Practice Nurse: Provision of Care Concern

Q. I am a nurse and midwife and I will shortly be commencing a new job as a practice nurse. It is hoped that part of my job will involve the provision of antenatal/postnatal care to women attending the practice. I have not practised as a midwife for a number of years and have some concerns. What should I do?

A. An Bord Altranais would refer you to Practice Standards for Midwives July 2010 and the Scope of Practice Decision - Making Framework 2000 (An Bord Altranais). Before a practice nurse can provide antenatal/postnatal care, she must be a midwife whose name is entered in the midwives division of the register maintained by An Bord Altranais.

Registered midwives in Ireland are accountable for their own practice, whether they are employed by a healthcare
provider or self-employed (Practice Standards for Midwives, An Bord Altranais 2010). In situations where an individual has not practised as a midwife for a number of years, then the issue of competence has to be considered and measures must be taken in order to develop and maintain competence (Scope of Practice Decision-Making Framework ABA 2000). A review of the Practice standards and the Scope of practice documents in relation to your current role may be helpful to you. If you have been out of practice for less than five years, then information on updating knowledge and skills may be obtained by contacting the nursing and midwifery planning and development unit, centre of midwifery education and maternity hospital in the local area. The Irish Practice Nurses Association (www.irishpracticenurses.ie) and the practice development co-ordinator in the area can also be contacted for information regarding supports available. If you are returning to practice after an absence of five years or more you should complete a 'return to nursing/midwifery practice' course or undertake education and training to ensure competent practice. Details of these courses may be obtained from An Bord Altranais, www.nursingboard.ie.