of an evaluation
of his/her application for registration. A Candidate Nurse may appeal the outcome of a period of adaptation and assessment.
Detailed information on the appeals process is available on the application form. Accessing Clinical Placement In order to
undertake a period of adaptation and assessment it is necessary to arrange a clinical placement in a teaching hospital or
an institution approved for the education and training of nurses. The National Coordinator for Clinical Placements at the
Health Service Employers Agency arranges such clinical placements on behalf of employers who have recruited nurses and midwives
from overseas. Applicants without an employer may seek to independently arrange clinical placement in a teaching hospital
or an institution approved for the education and training of nurses.
Detailed information on the
process of arranging clinical placements is available at http://www.hsea.ie in an information
leaflet titled Thinking about Nursing
