NMBI Voice

Healthcare professionals across Ireland maintain regulatory compliance whilst managing intensive clinical workloads on a daily basis. Managing professional registration should not feel like an administrative burden that takes away from hands-on patient care. 
This discussion explores the newly updated Professional Competence Scheme and reveals how recent pilot insights have prompted regulators to drastically simplify the recording and reflection process for frontline staff.
Host Kathyann Barrett invites Mary Devane, Professional Officer and scheme lead at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, alongside St Francis Hospice colleagues Mairead MacDonagh and Rachelle Reyes, to share their first-hand experiences of leading the pilot and preparing for the upcoming nationwide rollout.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Introducing the regulatory goals of the professional competence scheme.
Clinical experiences in specialised palliative care at St Francis Hospice.
Staff feedback regarding initial documentation and technology hurdles.
Key updates simplifying the CPD reflection and logging process.
Planning for the upcoming nationwide rollout starting in January.
GUESTS DETAILS
Mary Devane serves as the Professional Officer and Professional Competence Scheme Lead at the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. She focuses on regulatory leadership and ensures the scheme maintains the highest standards of professional conduct across the nursing and midwifery register.
Mairead MacDonagh works as a Practice Development Nurse at St Francis Hospice Dublin. She provides extensive expertise in hospice education, clinical nursing regulation, and professional development training for hospice staff.
Rachelle Reyes is a Clinical Nurse Manager at St Francis Hospice Dublin. She manages the inpatient unit and contributes deep clinical experience to the team, focusing on palliative care delivery and nursing leadership.
MORE INFORMATION
NMBI is the statutory body which sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. We advise on how nurses and midwives should provide care to patients, their families and society. 
Our mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct. We achieve this by providing leadership to registered nurses and midwives to support them to deliver safe care through innovative and proactive professional regulation.  
Our functions in safeguarding the public involve establishing and maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We also establish procedures and criteria for the assessment and registration of nurses and midwives. Visit the Registration section of our website to learn more. Additionally, we set the standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery education programmes. We approve education programmes and further education programmes for the purposes for nurses and midwives. Visit NMBI.ie to learn more. 
QUOTES
PCS is the Professional Confidence Scheme, it's set up really to protect the public. Mary T.
Devane
I kind of said to people, you're already doing this. It's just going to be that you just have to fill in the form. It's not like a thing that you'd be there for ages.. - Mairead MacDonagh
There's a lot of opportunities for the staff nurses here in St. Francis Hospice to actually get their points up." - Rachelle Reyes
KEYWORDS: 
#ProfessionalCompetenceScheme#Pilot#CPDHoursRegistration#NursingAndMidwiferyBoard

Career longevity in nursing requires more than clinical skill. It demands a strategic approach to professional growth and disciplined network building. Nurses often find themselves isolated when moving into promotional posts. This creates a critical gap between administrative strategy and patient care.
We explore five decades of nursing evolution, discussing how to maintain leadership effectiveness while staying connected to patient care. We examine the shift from institutional mental health models to community-based care and the vital importance of lifelong learning.
Paul Gallagher, former Regional Director of Nursing for the Dublin and South East region, joins his father, Fionn Gallagher, a veteran mental health nurse. They share hard-won lessons from their combined half-century of experience shaping the Irish nursing profession.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Evolution of Irish psychiatric nursing since the 1950s.
Transitioning from institutional care to community-based models.
Importance of maintaining patient connection while in leadership.
Building personal and professional safety networks for career support.
Leveraging lifelong learning and AI tools for nursing future.
GUESTS DETAILS
Paul Gallagher is a recently retired Regional Director of Nursing and Midwifery for the Dublin and South East region. He has served in leadership roles across major Irish hospitals, including St. James's and Beaumont. 
Fionn Gallagher is a retired psychiatric nurse who helped shape mental health services following the 1945 Mental Treatment Act. Both have dedicated their careers to Irish healthcare development and professional standards. 
 
MORE INFORMATION
NMBI is the statutory body which sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. We advise on how nurses and midwives should provide care to patients, their families and society. 
Our mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct. We achieve this by providing leadership to registered nurses and midwives to support them to deliver safe care through innovative and proactive professional regulation.  
Our functions in safeguarding the public involve establishing and maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We also establish procedures and criteria for the assessment and registration of nurses and midwives. 
Visit the Registration section of our website to learn more. Additionally, we set the standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery education programmes. We approve education programmes and further education programmes for the purposes for nurses and midwives. Visit NMBI.ie to learn more. 
QUOTES
If in doubt, shout, look for help. Don't feel you're on your own. - Paul Gallagher
I think nursing is here to stay and has a major part to play in the development of any mental health service. - Fionn Gallagher
I created a network of safety to support me in that role, including going to dad for advice. - Paul Gallagher
Always say, well, what's your next plan? Because in this day and age, you probably need to be developing and demonstrating that. - Paul Gallagher
KEYWORDS
#IrishNursingCareer#Leadership#NursingProfessionalNetwork#HealthcareCareerGrowth#MentalHealthNursingEvolution

Protecting the public in a rapidly digitised world requires more than just new technology. Success in the modern era demands a bridge between national health policy and the reality of the hospital ward.
This episode explores how Ireland's nursing leaders and innovators are closing that gap to improve patient outcomes. We discuss digital integration, frontline leadership, and the power of human-centric design.
Joining host Kathyann Barrett are Ireland's Chief Nursing Officer Rachel Kenna, NMBI Board President Áine Lynch, and Innovation Fellows Una Rogers and Anne Marie Kieran, alongside advanced practice voices Jess Sears and Emer Shine.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Integrating digital care into advanced practice specialties.
Why leaders must stay connected to frontline reality.
Building trust and breaking barriers with vulnerable patients.
Using design thinking to solve everyday ward challenges.
Boosting professional confidence through innovation and networking.
GUEST DETAILS
This episode features a powerhouse panel of Irish nursing and midwifery leaders. Rachel Kenna serves as the Chief Nursing Officer, leading national health policy with a focus on digital integration. 
Áine Lynch, as NMBI Board President, champions practical leadership accessible to staff. Innovation Fellows Una Rogers and Anne Marie Kieran, alongside Advanced Nurse Practitioner Jess Sears and Midwife Emer Shine, provide frontline expertise on implementing patient-centred solutions and human-centric design.
MORE INFORMATION
NMBI is the statutory body which sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. We advise on how nurses and midwives should provide care to patients, their families and society. 
Our mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct. 
We achieve this by providing leadership to registered nurses and midwives to support them to deliver safe care through innovative and proactive professional regulation.  
Our functions in safeguarding the public involve establishing and maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We also establish procedures and criteria for the assessment and registration of nurses and midwives. 
Visit the Registration section of our website to learn more. Additionally, we set the standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery education programmes. 
We approve education programmes and further education programmes for the purposes for nurses and midwives. Visit NMBI.ie to learn more. 
QUOTES
Remove the barriers of fear, and it'll take us to great places, particularly with the young generation. - Rachel Kenna
I think it is leaders, you know, all leaders I know want to be accessible. - Áine Lynch
The only reason why someone should not be on HIV medication is if they have decided that they don't want to be. - Jess Sears
Meeting people where they're at, so we're here now, and that's great, and let's see what we can do from now. - Emer Shine
I think I understand the value of what we've done and the difficult journey we've had, and to have confidence in asking the question, is this a good idea? - Anne Marie Kieran
If you do have an idea, and you just want to troubleshoot it... We're always happy to consult on different ideas. - Una Rogers
KEYWORDS #IrishNursingInnovation#IrishMidwiferyInnovation#FrontlineLeadershipStrategy#HealthcareDesignThinking

Everyone goes to work every day wanting to make a difference. 
The professional regulation shield provides a clear framework to nurses and midwives to navigate daily challenges while maintaining clinical excellence. This discussion demystifies the role of the regulator beyond fitness to practise. We explore how the NMBI Code of Conduct serves as a foundational roadmap for every practitioner.
Carolyn Donohoe, CEO of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, joins the podcast to share her expertise. With a distinguished career in clinical facilitation and hospital management, she brings a practical perspective to regulatory governance. 
We examine how understanding and utilising these professional tools directly empowers practitioners to protect the public while advancing their own careers.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Why regulation acts as a professional shield for nurses and midwives.
The fundamental role of the Code of Conduct in practise.
Distinguishing between fitness to practice and professional standards.
Maintaining public trust through competence and professional development.
Navigating the high-tech and high-touch future of healthcare.
GUEST DETAILS
Carolyn Donohoe is CEO of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, appointed permanently summer 2025. She leads strategically for protection of the public by shaping and developing professional regulation for the nursing and midwifery professions. Her nursing career spans intensive care clinical facilitation, hospital management, and strategic education leadership before joining NMBI, bringing expertise in regulatory frameworks and translating clinical experience into effective governance.
MORE INFORMATION
NMBI is the statutory body which sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. We advise on how nurses and midwives should provide care to patients, their families and society. 
Our mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct. We achieve this by providing leadership to registered nurses and midwives to support them to deliver safe care through innovative and proactive professional regulation.  
Our functions in safeguarding the public involve establishing and maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We also establish procedures and criteria for the assessment and registration of nurses and midwives. Visit the Registration section of our website to learn more. 
Additionally, we set the standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery education programmes. We approve education programmes and further education programmes for the purposes for nurses and midwives. Visit NMBI.ie to learn more. 
QUOTES
I would see regulation as my shield. I have a framework that I can work to that will keep me safe and keep the patients safe. - Carolyn Donohoe
The first link came into my psyche, that actually there was a code of conduct and ethics that was important to us now that we were professional. - Carolyn Donohoe
If you are in any way or shape worried or concerned, refer to it, check what the right practice should be, and look at my scope to see, do I have all the pieces of that puzzle to make sure I am safe. - Carolyn Donohoe
KEYWORDS #NMBIIreland#CodeOfConduct#ScopeOfPractice#ProfessionalDevelopment#NMBIVoice

The regulation of professional standards in Irish nursing and midwifery is complex, often misunderstood, and critical to public protection. Ensuring that the regulator remains impartial and focused on public interest requires expertise that goes beyond the professions themselves.
This episode tackles the essential role of lay members in maintaining high standards and robust governance within statutory bodies. We explore the core positive aspects of professional regulation, the challenge of balancing standards with real-world pressures, and the emerging risks—like cybersecurity and digitalisation—facing every modern organisation.
Joining us to validate and expand upon this core thesis is respected industry colleague John Horan. John is a current member of the NMBI Board and Chair of its Audit and Risk Committee, bringing extensive senior management experience from organisations including Aer Lingus, the Irish Hotels Federation, and Veterinary Ireland
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
John Horan's varied career journey
Role of a public representative
The positive purpose of regulation
Lay-professional mix on boards
Major organisational risks emerging now
GUESTS DETAILS
John Horan is a board member of NMBI and currently serves as the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. He has previously served as Chairperson of a State Board and was Chief Executive of both the Irish Hotels Federation and Veterinary Ireland, showcasing his strong background in management practice and national-level lobbying.
MORE INFORMATION
NMBI is the statutory body which sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. We advise on how nurses and midwives should provide care to patients, their families and society. 
Our mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct. We achieve this by providing leadership to registered nurses and midwives to support them to deliver safe care through innovative and proactive professional regulation.  
Our functions in safeguarding the public involve establishing and maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We also establish procedures and criteria for the assessment and registration of nurses and midwives. Visit the Registration section of our website to learn more. Additionally, we set the standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery education programmes. 
We approve education programmes and further education programmes for the purposes for nurses and midwives. 
Visit NMBI.ie to learn more. 
QUOTES
I believe that the professionals that I've dealt with are harder on their own colleagues and peers than I would be as a lay person. - John Horan
To a young person starting out, I would say, yeah, if a position comes up in the public sector, grab it with both hands. - John Horan
Don't get sort of pigeonholed, and don't get blinkered into thinking, oh, this is just this is the one route I'm on." - John Horan
KEYWORDS:  #NursingRegulation #LayMember #BoardGovernance #ProfessionalStandards #PublicSector