There are many opportunities available for registered nurses or midwives that may wish to pursue further education. An Bord Altranais has approved a number of specialist programmes as well as programmes leading to an additional registration with An Bord Altranais. An Bord Altranais has developed the publication Nursing/Midwifery: Career Development. Post Registration Courses, and an online CPD Course Directory outlining the various post-registration education opportunities for registered nurses and midwives.
The categories of approved post registration programmes include:
Post Registration Course Leading to an Additional Registration with An Bord Altranais
These are courses where upon successful completion the nurse/midwife is entitled to register on an additional division of the register. Currently there are five post registration programmes leading to additional registration with An Bord Altranais.
Post Registration Course Major Awards (Category 11 Approved Courses)
Category 2 programmes include a broad range of Major Award Courses excluding those leading to Registration with the Board. Specialist programmes are postregistration programmes designed, developed and conducted with reference to a specific body of knowledge and experience in an area of nursing and midwifery. Such courses must satisfy the criteria of An Bord Altranais (1989) in relation to specialist education courses.
Post Registration Courses (Minor, Special and Supplemental Awards)
An Bord Altranais approves courses that are not major awards comprising minor awards, supplemental awards and special purpose awards. From the 1st September these courses must satisfy the criteria set out in the Requirements and Standards for Post-Registration Nursing and Midwifery Education Programmes - Incorporating the National Framework of Qualifications (An Bord Altranais, 2010).
Category 1 Courses:
An Bord Altranais awards Post-Registration Category 1 approval to the a number of education pathways, including in-service training, seminars, study days, conferences and fresher courses. In-service training/education is a learning experience provided for hospital, community/health board employees, for the purpose of assisting staff to perform assigned functions in a particular setting. An Bord Altranais has developed a CPD Directory that provides lists all An Bord Altranais Category 1 courses (click here).
Return to Practice
The Return to Nursing/Midwifery Practice courses are provided to enable nurses/midwives returning to practise to update both their theoretical knowledge and their clinical skills and to facilitate the attainment of competence and confidence in the provision of nursing/midwifery care.
For information on post registration courses please refer to the Professional Practice and Education Section of the An Bord Altranais website http://www.nursingboard.ie/en/professional_practice.aspx