Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 July 2015
22. Deputy Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin asked the Minister for Health his awareness of the crisis across the nursing home sector regarding the recruitment of nurses; the steps he is taking to ensure there are adequate nurses available to take up vacant post opportunities as they arise, including recruiting nurses from overseas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27597/15]
View answerThe background to this issue is that nurses who trained in a country outside of Ireland and wish to work in Ireland are required to apply to register as a nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). In assessing an applicant for registration, to protect the public, the NMBI seeks evidence from applicants of comparable standards of education and practice. The timeframe for the completion of the assessment of qualifications for registration takes up to a maximum of 90 days provided all necessary documentation has been supplied by the applicant.
The main difficulty to expediting timely applications as reported by the NMBI is that of delay/failure by the applicant or third parties to furnish the necessary documentation required to assess eligibility for registration and the overall volume. It is important to note that the NMBI are dealing with very significant volumes of applications at present. The NMBI are processing all applications as quickly as possible, while ensuring appropriate procedures and checks which are designed around protection of the public.
The NMBI, following assessment of qualifications by an applicant, may require an applicant nurse or midwife to undertake a period of adaptation and assessment, which if required, must be successfully completed as a pre-requisite to registration. This clinical adaptation period may last between six and twelve weeks. Clinical adaptation is a process of adjustment and assessment to support candidates who have not worked in the Irish health system previously. The NMBI require that adaptation takes place in an appropriate setting approved by the Board and within a certain timeframe. The minimum timeframe for completing the period of adaptation and assessment is six weeks.
A collaborative group including the Department of Health, HSE, the NMBI and Nursing Homes Ireland representatives have met to explore solutions to facilitate adaptation and registration delays. Proposals were agreed which will now be implemented and should result in an improvement in the difficulties currently being experienced.
