Dublin: The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI) reported a significant influx of foreign nurses seeking to work in Ireland, with a total of 10,679 individuals receiving decision letters in the one-year period from June 1, 2022, to May 31, 2023. Obtaining a decision letter from NMBI is a prerequisite for foreign nurses aspiring to practice in Ireland, drawn by the appeal of attractive social welfare benefits and relatively high salary rates.
Despite the high number of decision letters issued, the report highlights a potential challenge for these nurses, as securing a job in Ireland may take several years. The NMBI’s State of the Register report discloses a current count of 79,489 nurses and midwives actively practicing in Ireland, marking a 5% increase from the previous year’s 75,871.
Interestingly, the majority of new registrations in the past year were from non-EU countries, notably India. Out of the 1,584 newly qualified nurses in Ireland, a notable 4,542 were registered from outside the EU, reflecting a remarkable 50% increase in the influx of foreign nurses. Among these, 3,272 individuals from India and 560 from the Philippines were newly registered to work in Ireland, while only 131 nurses from other EU countries joined the workforce.
The data indicates a shifting trend, with a decrease in the number of registered nurses from the United Kingdom (232) and Zimbabwe (169) compared to the previous year. This information underscores the dynamic landscape of nursing in Ireland, with a growing reliance on skilled professionals from diverse backgrounds, especially from non-EU nations, to meet the healthcare demands of the country.
Irish Samachar English News