Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 13 May 1992

Vol. 419 No. 6

Written Answers. - Nursing Training.

John Bruton

Question:

128 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Health the reason Irish nurses trained in England, who are returning to nursing, having been out of the profession for a while, have to do a back to nursing course, whereas Irish trained nurses are not required to do this course; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Health (Dr. O'Connell)

EC directives provide that general nurse training throughout the EC must be of a certain minimum standard and that the qualification of Registered General Nurse awarded by An Bord Altranais in this country, and its equivalent throughout the EC, entitles the holder to work throughout the EC.

Nurses who received their training in another EC member state before these EC directives came into operation must satisfy An Bord Altranais that their training reached the minimum standards laid down by the Board. Where there is a perceived gap in such training, the Board would require the nurse in question to undergo a back to nursing course before entering on the register here.

Nurses trained in Ireland, either before or after the directive came into effect, are entitled to be registered to practice under the provisions of the Nurses Act, 1985.

In relation to the other basic nursing disciplines of paediatric, psychiatric and mental handicap nursing, where no EC directive yet applies, An Bord Altranais must again satisfy itself as to the level of training received, if such training took place outside this country, and can request an applicant for registration to undergo a back to nursing course.

The effect of this policy is to ensure that anyone who is registered to work as a nurse in this country, regardless of nationality, must have received sufficient training in the appropriate nursing discipline.