(Last published - March 21, 2022. Recently updated in November 2023)
An Overview of Nursing in Ireland:
1. The Career Pathway Salary of Nurses in Ireland
2. Working Conditions
3. How to Apply as a Nurse in Ireland
4. Documents to Comply
5. FAQs
Every country's population is aging, but Ireland's population is aging at a rapid rate. True enough, Ireland is in desperate need of trained healthcare professionals, but that isn't the only reason nurses are flocking to the nation. This location is unquestionably a fantastic place to work, live, and relax.
1NURSE.com's team has assembled all of the required information for international nurses interested in working and living in Ireland. To learn more, keep reading this article.
If you're a foreign nurse who wants to work in Ireland, you must have/be:
- Complete the academic requirements
- Hold a Nursing license in your country
- Nursing experience of at least 2 years is required.
- Nurses from outside the EU must pass the IELTS exam in order to be considered for an interview.
- Complete credential review
Section A: The Career Pathway
Nurses and midwives are in short supply in Ireland now, and the profession's overall age profile suggests that the shortfall will worsen in the coming decade as our population grows and demographics evolve. The Irish government's plan of depending on migrant nurses and midwives to fill the gap is unsustainable.
In Ireland, there are numerous options for pursuing a career as a nurse. The following are some of the most popular job paths in this country.
Clinical
The clinical track provides you with the chance to work in a wide range of nursing and midwifery positions. The emphasis is on delivering direct patient care. It can lead to specialty or advanced practice positions.
Management
Pathway to management
Nurse and midwife managers assist patients by overseeing the personnel who look after them. This path can lead to positions in service or operations management.
Their responsibilities include:
- decision-making and planning
- assuming command and leading
- assisting and inspiring employees
- being a good example
Section B: Salary of Nurses in Ireland
The average annual salary for an Entry Level Registered Nurse (RN) is €29,350 ranging from a minimum of €21,000 to maximum of €37,000.
The average annual salary for a Mid Career Registered Nurse (RN) is €37,336 ranging from a minimum of €32,000 to a maximum of €50,000.
SOURCE: Average Registered Nurse (RN) Hourly Pay in Ireland. (2023) PayScale. https://www.payscale.com/research/IE/Job=Registered_Nurse_(RN)/Salary
Section C: Working Conditions
Nurse-Patient Ratio: While statistics on nurse-to-patient ratios in Ireland is sparse, it is reasonable to assume that during the afternoon shift, our nurse-to-patient ratios range from 1:6 to 1:15.
Hospital Equipment: Ireland has one of the best healthcare systems in the world. The country’s healthcare is of very high quality, with public satisfaction ratings of 90% for outpatient and 85% for inpatient services. General Practitioners are almost completely satisfied, with a score of 97 percent.
Working Atmosphere: Ireland's healthcare system is not only good for your career, but it's also good for your health. As a citizen of the country, you'll be able to take advantage of better healthcare. Working in healthcare in Ireland is an excellent step for your happiness. The Irish worker, according to a 2016 research, is the fourth happiest in the world.
Furthermore, Dublin comes out on top as Europe's happiest city for employees. The United Kingdom was recognized as the 20th best country for workers out of 35 countries studied.
Shifting: Under the HRA, nurses and midwives' standard wor-week was increased to 39 hours. They are, however, allowed to keep the 37.5-week schedule with the resulting salary adjustment. Staff who did not choose this option will need to create new rosters that include the additional hours.
Patient Safety: To improve the quality and safety of the care they offer, registered nurses participate in a variety of collaborative initiatives.
Section D: How to Apply as a Nurse in Ireland
You must first register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland if you are a foreign nurse or midwife who wants to work in Ireland (NMBI).
THE NMBI
The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) is Ireland's nursing regulatory body. Any nurse or midwife intending to practice in Ireland must be registered and approved by the National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), which is analogous to AHPRA in Australia and NZNC in New Zealand.
Irish Registry For Nurses and Midwives - Choose The Division That Best Suits You
The NMBI's registry is broken down into several divisions. These include various nursing and midwifery specializations. The nursing or midwifery training programs you have completed will influence your decision. For instance, if you have completed general nurse training in your home country, you would apply to the General Division of the register. Although you are allowed to apply for more than one division, you must have the necessary qualifications in each field.
Application Group
It's critical to select the appropriate application group because it will influence which documents you'll need to send to the NMBI and how your application will be handled.
The three groups are as follows:
- 1st Group. You trained as a general nurse or midwife in the EU/EEA and are eligible for automatic or acquired recognition.
The EU establishes minimum standards for nursing and midwifery training. When a country becomes an EU member, they must ensure their training programs meet these standards. If your training began after your country's compliance, you can qualify for Automatic Recognition, allowing NMBI to automatically register you upon application. Refer to page 9 of the PDF for the specific compliance dates.
If you started your training before your country met the EU standards, you may be eligible for Acquired Recognition. To qualify, demonstrate that your post-qualification work experience as a nurse or midwife is sufficient for registration. Contact your country's nursing or midwifery registration authority for evidence of your professional practice.
- 2nd group. You were educated in a division other than general nursing or midwifery in the EU/EEA, or you were educated as a general nurse or midwife but want to be recognized under the general system.
You are eligible for Group 2 if your training as a general nurse or midwife from an EU/EEA country does not meet Automatic or Acquired Recognition standards. Additionally, if you've trained in an EU/EEA country in a specialization outside general nursing or midwifery, you also belong to Group 2 because there are no agreed-upon EU standards for these specializations.
If you fall into Group 2, the NMBI will evaluate your application using the 'general system,' conducting a comprehensive assessment of your training and education. They will compare your training to the applicable standards in Ireland for your specific specialization.
Regarding English language requirements for Group 1 and Group 2 applicants, NMBI doesn't have official requirements. However, individual employers might request evidence of your English language proficiency, like an IELTS Certificate at a specific grade.
- 3rd group. You received your education outside of the EU/EEA.
If you're a nurse or midwife trained outside the EU/EEA, you belong to Group 3. To apply for NMBI registration, you need full registration as a nurse or midwife in your current country of residence and completion of a recognized training program. For English language requirements for Group 3 nurses and midwives, if English isn't your first language, you must demonstrate sufficient proficiency to carry out nursing duties in Ireland. The only accepted proof by NMBI is an IELTS (International English Language Testing System) certificate.
Your IELTS certificate should be no more than two years old at the time of application and must have an overall score of 7, with at least 7 in speaking and writing, and at least 6.5 in reading and listening.
Application Process
1. Download the Overseas Application Request Form, fill it out, and send it in.
The application request form can be found here. You'll need to provide your contact information and specify the division(s) of the register you'd like to apply for as you fill out the form.
If you are a Group 3 applicant who has taken the IELTS exam, you must supply your TRF (Test Report Form) number so that the NMBI can verify the authenticity of your IELTS certificate. This number can be found on your IELTS certificate in the lower right corner. You will need to provide your credit/debit card details in order to pay your Overseas Registration Application Fee.
2. The NMBI will send you an Overseas Registration Application Pack once they have processed your application request form and received your fee.
3. You'll find certain forms in the application pack that you'll need to send to various authorities in your country (or any country in which you have been registered or have practiced). The authorities must fill out the forms and deliver them to the NMBI, together with any required documentation.
4. When the NMBI has received all of the necessary material, they will evaluate your application. Keep in mind that you can check the status of your application through your online account.
5. You’ll receive a decision letter from the NMBI.
Section E: Ireland Immigration For Nurses
You may require a visa to live and work in Ireland if you are not from an EU/EEA country. Because the immigration and visa laws are complicated, it's advisable to check the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service's website to see if you need a visa and which one is appropriate for you.
Link: https://www.irishimmigration.ie/
Critical Skills Employment Permit
For positions that will last at least two years, many nurses and midwives will apply for a Critical Skills Employment Permit, whereas for jobs that will last less than two years, they will apply for a General Employment Permit.
General Employment Permit
Either you or your company can apply for a General Employment Permit. To obtain this visa, you must have a job offer of at least 12 months duration and a salary of at least €30,000 per year, though there are occasional exceptions.
Section F: Examination
Aptitude Test
You will need to take the aptitude test if your hospital does not provide the adaption program. The Royal College of Surgeons for Ireland conducts a two-day test in Dublin (RCSI). The test is based on the skills that a newly qualified general nurse in Ireland should possess.
OET Exam
The Occupational English Test (OET) is a specialized exam designed to evaluate the language skills of healthcare professionals who would be working in an English-speaking country.
The minimum OET grade required of overseas-trained nurses to register and work in Ireland has been modified by Ireland's nursing regulatory organization. The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) has reduced the OET requirement for nurses and midwives from a B to a C+.
IELTS exam
For overseas nursing applicants wishing to work and live in Ireland, the International English Language Test System (IELTS) is required. To be able to qualify, you must have an overall score of band 7 on the IELTS exam.
Section G: FAQs
Is nursing a viable profession in Ireland?
Nurses can enjoy the following benefits in Ireland. Job flexibility, advancement opportunities, travel, just to name a few. Nurses in Ireland also earn an average annual pay of €38,000 per year.
Is it possible for a foreign nurse to work in Ireland?
You must register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland if you are trained outside of the EU and want to work as a nurse or midwife in Ireland. Nurses and midwives from other countries who want to work in Ireland can apply to have their information added to the NMBI register.
https://www.ihrgroup.com.au/requirements/ireland
