A Comprehensive Guide on How to Become a Foreign Nurse in Ireland

A great number of nurses choose to work in Ireland due to the wide-range of job opportunities, and the high salary and benefits. The shorter work hours and length of vacation, given by employers, as compared with other countries, are other factors that make Ireland a great place to work in. Aside from this, the opportunity to travel and see the beauty and cultures of Ireland could also convince you to work here.

About the Country

The Republic of Ireland is located in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic Ocean. The capital city of Ireland is Dublin, which is one of the larger countries of the country. If you wish to work as a nurse in the country, you do not have to worry about the hassle of traveling from city to city as their public transportation system is very fast and reliable. Even outside of the city, the trains and buses could take you anywhere. Ireland is also known for its pubs, where you could have a meal and enjoy a glass of Guinness. Their pubs are similar to community centers, where individuals could listen to music, and meet new friends. Ireland is also a very safe country due to their strict gun laws. They have a low rate of gun ownership as compared with other countries, which translates to having less crimes related to gun violence. Those are just some of the factors on why many individuals choose to migrate and work in Ireland. In fact, there are approximately 650,000 foreigners who live in the country. Among these, there are 14,725 Filipinos living in Ireland, as of 2016, wherein about 8,000 of them are nurses. Filipino nurses, working in Ireland, could meet their fellow Filipino nurses in the country through organizations, such as the Filipino Nurses Organization in Ireland (FiNOI) Facebook group. These are small efforts that could make the Filipino nurses feel comfort despite being thousands of miles away from their families.

Type of Nurses

The four major branches of nursing in Ireland are General Nursing, Intellectual Disability Nursing, Psychiatric Nursing, and Children’s and General Nursing (Integrated). 

General Nursing

General nurses provide direct patient care, and treat patients with acute or chronic physical illnesses. General nurses can be classified into two types, licensed practical nurses (LPN) and registered nurses (RN).

Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN)

Some of the responsibilities of a licensed practical nurse include aiding patients with basic tasks, such as bathing and dressing the patient. They may also administer drugs and treatments ordered by the doctor, collect fluid samples, monitor the condition of the patient, take vital signs, and give in-home care. They are also responsible for supervising the tasks of a certified nursing assistant (CNA). 

Registered Nurse (RN)

Registered nurses have tasks similar to LPNs, however they conduct examinations and prepare rooms for the patients. They also deliver healthcare education. Aside from those, RNs may also create goals for the nursing team, as well as manage the budget of the unit. They also collaborate with doctors during patient exams, treatments, and surgeries.

Intellectual Disability Nursing

Intellectual disability specialist nurses provide comprehensive care to individuals with intellectual disabilities. They may collaborate with healthcare professionals from other disciplines, in order to allow and empower the patient with intellectual impairment to reach their full potential.

Psychiatric Nursing

Psychiatric mental health nurses aid individuals with mental health or behavioral conditions to enhance their mental and physical well-being. They are responsible for examining mental health issues, and creating nursing care plans. They could also assist the family members or people close to the person suffering from the disorder. 

Children’s and General Nursing (Integrated) 

Registered children’s nurses (RCN) are responsible for maintaining the optimal health and assisting the children (up to age 18) to prevent illnesses. They may also intervene as needed to offer holistic care and support to children and their families.

Salary

The salary of nurses in Ireland is dependent on the experiences, qualifications, and job position of a nurse. It may also be affected by other factors, such as the location and type of workplace. 

Based on talent.com, nurses in Ireland earn an average salary of €44,401 (₱2,535,402.38) annually. Entry-level nurses earn €37,868 (₱2,162,352.59) yearly, whereas the senior nurses earn as much as €55,000 (₱3,140,630.41) yearly.

Demand for Nurses

According to Jilani, S., due to the exit of nurses and the aging population of Ireland, there is a high demand for nurses in the country. The Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland also stated that the nursing and midwifery levels of the country have decreased by more than 3,000 since 2007. Due to these, they are in need of more healthcare professionals to work in the country, allowing foreign nurses to have a better opportunity of landing a job in the country.

Hospitals

Public Hospitals

The public hospitals in Ireland offer a comprehensive range of emergency, diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitation services. Heart, lung, and liver transplants, bone marrow transplants, spinal injuries, pediatric cardiac care, and medical genetics are among our world-class national specialized services. Some of the public hospitals in the country are Bantry General Hospital, Cork University Hospital, Cavan Monaghan Hospital, Mallow General, Regional Hospital Mullingar, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital (Drogheda), and Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital. 

Private Hospitals

There are 21 private hospitals in Ireland that are members of the Independent Hospital Association of Ireland that provide acute treatment. They supply more than one in every six acute beds in the Irish healthcare system and employ over 8,000 employees. Private hospitals offer a variety of diagnostic services, as well as day case, inpatient, and other acute hospital treatments. Some private hospitals in Ireland are Kingsbridge Hospital Sligo, Master Private Hospital Dublin, Bon Secours Hospital Tralee, St. Vincent’s Private Hospital, Dublin, UPMC Kildare Hospital, and North West Independent Hospital Derry.

Educational Requirement

In order to apply as a nurse in Ireland, you must have a bachelor’s degree in nursing, and you must have a valid nursing license, issued in the country where you currently practice nursing in.

Experience

In order to be able to apply as a nurse in Ireland, you must have a minimum of 12 months of experience as a registered nurse or midwife, which must be within the last five years.

Application

There are five main steps in the application process. The first step is the application for the Overseas Registration Pack. The second step entails receiving the Overseas Registration Pack, while the third step is the completion of necessary forms, and documents. Documents that you must submit are the evidence of your education, and employment. In addition, evidence must also be submitted by your university, current nursing board, and employer. The fourth step is the assessment, wherein the documents that you have provided will be assessed and evaluated by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI). Finally, the last step is the completion of the assessment. In this step, you will receive the decision letter, wherein you may acquire one of the following: full eligibility, partial eligibility, further information needed (where you will be asked to submit supplementary documents, or refused entry.

Examinations

In order to work as a nurse in Ireland, you must first successfully complete the following examinations: 

Adaptation Program and Aptitude Test

Prior to becoming a fully licensed nurse in Ireland, you are required to take either the adaptation program or the aptitude test. 

Adaptation Program

In the adaptation program, you will be supervised by a registered nurse or a midwife from the hospital that you work in for six weeks. Within this period, you will be asked to complete a wide range of theoretical and clinical competencies organized into six categories:

• Professional values & Conduct of the nurse
• Nursing practice & Clinical decision making
• Knowledge & Cognitive competencies
• Communication & Interpersonal competencies
• Management & Team competencies
• Leadership & Professional scholarship competencies

Some of the topics that are included, but are not limited to, are cultural and social concerns, sepsis, basic life support, policies and procedures of the organizations, values for nurses, reflective practice, principles of effective communication, infection control, and hand hygiene and waste management. 

Aptitude Test

If you will be applying in a hospital that does not provide the adaptation program, you must take the aptitude test. The aptitude test is based on what a newly trained general nurse should be able to show in Ireland. It is held for two days in Dublin through the Royal College of Surgeons for Ireland (RCSI). You will have to pay a fee of €2500-2800 for the aptitude test. The details for each day can be found below. 

Day 1

For the theoretical components, the test is an online examination of 150 multiple-choice questions, which is supervised. A total of 3 hours will be given for you to finish the exam. In order for you to pass this exam, you must obtain a minimum of 50%. Individuals who do not pass the test could choose to retake the entire exam. 

Day 2

For the practical components section, several stations will be set up in a test hall. Each set up will address a particular clinical skill that a general registered nurse must have. There are a total of 20 stations in the test. In each station, there is a description of a specific clinical circumstance, and two assessors (which are both certified nurses). A mannequin or one of the assessors will participate in a role for the purpose of the clinical station at each station. The examination stops after 10 minutes, regardless of whether you finished or not. In each station, you will only be given a pass or fail. To pass the clinical test, you must complete 75 percent of the stations successfully. Those who do not acquire a passing grade have the option of repeating any failed stations on a subsequent day. 

Language Proficiency Examination

The official languages of Ireland are English and Irish, with English being the dominant language. Due to this, nurses from outside of Ireland must be able to prove to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland that they are knowledgeable of the English language, and they are capable of effectively communicating with it. You may choose to take the Occupational English Test (OET) or the International English Language Test System (IELTS).

Occupational English Test (OET) 

The Occupational English Test (OET) is a specialized exam designed to evaluate the English language skills of healthcare professionals who would be working in a country that predominantly uses the English language. International healthcare councils in 15 countries, including Australia, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand, and Ireland, recognise the OET test results.

There are four sections in the exam: listening, reading, writing, and speaking components. In order to apply as a foreign nurse in Ireland, you must obtain a minimum grade of B in three of the sections, and a minimum grade of C+ in only one section. 

You may learn more about the test on the OET website.

International English Language Test System (IELTS) 

The IELTS is widely accepted as proof of English proficiency for healthcare registration. There are four parts: listening, reading, writing, and speaking sections. In order to be able to apply as a nurse in the country, you must obtain a minimum overall score of 7.0 in the IELTS exam. Aside from that, you must also obtain a minimum score of 7.0 in any of the three components, and a minimum of 6.5 in only one component. For instance, you may acquire a score of 7.0 in the listening, reading, and writing sections, and a score of 6.5 in the speaking section. 

You may learn more about the test on the IELTS website. 

Make sure to study in advance for the necessary exams to secure excellent scores, which could help boost your application. Submit all the required documents to prevent any delays in the application process. Once you have completed these steps, you are one step closer to becoming a nurse in Ireland. Good luck!

References

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