The Nurses Act 1985 governs nurse training and registration and the practice of all nurses working in Ireland. An Bord Altranais is the statutory state body established to fulfil the purposes of the Act which include, inter alia, the registration, education and training, fitness to practice of nurses and the use of the title "nurse".
The position is that in this country there is only one level of nurse i.e. Registered General Nurse (RGN) which is equivalent to the British qualification of Registered General Nurse (RGN). The level of general nursing is governed by EU Directives which set down the minimum amount of training required to achieve this qualification or its equivalent throughout the European Union.
Ireland does not have a comparable qualification to the British grade of State Enrolled Nurse (SEN). The SEN was a UK qualification comprising of a two year training programme which required lower entry qualifications than those for pre-registration nursing education programmes. It is not recognised as a nursing qualification under Irish legislation, as training for it is deemed insufficient to qualify as a nurse registered with An Bord Altranais. Following a revision of the UK nurse education structure, SEN second level training ceased in 1992 and SENs were given the opportunity to undertake a conversion course to become RGNs. In 2001, my predecessor announced a special initiative to provide financial support to assist SENs working in the Irish health services to undertake a nursing conversion programme in the UK. Payment of the grant is subject to the SEN giving a written commitment to work in the Irish health service following completion of the programme and registration with An Bord Altranais. Upon successful completion of a conversion course s/he would also be entitled to incremental credit on the staff nurse salary scale of one point for every three years as a SEN (1:3), with the seventh increment being given for twenty years service in the Irish health services.
All EU citizens are entitled to receive equal treatment with Irish nationals in regard to employment in the Irish public health service. Registered nurses, regardless of nationality, receive incremental credit for genuine nursing experience gained anywhere in the world. This has been the position since 1998.
