NMBI Voice

NMBI

NMBI Voice covers the key changes and challenges facing our profession today. Whether you're dealing with new regulations, maintaining your professional development, or navigating ethical decisions in your daily practice, NMBI Voice breaks down complex topics into practical guidance you can use. You'll hear from NMBI experts and colleagues who understand the realities of our work environment, offering clear explanations of what new policies mean for your practice and career. New episodes air on the first Monday of every month, giving you the information you need to maintain excellent standards while focusing on what matters most – caring for your patients.

  1. Jul 6

    The Value of NMBI

    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 Value of NMBI

  2. Jun 8

    Governance In NMBI

    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 journeyRole of a public representativeThe positive purpose of regulationLay-professional mix on boardsMajor 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

    Governance In NMBI

  3. May 4

    Chief Nurse on Policy Power

    Irish nurses and midwives face constant pressure to innovate and improve the nation's health system while maintaining high standards of care. Achieving genuine policy change requires the lived experience of front-line professionals to be heard and acted upon. This episode delves into the critical role nurses and midwives play in shaping high-level health policy, leading workforce reform, and embracing a digital future. We discuss the success of advanced practice in improving patient access, the 47 recommendations from the Expert Review Body, and why optimism must overcome fear regarding AI and technology in healthcare. Host Kathyann Barrett, NMBI Director of Corporate Services and Strategy, is joined by Ireland's Chief Nurse, Rachel Kenna. Rachel is an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health, responsible for the National Patient Safety Office and strategic workforce planning. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT - Rachel Kenna's early nursing ambition.- Value of working abroad experience.- Chief Nurse's extensive policy responsibilities.- Advanced practice drives significant access.- AI and digital as the future. GUESTS DETAILS Rachel Kenna is the Chief Nursing Officer for Ireland and an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health. Her responsibilities include the National Patient Safety Office, strategic workforce planning, and professional regulation policy. She is skilled at translating clinical knowledge into effective policy and is committed to ensuring the voice of nurses and midwives is heard at the highest government levels. 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 Nurses and midwives can actually turn their hand to anything. - Rachel Kenna The system that we work in and operating as a nurse in a health system, gave me a huge understanding. - Rachel Kenna My clinical knowledge is hugely important in terms of being able to perform in that space. -  Rachel Kenna KEYWORDS #AdvancedPractice #NursingPolicy #DigitalHealth #WorkforceReform #NMBI

    Chief Nurse on Policy Power

  4. Apr 6

    Healthcare Access: Breaking Barriers

    Vulnerable people in our society face significant barriers when accessing essential healthcare services. These non-traditional challenges require nurses and midwives to step outside conventional clinical settings and adopt autonomous, flexible roles to ensure that necessary care is delivered. This episode explores how two healthcare professionals are meeting patients where they are, breaking down systemic barriers, and using innovative communication to provide support during pregnancy, substance use, and chronic conditions like epilepsy. The conversation highlights the vital importance of adaptability and relational skills in modern healthcare.1 Host Kathyann Barrett is joined by Jess Sears, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Inclusion Health Epilepsy at St James’s Hospital, and Emer Shine, a midwife who runs the Daisy Clinic at The Coombe Hospital, offering support to pregnant people in international protection or homeless services. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Emer’s journey from nurse to midwife.Daisy Clinic: Support for vulnerable pregnant people.Jess's path to inclusion health nursing.Overcoming barriers to public healthcare access.The critical importance of communication skills GUESTS DETAILS Emer Shine, Clinical Midwife Manager at the Daisy Clinic, The Coombe Hospital. Emer transitioned from general nursing to midwifery and has extensive experience working in addiction services. She is highly skilled in complex patient communication and building long-term trusting relationships with vulnerable women and families Contact :  Email:eshine@coombe.ie Jess Sears, Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Inclusion Health Epilepsy, St James’s Hospital. Jess has nearly 20 years of experience supporting vulnerable populations in public health. Her skills include providing specialist, opportunistic expert care and finding creative ways to overcome barriers to medication access and appointments Contact : linkedin.com/in/jess-sears-5a03b349 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 It's the communication part of it, yeah, for me was the biggest thing. -  Emer Shine Just keep chasing Opportunities to learn new things and things that you're excited about. -  Jess Sears You just need to be there when you say you will be, not making any promises that you can't keep and just do what you say you'll do. -  Jess Sears I think support is the main objective of the days of clinic, and just giving them somebody that they can they can contact if needs be. - Emer Shine KEYWORDS: #InclusionHealth #IrishNursing #MidwiferyCare #HealthcareAccess #VulnerablePopulations

    Healthcare Access: Breaking Barriers

  5. Mar 2

    A Journey in Care: From Frontline Nursing to Board President

    Maintaining the highest standards of clinical care while navigating the complex requirements of professional regulation can feel like a daunting challenge for healthcare practitioners in a rapidly evolving system. Professionals often struggle to balance their daily clinical duties with the overarching need for strategic growth and public safety. This episode explores the vital intersection of clinical excellence and regulatory oversight, offering a roadmap for career progression and professional development. We delve into the importance of the new Code of Conduct, the upcoming professional competence schemes, and how active listening transforms patient engagement into meaningful partnership. Our guest is Áine Lynch, the President of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. With decades of experience spanning orthopaedics, nurse practice development, and executive leadership, Áine brings a wealth of knowledge from her distinguished career at Tallaght University Hospital and beyond. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Inspiration for entering the nursing professionGaining clinical experience through global travelTransitioning from clinical to strategic leadershipThe boards role in public protectionNew strategy for supporting Irish registrants GUEST DETAILS Áine Lynch is the President of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland and a seasoned healthcare leader. She currently serves as a senior nurse leader at Tallaght University Hospital, where she has held various pivotal roles including Director of Nursing. Her expertise lies in orthopaedic nursing, nurse practice development, and strategic health service planning. Áine is recognised for her ability to bridge the gap between frontline clinical practice and national regulatory policy. 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 It is important for leaders in the professions to stay connected to what is happening clinically." — Áine Lynch "It is so important that we are encouraging our colleagues. And it is that nurturing piece, that kind of nudge." — Áine Lynch "I am thrilled to be where I am in my career in terms of all that I have had the privilege of doing." — Áine Lynch "It is all about active listening and genuine engagement. It is not a tick box exercise." — Áine Lynch "Work hard. Have adventures. Make great friends. All of that has happened." — Áine Lynch KEYWORDS #NursingLeadership #PublicProtection #ProfessionalRegulation #HealthcareStrategy #NursingCareer

    A Journey in Care: From Frontline Nursing to Board President

  6. Feb 2

    Nursing and Midwifery Innovation

    The healthcare landscape constantly faces complex challenges, demanding innovative solutions to enhance patient care and professional practice across the clinical frontline. This episode delves into the world of healthcare innovation, exploring how nurses and midwives are uniquely positioned to drive meaningful change in service delivery, patient experience, and operational efficiency. The discussion highlights successful projects, including the use of virtual reality for pain management and digital apps for crucial communication. Listeners are given practical advice on how to turn their own ideas into funded, successful reality. Host Kathyann Barrett, NMBI Head of Operations, is joined by two great innovators: Una Rogers, National Nursing and Midwifery Innovation Fellow, and Anna Marie Kiernan, Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner in Pain Medicine and National Nursing & Midwifery Innovation Fellow. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Una & Anna Marie’s career paths and new rolesCOVID-19 as a driver for digital healthInnovation is about multidisciplinary collaborationHuman-centred design transforms servicesAdvice for frontline innovators GUESTS DETAILS UNA ROGERS:  Una is the National Nursing and Midwifery Innovation Fellow with the HSE Spark Innovation Programme. She is a Community Midwife Manager with over 12 years of experience, deeply committed to woman-centred, holistic maternity care. Una successfully led a Quality Improvement Project that used technology to enhance interpretation services in the Maternity Outpatients Department, improving patient satisfaction while reducing costs. Contact Una:  linkedin: linkedin.com/in/una-rogers-200251280 ANNA MARIE KIERNAN:  Anna Marie is a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) in Pain Medicine and a National Nursing & Midwifery Innovation Fellow with the HSE Spark Innovation Programme. She has successfully led service redesign initiatives, significantly reducing patient wait times for complex pain treatment. Anna Marie has also co-developed extended reality tools for chronic pain self-management and is focused on developing innovation literacy for frontline staff. Contact Anna Maire: Website: https://healthservice.hse.ie/staff/spark-innovation-programme/Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/anna-marie-kiernan-69506a220 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 Innovation is about multidisciplinary collaboration with the human at the centre, always making sure that what we're doing is to improve the outcome for the patient, but also the profession. - Una RogersIt's not thinking like, you know, you're out thinking outside of the box. It's thinking like there never was a box. - Una RogersI always say I go into a patient with a clean slate. I don't base my opinion on someone else's story. I create my own story with a patient. - Anna Marie KiernanI think the advice I would give would be to have a little bit of belief in yourself and confidence in yourself - Anna Marie Kiernan KEYWORDS Innovation, multidisciplinary collaboration, nursing and midwifery, patient outcomes, digital health, human-centered design, pain management, virtual reality, augmented reality

    Nursing and Midwifery Innovation

  7. Jan 12

    Midwifery: Science Meets Compassionate Care

    Regulation of the nursing and midwifery professions is often viewed as a detached, rules-based process, yet its true role is to protect the public by actively supporting the professional development of its practitioners. This balance is critical to maintain the public's trust in these highly-regarded caring professions, and it requires a forward-thinking approach that embraces both the science and the humanity of care. This episode explores the unique identity of the midwifery profession, examining its core principles of art and science, its evolution towards integrated community care, and the importance of its professional distinction from nursing. It offers perspectives on education, the future of practice, and the profound, privileged role of the midwife. Host Kathyann Barrett, NMBI Head of Operations, is joined by Dr. Karn Cliffe, NMBI Director of Professional Standards Midwifery, and Lauren Walsh, a second year midwifery student at UCD, for this insightful discussion. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Midwifery career path and travelThe art and science of midwiferyMidwifery's distinct professional identityShift to integrated community careThe privilege of a midwife's role GUESTS DETAILS Dr. Karn Cliffe is the Director for Professional Standards for Midwifery with the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). A dual-qualified nurse and midwife, she has extensive international experience in community and hospital settings and holds the Adjunct Professor title at Trinity College Dublin. She is joined by Lauren Walsh, a second-year midwifery student at UCD. 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 nurses and midwives. Visit NMBI.ie to learn more.  QUOTES It's looking at the woman and the baby as a unit. So we never look at just the woman, and we look at the woman carrying her baby. - Dr. Karn CliffeI hope we see more integration and integration of care across the community and the acute settings. - Dr. Karn CliffeI loved literally within the first week of starting in my training, the end of the first week, going, Wow, this is it. I'm home. - Lauren Walsh KEYWORDS #IrishMidwifery #MidwiferyStandards #PerinatalCare #MidwiferyEducation #NMBI

    Midwifery: Science Meets Compassionate Care

  8. 12/01/2025

    CEO Carolyn Donohoe: On Career Journey And Regulator Leadership

    Nurses and midwives need clarity on regulation's dual role protecting public whilst actively supporting their professional development. Carolyn Donohoe, NMBI CEO, explains how right touch regulation balances proportionate standards with fairness, why undergraduate education now incorporates equality diversity inclusion and social determinants of health, and how strategic focus on plain English communication makes professional requirements accessible. With a nursing background spanning intensive care teaching to hospital management, she shares a career journey from bedside's instant gratification to broader leadership impact, maintaining public trust consistently ranking top two professions in Ipsos surveys, and encouraging registrants to engage without fear through road shows, webinars, and consultations whilst doing their best with available resources. THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT Career journey bedside nurse to CEO Regulation means setting standards based risk Right touch proportionate fair transparent approach Undergraduate reform equality diversity holistic care Supporting registrants plain English accessible communicationGUEST DETAILS Carolyn Donohoe is CEO of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, appointed permanently summer 2025. She leads strategically for the 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 It's just trying to be more valuable to society. So for the next 10 years, what's the value add of nursing and what's the value add of midwifery? - Carolyn DonohoeIt was about human interaction and those connections and how you could help and make people better. - Carolyn DonohoeWe set rules for nurses and midwives in this country to practice, because we recognise they have the opportunity to interact with very vulnerable people and to do jobs that could potentially cause a lot of harm if they didn't, if the nurse or midwife didn't know what they were doing. So you have to put in kind of safeguards around that. - Carolyn DonohoeKEYWORDS #NursingRegulation #MidwiferyStandards #PublicProtection #ProfessionalCompetence #RightTouchRegulation What is NMBI Voice? NMBI Voice covers the key changes and challenges facing our profession today. Whether you're dealing with new regulations, maintaining your professional development, or navigating ethical decisions in your daily practice, NMBI Voice breaks down complex topics into practical guidance you can use. You'll hear from NMBI experts and colleagues who understand the realities of our work environment, offering clear explanations of what new policies mean for your practice and career. New episodes air on the first Monday of every month, giving you the information you need to maintain excellent standards while focusing on what matters most – caring for your patients.

    CEO Carolyn Donohoe: On Career Journey And Regulator Leadership
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NMBI Voice covers the key changes and challenges facing our profession today. Whether you're dealing with new regulations, maintaining your professional development, or navigating ethical decisions in your daily practice, NMBI Voice breaks down complex topics into practical guidance you can use. You'll hear from NMBI experts and colleagues who understand the realities of our work environment, offering clear explanations of what new policies mean for your practice and career. New episodes air on the first Monday of every month, giving you the information you need to maintain excellent standards while focusing on what matters most – caring for your patients.

Information

  • Creator
    NMBI
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NMBI
  • Show Website
    NMBI Voice