If you fancy your self as a 21st century Florence Nightingale then this is the section for you. Nurses are an intrinsic part of the Irish health care system and provide services without which society would be at a massive loss. Nurses have a fundamental role in the lives of others; present at birth and at death and all illnesses in between.

The recruitment ban and cost cutting measures of last year afforded the industry much negative press; however the continual growth of the health sector reflects that embarking on a nursing is still a wise step to take. A nursing qualification is a valuable commodity on an international stage and an Irish nurse’s qualifications are recognised as worldwide. 

To become a registered nurse in Ireland you must undertake a nursing degree from one of the many teaching hospitals around the country, all of which are affiliated with higher education institutions.

Nursing is a traditionally popular CAO choice among young women, and these days increasing numbers of men are also choosing this respected profession. If you think you have the required combination of scientific skill, patience and empathy, you could be suited to a nursing course.

Education
Students interested in a nursing career must choose one of the nursing disciplines – General, Children’s & General, Midwifery and Psychiatric. Level eight honours degree courses are available in each specialisation. The CAO points required range from 200 – 400.

The General Nursing degree equips students with the skills to care for adults and children suffering from medical and surgical troubles, through a combination of theoretical subjects and practical experience. Subjects you will take include Pharmacology & Health, Chemistry, Anatomy, Psychology and Social Policy. Midwifery students take many of the same theoretical subjects as their general nursing colleagues, plus subjects like Contemporary Midwifery.

Clinical placements are a major part of all nursing courses. Students gain hands-on experience of home care, surgical nursing, operating theatre techniques, maternity nursing and accident & emergency procedures. Students taking the psychiatric nursing option focus on areas such as addiction services, acute assessment, admissions and community care.

In 2006, a four and a half year honours degree (Level 8 NQAI) integrated programme in children’s nursing (previously called sick children’s/paediatric nursing) and general nursing was offered for the first time at pre-registration level.

One year of the Nursing degree is spent working shifts in a hospital, during which time students are paid.

School leavers can also take a further education course in Nursing Studies, from which they can transfer to a Nursing degree at an Irish or British university.

Options After Qualification
Graduates of a Nursing degree can register as a nurse with the professional regulatory body, An Bord Altranais (the Nursing Board), and can pursue employment in a variety of healthcare settings. This care can be preventative, curative, rehabilitative or supportive, and take place in public or private hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, childcare centres, corporations, schools, health-related industries and private homes. There are also job opportunities available in related areas such as childcare, healthcare sales and many other fields. Qualified nurses will also find that there are many jobs available abroad.

Many nursing graduates continue to gain further qualifications and some undergo postgraduate training in areas such as paediatric nursing, public health nursing, midwifery or nurse tutoring.

The Work
The general concern of nurses is care and rehabilitation. The appropriate care needed will vary depending on the condition of the patient, but it will generally involve administering medicine, performing tests and monitoring the patient’s health status and vital signs. It is the duty of a nurse to serve the best interests of the patient. Nurses also liaise with other members of the hospital team and help doctors and other healthcare professionals with procedures.

Nurses who work with people suffering from mental disabilities encourage independence and improve their quality of life. A nurse can be involved in all the client’s daily tasks, from assisting with washing or eating, to taking part in activities such as art or swimming. Some people with profound disabilities may require intensive physical nursing, while others might require only supportive guidance.

Psychiatric nurses help people who have difficulties with their emotional or psychological well-being, or who are recovering from particularly traumatic experiences. Psychiatric nurses build relationships with individuals and their families and help their patients to live full lives.

Midwives work with women during pregnancy, help to deliver babies and provide care to mothers and babies during the early post-natal period. Tasks can involve monitoring the mother and baby using ultrasound scanners, advising the mother on diet and nutrition, and teaching both parents how to look after their newborn child.

Personal Qualities & Work Environment
A caring personality is needed and a desire to help others. A certain amount of scientific ability is useful as is a resourceful character. Organisational skills are important, as is a propensity to deal well with pressure situations. A nurse can be expected to deal with any number of unforeseen situations and must be as equipped as possible to deal with them.

Nurses’ weekly workload is divided up into different shifts, with evening and weekend work a common occurrence.

The Money
A qualified and experienced nurse earns in the range of €24,000 – €39,000 a year. A director of nursing or matron can earn as much as €80,000.

The Jargon
Care Plan: A plan of medical care, including diet and medication, devised to each patient’s specific needs, based on initial and ongoing assessments of the patient
Patient Advocacy: A central element to nursing is speaking on behalf of a patient, so that they may receive all the rights, information and services that they are due.
Pharmacology: The science of drugs and medicines, including their composition, uses, and effects

Job Titles
Nurse
Mental Disability Nurse
Paediatric Nurse
Psychiatric Nurse
Midwife
Matron
School Nurse

Further Resources
Health Service Executive (HSE) Head Office
Oak House
Millennium Park
Naas
Co. Kildare
Phone: 045 880400
Web: www.hse.ie

An Bord Altranais
31/32 Fitzwilliam Square
Dublin 2
Phone: 01 639 8500
Web: www.nursingboard.ie and www.nursingcareers.ie
Email: education@nursingboard.ie

Irish Nurses Organisation
The Whitworth Building
North Brunswick Street
Dublin 7
Phone: 01 664 0600
Web: www.ino.ie
Email: info@ino.ie 

DCU School of Nursing
Dublin City University
Dublin 9
Phone: 01 700 7987
Web: www.dcu.ie/nursing/index.shtml

The National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery
Unit 6-7
Manor Business Park
Manor Street
Dublin 7
Phone: 01 8825 300
Web: www.ncnm.ie
Email: admin@ncnm.ie

Nursing Careers Centre
An Bord Altranais
18/20 Carysfort Avenue
Blackrock
Co Dublin
Phone: 01 639 8500
Web: www.nursingcareers.ie
Email: ncc@nursingboard.ie