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Nursing Overview – Ireland Adaptation and Aptitude test

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You’ve now received your decision letter, however the NMBI has stated, before you can be fully licensed, you’ll need to undertake a period of adaptation & assessment also known as the Adaptation Program or Aptitude Test. So what is the Adaptation Program & Aptitude Test? Why do you need to take this & how do you organise it?

Why do I need to complete an additional Assessment Program or Test?

NMBI requirements are based off the amount of theoretical and clinical hours that are completed in an undergraduate nursing/midwifery program in Ireland. When you submitted your documents in the application pack for assessment, these documents would have outlined the number of theoretical and clinical hours you completed in your own undergraduate degree. For Australian and New Zealand degrees, this is often less than what is completed in Ireland. As such you are required to undertake a practical assessment in order to compensate for this difference.  There are two pathways to do this – the adaptation program or the aptitude test. You have 12 months from the date of your decision letter to travel to Ireland and complete this part of the registration process.

How do I organise the Adaptation Program or Aptitude Test?

During the 90 day assessment period with NMBI, CCM can assist you with your employment applications. If you’re successful in securing employment, the hospitals we work with will assist you in organising your adaptation program or aptitude test. Some hospitals will offer the adaptation program, some will require you to sit the aptitude test through the RCSI (Royal College of Surgeons for Ireland).

Either way, the majority of our hospitals will:

– Assist with your flight to Ireland

– Assist with initial accommodation

– Pay you as a student/assistant nurse during the adaptation period/ aptitude test period

– Provide financial assistance towards the cost of the aptitude test if you take this option

– Employ you full time as a Registered Nurse upon completion of the adaption period/ aptitude test

What is Adaptation?

Adaptation is similar to a preceptorship program. The hospital will assign you a Registered Nurse/midwife to shadow you for 6 weeks. During this time, you’ll complete various theoretical and clinical competencies which fall under 6 domains:

  • 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 content that will be covered includes but is not limited to:

  • Cultural and social issues
  • Values for nurses
  • Organisational policies & procedures
  • Basic life support
  • Sepsis
  • Infection control, hand hygiene & waste management
  • Principles of effective communication
  • Reflective Practice

Your assessor will have an assessment tool to complete. Upon completion of the 6 week program the assessment tool will then be submitted to your Director of Nursing and then the NMBI board. You’ll then proceed to work with that hospital as a fully licensed Registered Nurse.

For more information on Adaptation and a full copy of the assessment tool please visit the NMBI website.

What is the Aptitude Test?

For hospitals that do not offer the adaptation program, you will need to sit the aptitude test. This a 2 day exam conducted in Dublin through the Royal College of Surgeons for Ireland (RCSI). The test is based on what a newly qualified general nurse in Ireland should be able to demonstrate.

Day 1 – Theoretical components.

The exam is a supervised online assessment consisting of 150 MCQ. You’ll have 3 hours to complete the exam and a minimum of 50% must be achieved in order to pass. The option to repeat the exam in full is available for those who do not achieve a pass mark.

Day 2 – Practical components

There will be a number of stations set up in the exam hall each covering a different clinical competency pertaining to that of a general registered nurse. A minimum of 14 stations up to 20 stations must be complete.

Each station will have a description of the clinical scenario at hand. You will then have 10 minutes to complete the task of that station before you proceed to the next station. There will be two assessors, both qualified nurses, at each station. Stations will either have a mannequin or one of the assessor acting in a role for the purpose of the clinical station. When the allotted time is complete the assessment ends, regardless of if you have finished or not. Each station is pass or fail. You must be successful in 75% of all stations in order to pass the clinical exam overall. The option to repeat any failed stations on a second day is available to those who do not achieve a minimum of 75% in total. You do not need to repeat the stations that you have passed successfully.

Content that is covered may include but is not limited to:

  • Blood product administration
  • Infection control policies & waste management
  • Diagnostic tests
  • Chest pain management
  • Medication preparation
  • Blood glucose monitoring

Preparation is necessary to achieve a successful result with the aptitude test. The RCSI website has an extensive range of additional study materials. CCM will also provide you with study materials.

What happens once I’ve completed the Adaptation Program/Aptitude Test?

Upon successful completion of the adaptation/aptitude test you will proceed to be licensed as a Registered Nurse and commence work.

Nursing Overview – Irish Nursing Registration – Part 3

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The Application Process – Step 5

By now, you would have submitted the overseas registration application pack to the NMBI and have patiently waited for that 90 day assessment period to be completed. With some luck and a bit of help from CCM, you’ve also managed to secure yourself employment in Ireland during this time. This means you’ve reached Step 5 – Outcome of Assessment! You’ll receive a letter, the “decision letter” outlining what the outcome of your NMBI application is. There are 4 possible outcomes.

1.Eligible for Registration

This means the NMBI has assessed your application and deemed that you meet all the requirements to become a fully licensed Registered Nurse/Midwife. From here, you will be requested to pay the final registration fee to complete you license (€145 for an annual license). Within 7 – 10 business days NMBI will process this and issue you a Registration certificate. The certificate contains your Full name, PIN number (registration number), Division name and Initial date of registration. Your licensure will then be complete. You will need to renew the license annually.

2.Refused Registration

If you are refused registration, the reasons for this will be detailed in the decision letter. More often than not it is because your undergraduate program significantly fell short of meeting the theoretical and/or clinical hours required by the NMBI. Other reasons for refusal and the appeals process can be found on the NMBI website.

3.Further information required

Your letter may state that further information is required. This can include:

  • An explanation from you about information contained in your application
  • An explanation from a relevant authority about information contained in your application
  • Extra documents the NMBI now needs from either you or the relevant authority

4.Adaptation & Assessment/Aptitude Test

This means, your application has been assessed and you fall just short of the theoretical and clinical requirements to be registered as a nurse/midwife with the NMBI. However, you can complete the adaptation program or the aptitude test to compensate for this allowing you to then proceed to full licensing. You have 12 months from the date of your decision letter to complete either the adaptation program or the aptitude test.

What is Adaptation?

Adaptation is similar to a preceptorship program within an Irish hospital. You will need to secure a placement with an NMBI recognized hospital and travel to Ireland to complete this. The hospital will assign you a Registered Nurse to shadow you for 6 weeks. During this time, you’ll complete various theoretical and clinical competencies. After which you’re nurse educator will submit this documentation to the board so you can become fully licensed. You’ll then proceed to work with that hospital as a fully licensed Registered Nurse.

What is the Aptitude Test?

For hospitals that do not offer the adaptation program, you will need to sit the aptitude test. This a 2 day theoretical and clinical exam conducted through the Royal College of Surgeons for Ireland (RCSI). The test is based on the NMBI Standards and Requirements for Nurse Registration Education Program. Simply put, you’ll be tested on what a newly graduated & qualified nurse in Ireland should know.  You will need to fly to Ireland to complete this exam.

How do I organize Adaptation or the Aptitude test?

It all sounds a little daunting right? But we’re here to help 🙂 In our previous blog we mentioned that in Step 4 of the application process – the 90 day Assessment period, CCM can submit your CV to various hospitals in Ireland to secure employment. Submitting your employment application through us during the assessment period of registration, gives you the security of having a job lined up before you travel to Ireland. If you were successful in securing employment, the hospitals we work with will assist you organizing your adaptation or aptitude test should you be required to do so.

Some hospitals will offer the adaptation program, some will require you to sit the aptitude test through the NMBI. Either way, the majority of our hospitals will:

– Assist with your flight to Ireland

– Assist with initial accommodation

– Pay you as a student nurse during the adaptation period/aptitude test

– Pay for the aptitude test if you take this option

– Employ you full time as a Registered Nurse post completion of the adaption period/aptitude test

Chat to a recruitment consultant to see which option would suit you best.

For further information contact info@ccmreruitment.com.au

 

Nursing Overview – Irish Registration Breakdown Part 2

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Completing the Overseas Registration Application Pack

So, you’ve received the Overseas Registration Application Pack – now you need to complete it! If you haven’t applied for this pack yet – go back to our previous blog and find out how to apply.

Before you start the pack there’s a few main points we’d like to highlight:

  • You have 6 months from the date of receiving the pack to complete it.
  • The time you take to complete this is dependent on how fast you are with your own paperwork, but on average, we estimate its takes approximately 4-8 weeks for people to complete.
  • You can download the Guide for Overseas Applicants directly from the NMBI website
  • You can track your progress via your own online account. To set one up, visit the Online Account page at the NMBI website. Just be mindful that sometimes it takes some time for the NMBI to update your progress online, so you may need to email them from time to time, or we can have our Dublin office place a call for you.

Right, let’s get started!

The Pack is divided into two sections. The first section is completed by you while the second section is completed by various organizations/authorities. Your personal reference number is located in the top right hand corner of each page.

Section 1

Section 1 consists of Part A – J. This section is required to be completed by you, the applicant. Before you start this section we recommend you have access to your Bachelor Degree, Academic Transcript & Employment Statements of Service.

Part A, B & C  relate to personal details, identity documents & contact details
 Part D  relates to your undergraduate degree and any post graduate degrees you have completed.
Part E & F refers to your nursing registration  along with some compulsory questions you’ll need to answer
Part G & H refers to your employment history  and explanations of any gaps or overlaps within that history
Part I & J  are a simple declarations and checklists.

Important notes for Section 1:

  • When referring to dates, always list the Date/Month/Year. Just the Month/Year is not acceptable
  • Ensure theses dates are accurate. You may need to check your statements of service, academic transcript or contact the relevant authority directly before completing the form.
  • Don’t use abbreviations eg AHPRA should be Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
  • Always ensure the names and titles are written exactly the same as the correlating documents eg title of your degree & name of institute should be the same as what’s listed on your certificate, name of employer should be the same as your statement of service etc.
  • Don’t leave any unanswered section blank – put N/A instead.
  • If you run out of room, simply photocopy another page of the form needed and use that.

Section 2

Consists of a number of forms you’ll need to send to relevant authorities it complete. These authorities must then return the forms back directly to the NMBI. They cannot be accepted from you, the applicant.

You will find that these authorities take time to complete these forms, so you will need to follow them up in order to complete this section. When a form is complete and sent, make sure you get written confirmation that this has been done so you have a record. It may be a good idea to provide the institute with prepaid tracking envelopes so you can track postage yourself.

There are four forms that will need to be complete.

Verification (CCPS) – The Nursing Board you are currently licensed with. We recommend you contact your relevant nursing board to find out their current policy on completing this form.
Unlike most nursing boards, AHPRA will not complete this form, instead you’ll need to login into the AHPRA website and request a Certificate of Registration Status also known as Certificate of Good Standing.
For NCNZ, you’ll need to send the form to them for completion. Visit the NCNZ website for their current policy.
Transcript of Training Form – The institute where you completed your undergraduate degree.
Employee’s Reference Form – Your current employer. This will need to cover 12 months. If you have not been employed for 12 months you’ll also need to contact your previous employer.
Graduate Program – If applicable, the institute from which you completed a graduate program.

The Graduate Program form is particularly important for Australian and New Zealand nurses. The amount of clinical hours we complete during our undergraduate degrees does not correlate to the amount of hours that are completed in Irish universities. As a result, Australian and New Zealand nurses are often asked by the NMBI to complete a practical exam, or preceptorship, before they can be fully licensed. This can sometimes be avoided by completing the Graduate Program Form in Section 2 of the pack.

To do this, we recommend contacting the hospital where you completed your first year of nursing and asking your Nurse Educator (or equivalent), to clearly list the clinical hours and any theoretical courses/competencies you completed. If you did not complete a formal graduate program, it is still worth asking your Nurse Educator to write a letter stating that you were supported during your first year of nursing and underwent various supervised theoretical and practical competencies.

Once both Sections 1 & 2 have been completed and sent into the NMBI you will be in Step 4 – the Assessment stage. The NMBI will take 90 days to review the documents you have sent in. During this assessment period, CCM can begin to submit your CV to Irish hospitals for review. Contact us for more details on current vacancies & which hospitals will suit your speciality and skill set.  

Once assessment is complete you will receive a Decision Letter stating whether or not you meet the requirements to work as a Registered Nurse or Midwife in Ireland

For more detailed information on how to complete the Application Pack you can contact info@ccmrecruitment.com.au.

Nursing In Ireland – An Indian Nurse’s Experience

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Q&A – Ireland

Where are you from? I’m from India (Chennai).

Can you give us a snapshot of your nursing career thus far? I gained my nursing degree from Dr. MGR medical university India in 2011, started to work as a staff nurse in MMM hospital Chennai and moved to Riyadh King Faisal hospital and research centre in 2014 and worked there till 2019 September in coronary care unit. Currently, I’m working in BlackRock clinic, Dublin in cardiac department.

When did you travel to Ireland? I came to Ireland on 4th October 2019.

When and why did you decide it was time to take your nursing career abroad? I thought to have some changes in my personal life, to develop my professional knowledge, to increase my financial stability and to make a new life style changes. I took my OET exam and started my Ireland processing from January 2019.

Why did you choose Ireland as your destination? I choose Ireland because it is a quiet country and also there is lot of opportunities for nurses especially in the workplace to built our nursing career with the support of  hospital management.

What was the registration process like? You’re undertaking adaptation to complete your registration – what is that like? The registration process has various steps like completing the overseas application pack, forms to be filled by the relevant authorities like nursing college, past and current working experience  and the nursing license , assessment  of our application from the NMBI and issuing the decision letter. The registration process is quiet hard but less procedures and frustrating compared to other European countries.

How long have you been in Ireland? And how are you settling in? Are there a lot of differences between your home country and Ireland? What are you doing in order to adapt to your new environment? I’m in Ireland for the past 6 months, I had my aptitude and OSCE exam, had my hospital orientation and ward orientation in my  first month. I completed my probationary period and well settled in my work.

There are lot of differences from my home country. The hospitals are well developed with new equipment, increased quality of care and well supportive management and colleagues.

What is your social life like? What do you do on your days off? We do have friends gathering occasionally especially on public holidays and birthday parties and also going out for shopping and dinner.

What part of your new life have you found the most surprising? I found the climatic changes are the most surprising in Ireland as there is four different climate everyday.

What are the positives of living in Ireland? Very good salary, easy to work and the kind-hearted people. The Irish people are so social and they like to talk more about us and more interested to know about our country and culture.

What is your most memorable moment so far? My memorable moment so far is the first Christmas celebration in Ireland with my new colleagues and Irish friends.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced and how have you manage them? The most challenging part is the OSCE  exam but we can achieve this with our hardworking and prayers.

You’re currently working for the Blackrock Clinic – How did the hospital help with the transition from your old life to your new life? BlackRock clinic is one of the best hospital in Dublin. The hospital management and the supervisors are so friendly and supportive which helped me a lot to adapt and manage the new life changes.

How are you finding nursing in another country in general? What differences are there & how are you adapting to the differences? Nursing is a challenging career and the nursing care is same in all the country but the people’s approach to the nurses are different in some countries but here I feel much respected and homely atmosphere so adapting to this is more easy.

How are you finding your department in particular? What support is there and what are you colleagues like? I had some difficulties in the beginning  to learn the routines work but the management and the colleagues are more supportive and helpful. The managers are so flexible and approachable, we are allowed to request duties and leaves are permitted as we wish.

What career opportunities or professional development have you found there? There are lot of speciality courses available here and we can choose from our own interest. And also the we are encouraged to attend continuous nursing education programmes in different hospitals.

How are you finding the cost of living in Dublin – is it very different to home? Yes, the cost is living in Ireland is much much expensive than home country especially the rent in Dublin is very much high. But the lifestyle, salary and working experience is much better than the home. So I feel more safe and satisfied here.

What were your goals before travelling to Ireland? Are you achieving what you set out to do or have these changed? My goals are to meet new people, see new places, career passion, personal satisfaction, financial stability and family support. I hope these things will happen in the coming days.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of travelling to Ireland? I would like to tell them that the registration process will be quiet slow but you can land within a year once you started your NMBI process. Prepare very well for the RCSI exams because it is quiet challenging for someone with minimum experience but everyone can go through this with great hard-work.

What is your overall opinion to date? I feel so happy and I’m very much thankful to Cathee and the overall CCM Recruitment team for helping and supporting me to achieve my goal. I’m also very much delighted to live and work in Ireland.

Nursing Overview – Ireland Registration Break Down Part 1

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Step 1 – Applying for the Overseas Application Pack

So you’ve decided that you want to take your nursing career to Ireland! Congratulations! The first thing you need to do is apply for nursing registration. This can take a minimum of 6 months so we recommend you start this sooner rather than later. Step 1 is applying for the Overseas Registration Pack.

We’ve gone over eligibility criteria and English language requirements previously so we won’t repeat it here. If you missed it you can check our Irish Nursing Registration Overview here.

What Application Group do you belong to?

Group 1 & 2  – refer to Nurses who qualified within the European Union (EU) or European Economic Area (EEA). If you fall into Group 1 or 2 please visit the NMBI website.

Group 3 – refers to those who qualified outside of the EU or EEA. Most Australian and New Zealand applicants will fall under this group, so we will be focusing on this.

Once you’ve determined you’re in Group 3 you’ll need to download the Overseas Registration Application Request Form which can be found on the NMBI website website here.

 

The NMBI application form

The form is broken down into 5 sections.

Section A is a basic privacy form you’ll need to complete while

Section B requires you to fill out basic personal contact details and select the Division you wish to be registered in. We recommend you put our Dublin office address as your postal address to save yourself time with International postage. Any correspondence can be scanned and emailed to you by our Dublin office. We’ll give you our Dublin office details when you are at this stage.

Section C is where you are asked to Provide evidence of your English Language Skills

Section D & E is where you provide payment details for the Application Pack Fee

Section B

What are the Registration Divisions of the NMBI?

The NMBI has ten divisions eg: General/Children’s/Psychiatric/Intellectual Disability & so on. The division you are registered under is a reflection of how your undergraduate university course was structured, rather than your practical nursing experience or speciality. Because of the way universities courses in Australia and New Zealand are structured, the majority of applicants will fall under the General Division or Midwifery Division.

If you have completed your training as a general nurse/midwife (as is the case in Australia and New Zealand) but then have subsequently gone on to gain considerable practical experience in a secondary field eg Paediatrics, Mental Health, Public Health,  you will still NOT be considered for a division other than General/Midwifery. This is because of how Australian and New Zealand undergraduate degrees are structured.

If you wish to apply for a different division eg Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Public Health, you will need to submit further evidence that you have completed an appropriate education and training program in this field. NMBI will then consider your application as a General Nurse/Midwife first and then subsequently assess your application in the secondary division.

If you specialise in Paediatrics, Mental Health, Public Health or any other alternate, it is important to note you may not meet the requirements of the NMBI to be registered in your secondary division. You may still be able to work in the speciality, under the General Nurse division, however this will be at the discretion of your potential employer at the time you apply. Meeting these requirements is applicant dependent and ultimately up to the registration board.

For further information on this you can visit https://www.nmbi.ie/Registration/the-Register-and-Divisions

So I’ve selected my division – now what?

 Section C

Provide evidence of your English Language Skills.

You can do this through 3 Pathways.

  • Pathway 1 – Trained in English in an NMBI recognised country – Most Australian and New Zealand applicants tend to fall under this pathway. 

You’ll need to provide evidence that your qualification was completed in an NMBI recognised country. These countries include – Australia, New Zealand, Canada, USA  and the UK. You will need to provide a letter or email (with the universities letterhead/logo) stating:

  • The location of the training institute
  • The name of the training program
  • Dates of attendance
  • Confirmation the training was taught in English

Pathway 2 – Registered and Practice in English

You’ll need to provide evidence that for the last 3 out of 5 years, you have practised in an NMBI Recognised English speaking country. You’ll need to provide a letter or email from your employer (with their letterhead/logo) stating:

  • The location of employment
  • Dates of employment
  • Confirmation that practice is primarily conducted in English

If either of the above pathways are taken you will not need to sit an English exam.

Pathway 3 – Submission of IELTS or OET Results 

If pathway 1 or 2 cannot be done you will need to sit the International English Language Test System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET). For more information on this pathway visit the website.

 Section D & E

Application Pack Fee – This is a non-refundable €350 fee that is paid to the registration board. You’ll need to complete the payment details in order to receive your application pack and commence registration.

One you have completed the form, it will be posted to NMBI in Dublin. It will take 1-2 weeks to receive the Application Pack (Step 2) and you can move straight through to Step 3 of the Registration Process.

Next week we’ll be diving into completing the application pack so stay tuned!

Nursing Overview – Irish Nursing Registration

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Irish Nursing Registration – A General Overview

One of the joys of being a nurse is that we can use our job to travel anywhere in the world. In order for us to practice overseas though, we need to be registered with the Nursing Board of that particular country. You’ll find that overseas registration can be a lengthy process. But we’re here to help! Over the next two weeks we’ll be breaking down the Irish registration process in detail. But to start with, below is a basic overview of the process & what you need to know before you start applying.

What to know before you apply

The nursing boards need to adequately assess if you are qualified enough to practice in their country and ensure the safety of their patients. Before applying for registration you should:

  • Plan for a minimum of 6 months  for the registration to be complete. This does not include the work permit/visa process  which can be an additional 3-6 months. 
  • You will need to secure your nursing registration before  you can apply for a job in Ireland. This means you will need to pay the registration application fee to NMBI before knowing you have a job secured.
  • CCM can assist you in securing nursing employment in Ireland however nursing registration must be obtained first before applying for a job.
  • Most of the hospitals, where CCM have positions available, will reimburse various costs of the registration process. Remember to keep receipts of all payments.

 Who is the Nursing Authority in Ireland?

The Nursing authority in Ireland is the NMBI – Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland. Any nurse or midwife wishing to practice in Ireland must be registered and approved by NMBI , similar to AHPRA for Australia or NZNC for New Zealand.

What is the structure of the NMBI?

The NMBI has ten divisions.  The division you are allocated is a reflection of how your undergraduate university course was structured. Because of the way universities courses in Australia and New Zealand are structured, the majority of applicants will fall under the General Division or Midwifery Division.  We’ll be going into more detail on this in our next blog.

Who is eligible to apply for registration?

To be eligible to apply for nursing registration you must:

  • Hold a  valid nursing license/registration, without restrictions, in the country in which you qualified or are currently practising in.
  • Have a minimum of 12 months current Registered Nurse/Midwifery experience within the last 5 years.
  • Meet the English Language requirements. 

How do I know if I’ve met the English Language Requirements?

You  WILL NOT need to take an English Competence Exam if:

  • Your nursing or midwifery qualification was completed in a recognised English speaking country 
  • For at least 3 years  out of the last 5 years, you have practised in an recognised English speaking country 

If you do not meet the above criteria, you WILL be required to take an English competence exam. This can be done through the International English Language Test System (IELTS) or the Occupational English Test (OET). 

What is the application process?

The Application Process is a 5 step process. Over the next two weeks we’ll go through this in detail but for now in a nutshell:

  • Step 1: Apply for the Overseas Registration Pack
  • Step 2: Receive said pack – approximately 1-2 weeks. 
  • Step 3: Complete relevant forms – approximately 1 month. 

This involves you gathering evidence of your education, current registration and employment, to show the NMBI you meet the requirements of a Registered Nurse/Midwife. Your university, current nursing board and employer/s will also need to submit evidence to support this.

  • Step 4: Assessment – approximately 90 days.

The NMBI will assess and evaluate all the evidence submitted

  • Step 5: Decision Letter 

Once assessment has been completed you will receive your Decision Letter with your outcome. This will be either:

  • Full eligibility and successful registration
  • Partial Eligibility – the applicant will need to sit a subsequent practical exam (Aptitude Test – RCSI)  or a clinical assessment/placement (Adaptation)
  • Further information required
  • Refused Entry – does not meet the requirements

Australian and New Zealand applicants will mostly fall into one of the first two categories. For those who need to take a subsequent practical exam – we will be going into further detail on this in our subsequent blogs.

The above timelines are a guide only. In our experience you will need to plan for a minimum of 6 months for the registration and an additional 3-6 months  for the work permit/visa application process.  

What are the costs involved?

Overseas registration applications can be expensive, so it’s important to do your research before-hand and make sure this is the country you wish to practice in. Should you gain subsequent employment through CCM Recruitment, the majority of hospitals we work with will provide financial assistance, or reimburse various costs of the registration process.

The below is subject to exchange rates as off 22/4/2020. For up to date exchange rates please visit https://www.xe.com/currencyconverter/

Fee Euro AUD NZD Comments
Overseas Application Pack €350 $603AUD $637NZD covered by the majority of hospitals CCM works with
Overseas Registration Fee €145 $250AUD $264NZD If application is successful this is the cost of your annual nursing registration
Overseas Additional Division Fee €80 $138AUD $145NZD If applicable
Adaptation n/a n/a n/a Usually completed through your prospective Irish employer and is free of charge. If your prospective employer does not offer this then you’ll need to take the Aptitude test
Aptitude test/RCSI €2500-2800 $4313 – $4828AUD $4550 – $5,093NZD Should you have a successful interview and be required to take this, the hospitals CCM work with provide reimbursement of this fee or financial assistance

 

For further detailing on costs please visit the NMBI website or contact CCM Recruitment directly.

When can I start applying for jobs?

You can start applying for jobs when you have received your decision letter  from the NMBI. Having said this, some hospitals will accept applications during the assessment phase of your registration application, which can aid in speeding up the timelines of your relocation to Ireland.

Over the next two weeks we will be going into further details on each of the registration steps. For any specific questions contact us at info@ccmrecruitment.com.au

 

Further resources:

https://www.nmbi.ie/Registration/Trained-outside-Ireland

https://www.nmbi.ie/Registration/the-Register-and-Divisions

https://www.nmbi.ie/Registration/Trained-outside-Ireland/Application-Process

Nursing In Ireland – A Filipino Nurse’s Experience

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Q&A – Ireland

Where are you from? I came from Manila, the capital of Philippines

Can you give us a snapshot of your nursing career thus far? I started my nursing career in Makati Medical Centre from December 2010 to January 2011, then I worked in Saudi Arabia from December 2010 to December 2019 and at present in Dublin working at the Blackrock Clinic, one of the finest private hospital here in Ireland.

When did you travel to Ireland? I came to Ireland on 12 February 2020

When and why did you decide it was time to take your nursing career abroad? After almost ten years of working in Saudi Arabia, I decided to have a change of environment and expand my nursing career.

Why did you choose Ireland as your destination? I have worked with Irish colleagues before and they encouraged me to try to work in Ireland.

What was the registration process like? You’re undertaking adaptation to complete your registration – what is that like? I applied to Nursing and Midwifery Board of Nursing in Ireland and it took 3 months before I received my Decision letter. I took the RCSI exam last 16 February 2020. I was very pressured. Though I have an idea on the topics, the mere fact that it’s time pressured is really something to consider.

How long have you been in Ireland? And how are you settling in? Are there a lot of differences between your home country and Ireland? What are you doing in order to adapt to your new environment? I’m here in Ireland for 2 1/2 months now. I’m still trying to adjust with the weather and the culture that is totally different to what I got used to. There are a lot of difference between working in Philippines and Saudi Arabia compared to Ireland. People here are more independent and the way the Nurses are empowered and being treated fairly. The weather is unpredictable but I asked my colleagues on recommendations on how to adjust with the weather. But for now, heater is my “best-friend”.

What is your social life like? What do you do on your days off? There are a lot of pubs and café around the area. We like to roam around the City centre trying to familiarise with the different areas and just have a stroll. I love mostly are nature especially now it’s spring.

What part of your new life have you found the most surprising? I find it challenging at first to start in a new environment and with 10 years experienced working abroad, I was surprised that I started to feel homesick but everyone are so warm and welcoming it really means a lot to me.

What are the positives of living in Ireland? People in Ireland are very warm and easy to talk to. I find them very polite as well. The environment/nature is very uplifting.

What is your most memorable moment so far? The most memorable for the meantime was before the RCSI. It took me weeks of sleepless nights and stress and finally paid off after passing my exam.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced and how have you manage them?

  • First the RCSI exam. I studied and prayed hard.
  • Homesickness, I’m still trying to overcome it for now.
  • At work:  having a new environment, I always observe and ask if needed and I noticed in Ireland they are more than willing to answer questions.

You’re currently working for the Blackrock Clinic – How did the hospital help with the transition from your old life to your new life? The hospital and the staffs are very supportive. We always have a free ride when we had to apply for GNIB, PPS and RCSI. It’s a big help budget wise. The management always see to it that staff are well taken cared of by providing information may it be work or how to adjust in the country.

How are you finding nursing in another country in general? What differences are there & how are you adapting to the differences? I find Nursing in Ireland challenging. Starting from a new place again and it really makes me strive and learn more about the culture and protocols in my new environment.

It differs in a way that it is not the culture that I got used to. I need to adjust when it comes to asking questions to a patient or how to approach a certain situation. My colleagues are very supportive giving me tips on how adapt.

How are you finding your department in particular? What support is there and what are you colleagues like? My new department is challenging being assigned in a different specialised Intensive care. My colleagues are incredibly supportive since day 1 and giving chance for learning.

What career opportunities or professional development have you found there?  BlackRock Clinic is funding an entry class for those who are interested, and anyone can have an opportunity to take Master’s degree. New exposure to Cardio-thoracic Intensive care is highly specialised and I’m more than happy to learn about it.

How are you finding the cost of living in Dublin – is it very different to home? Cost of living is quite expensive in Dublin but it’s a good way to learn how to properly budget.

What were your goals before travelling to Ireland? Are you achieving what you set out to do or have these changed? My goal is to advance my career and travel Europe. I am starting to achieve my goal step by step starting from my new area which is Cardio-thoracic from General intensive care. Travel might be delayed for few months but it is really something I look for.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of travelling to Ireland? I would advice that an applicant must research and know what they really want before deciding to work in Ireland starting the registration to employment until the way of living and weather. One should have an open mind and ready to be flexible with the new culture.

What is your overall opinion to date? I was hired under CCM recruitment under the care of Cathee. CCM is very reputable agency. I can’t say enough how professional Cathee is. When I send an email during office hours, I can guarantee to get a response within 5 minutes once urgent, I can easily send her a message on messenger for faster response even off hours. I cannot complain where I am right now. I am more than satisfied to be deployed in BlackRock Clinic.

Nursing Overview – Travelling In Ireland

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Cobh, County Cork

For Aussies and Kiwis, one of the main reasons we want to relocate overseas is for the travel!

Ireland itself is bursting with beauty. Its rich history, rolling green country side, and deep rooted culture, means there’s something for everyone on the tiny Island. From top to toe you can cross Ireland in under 7 hours – but we recommend you stop and smell the roses.

Explore the ancient medieval castles of Ireland. Only an hour’s drive outside of Dublin, Kilkenny Castle  is on the River Nore and surrounded by alleyways and lanes, you could spend an entire day exploring! Further south is Waterford, a famous Viking city for those wanting to delve further into the history of Ireland. If you’re in the southwest of Ireland, take in the rugged landscapes and rural seaside villages around the Ring of Kerry.

Make your way around the country to Cork and wander through the Victorian English Markets and beautiful arthouse streets. Just 15 mins drive from Cork, visit the famous medieval Blarney Castle. Climb to the top and kiss the blarney stone which is said to give the person the gift of the gab! Set in the quaint village of Blarney enjoy a bite to eat at the local coffee shops or tuck into a pint of Guinness and home-made meal at the local pub. There’s also plenty of shops to get your fix of Irish souvenirs.

Cliffs of Moher, County Clare

Head to the water and journey along the Wild Atlantic Way. Here you’ll have the joys of seeing seals, dolphins, humpback whales and some stunning coastal views. We also recommend you visit Killarney National Park and experience the beauty that nature has on offer. You can’t go past the winding Cliffs of Moher, a stunning 8km stretch of coast line that is not to be missed.

Giant’s Causeway, County Antrim

To experience the true culture of Ireland, head to the Aran Islands in the west of Ireland. Known for its ancient sites amidst the setting of Celtic churches, the people of Aran all speak the traditional language of  Gaelic, so you’re in for an authentic experience!

 

For artists, festivals and music lovers – Galway is the place to be. Visit the City of Tribes and embrace the cultural vibes. Be transported in County Mayo where the peaceful simplicity of life is perfect for those wanting a digital detox and to step back in time. Visit the edge of the world at Slieve League, home to some of the highest seas cliffs in Europe.

For one of the best coastal road trips of all time, journey along the  Causeway Coastal Route for some awe-inspiring panoramas. Follow the footsteps of the giants along County Antrim’s Giant’s Causeway. It is said that this geological landscape was built by warring Giants and has now become a very popular tourist attraction. If you have the privilege of being there at sunset, you’ll see why the Giant’s started a war over the breathtaking view! For  Game of Thrones fans, along the Causeway Coast, you will easily be able to recognise the Cushedon Caves, the birth place of the infamous shadow baby. Die-hard fans should also check out Castle Ward – home to the Stark Family and a key location setting.

Newgrange, County Meath

Experience the peaceful setting of County Meath, where the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Newgrange – a Neolithic passage tomb that dates back over 5000 years. Keep travelling along the coast and before you know it you’ll be back in Dublin!

Further abroad you’ll find Ireland makes for the perfect gateway to Europe. With locations like Spain, Portugal, Morocco & Italy on your doorstep, you won’t even need to take annual leave – just group your days off together and escape for a long weekend.

 

 

We’ve listed a few links to help you plan your travel adventures while you’re in Ireland.

https://www.ireland.com/en-au/destinations/

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/ireland

https://www.elta.ie/travelling-to-other-countries-from-ireland/

https://www.aig.ie/our-blog/10-stunning-cities-for-a-weekend-trip

 

Nursing Overview – Cost of Living Ireland

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Cost of living is a major factor in the decision making process when relocating overseas. If your goal for overseas nursing is solely financial and you endeavour to save for a mortgage or similar, then you may be better suited to looking for jobs in the Middle East. However, if you are wanting a relocation experience that is focused on professional development, travel and the overall experience of living abroad then Ireland is a fantastic option.

Ireland is considered one of the more expensive countries to live in within Europe. Having said that, the wage you receive in Ireland is sufficient for you to live on a comfortable budget (similar to Aus/NZ) and still be able to achieve your goals and travel around Europe. The cost of living in Ireland is similar to living in Auckland or Sydney. As with all countries, the further out of the city you go, the cheaper your cost of living becomes especially in terms of housing.

Below is a basic breakdown of some of the common costs of living. For more information on accommodation costs specifically, please visit our accommodation blog. The below is a guide only and we have listed a few websites to help you conduct further research so you can assess your individual needs.

  • Please note subject to exchange rates of 21/4/2020 please

Food 

Grocery prices vary depending on which supermarket you choose to shop at. Aldi is widely used in Ireland and offers quality goods at lower prices. Irish stores such as Tesco & Dunnes are slightly more costly but have regular specials.

1 Litre milk €1.09 $1.86AUD $1.95NZD
12 large eggs €3.47 $5.49AUD $6.23NZD
1kg Tomatoes €2.34 $4.00AUD $4.20NZD
1kg potatoes €1.06 $1.81AUD $1.90NZD
500g boneless chicken €4.76 $8.15AUD $8.55NZD
1kg apples €2.11 $3.61AUD $3.79NZD
Bread €1.49 $2.55AUD $2.67NZD

Housing

Housing will be one of your biggest expenses in Ireland. Similar to Auckland and Sydney, the closer you are to the main city, the higher rental prices will be. For Dublin in particular it is a good idea to look at shared accommodation to bring down rental costs. Most places in Dublin come fully furnished. The below is a guide only. For a more detailed breakdown of housing please visit out Accommodation blog.

Dublin
Rent for 85m2 furnished accommodation (expensive area) €548/wk $938AUD/wk $985NZD/wk
Rent for 85m2 furnished accommodation (middle class area) €404/wk $691AUD/wk $726NZD/wk
Rent for 45m2 furnished studio (expensive area) €387/wk $662AUD/wk $695NZD/wk
Rent for 45m2 furnished studio (middle class area) €273/wk $467AUD/wk $490NZD/wk
 Cork
Rent for 85m2 furnished accommodation (expensive area) €296/wk $507AUD/wk $532NZD/wk
Rent for 85m2 furnished accommodation (middle class area) €230/wk $394AUD/wk $413NZD/wk
Rent for 45m2 furnished studio (expensive area) €258/wk $441AUD/wk $463NZD/wk
Rent for 45m2 furnished studio (middle class area) €201/wk $344AUD/wk $361NZD/wk

Utilities

Given the location of Ireland and the sessions you will need to take into account heating during winter time. The below is a guide only, please visit one of our resources below for further information.

Dublin
1 month for 2 people in an 85m2 flat €145 $248AUD $260NZD
1 month for 1 person in a 45ms studio €101 $173AUD $181NZD
Cork
1 month for 2 people in an 85m2 flat €157 $268AUD $282NZD
1 month for 1 person in a 45ms studio €105 $179AUD $188NZD

 Internet

Unlimited Broadband packages €20-30/month $34-51AUD/month $35-53NZD/month

 Transport

Petrol €1.4/L $2.30 AUD/L $2.50 NZD/L
Taxi basic tariff €16 $27AUD $28 NZD
Public Bus tickets Per Zone (Dublin) €1.5 $2.50 AUD $2.60 NZD
Adult Monthly Train Ticket (Dublin) €145

 

 $248 AUD $260 NZD

Entertainment

Dinner at a neighbourhood pub €20 $34AUD $35NZD
Movie tickets €10 – 12 $17 – 20AUD $17 – 21NZD
Best available theatre tickets €60 $102AUD $107NZD
Gym membership €44/month $75AUD $79NZD

Further resources

https://www.expatistan.com/cost-of-living/country/ireland

https://internationalliving.com/countries/ireland/cost-of-living-in-ireland/

https://relocatingtoireland.com/irish-essentials/grocery-shopping-in-ireland/

https://moving2ireland.com/living/

https://www.irishrail.ie/rail-fares-and-tickets/fares-info/dart-and-short-hop-zone#farescalculator

https://www.dublinpublictransport.ie/tickets

Nursing In Ireland – An American’s Experience

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Q&A – Ireland

Where are you from?
I am originally from Beachwood, OH, just outside of Cleveland, and recently from Chicago, IL, USA.

Can you give us a snapshot of your nursing career thus far? 
I started my Nursing Career in 2016, after having graduated from DePaul University’s Master’s Entry to Nurse Practice, and have been working exclusively in Emergency Departments in Chicago and now Dublin, ever since.

When did you travel to Ireland?
February of 2018

 

When and why did you decide it was time to take your nursing career abroad?
My wife had been admitted to a graduate program at Trinity College Dublin, so I took my career with me when we moved to Dublin!

Why did you choose Ireland as your destination?  See above.

What was the registration process like? You’re undertaking adaptation to complete your registration – what is that like?  Registration with NMBI was a bit painstaking, however after all required documents had been received by NMBI, the registration process was completed within a few months.  I never had any problem with calling or emailing NMBI with questions; I had answers from NMBI within 24 – 48 hours.  The MCQ testing and OSCE testing went fairly smoothly as well.

How long have you been in Ireland?  A year and 2 months. And how are you settling in?  We have settled in quite well!  Finding a place to live took some time, but we eventually found a flat in City Centre.  We love living in town.

Are there a lot of differences between your home country and Ireland? There are differences, but ultimately what we have found is that Dubliners, and the Irish in general, are a warm and welcoming people. What are you doing in order to adapt to your new environment? Getting to know the shops and shop keepers in our neighbourhood was key, as well as getting to know the geography of our neighbourhood.  We love to walk, and would take weekly walks around our neighbourhood and surrounding areas in Dublin.

What is your social life like? Dublin has a pub and cafe culture, so a lot of our socializing revolves around meeting with friends for a pint or for a cuppa. What do you do on your days off? Get the food shopping done, cook meals for my next few days of shift work, read, catch up on family and friends back in the US, and take long walks.  When I have long stretches of time off, or Annual Leave, we rent a car and head out of Dublin for a few days, exploring other regions of Ireland.

What part of your new life have you found the most surprising? How easy it has been to become acclimated to life in Dublin.  We really love it here.

What are the positives of living in Ireland? The people are friendly and accommodating; the pubs are great craic; the food is fantastic; the city is easily accessed and navigable; the produce, fish, meat and poultry are delicious; and we love the session music.

What is your most memorable moment so far? I don’t know that there is any one moment that I could point to, but I have had many really great experiences with my patients in the last year.

What are some of the challenges you’ve faced and how have you managed them?  Ireland, we have found, runs on “Island Time,” and why wouldn’t it? It is an island! “Nothing is urgent, and yet everything is desperate.”   What I mean to say is, don’t expect answers or processes to be fast.  Just know that it will get done at some point, so sit back and try to relax while you wait for that GNIB appointment, or the paperwork, or the finalisation of your NMBI registration.

You’re currently working for the Blackrock Clinic – How did the hospital help with the transition from your old life to your new life? The hospital staff and my ED Team were as warm and welcoming as we found all the people of Dublin to be.

Blackrock Clinic Hospital (BRC) was highly instrumental in my professional transition. Blackrock assumed all my NMBI/RCSI testing fees, paid for my flight to Dublin from Chicago, and offered me 6 weeks of transitional housing (which I did not need).

In addition to BRC’s assistance, I can not mention or speak highly enough of how helpful Breda and Cathee, and the entire office at CCM and their assistance and guidance from start to finish of my transition to working and living in Dublin.

How are you finding nursing in another country in general? The nurse/patient relationship is pretty much always the same, where ever you might find yourself practising.  Every hospital, however, in fact every ward or unit, will have its own culture.  That culture will always take time to acclimate to and become a part of, no matter where you work.

What differences are there & how are you adapting to the differences? Irish ED/A&E Nursing Scope of Practice is somewhat limited to ED Nurse Practice in the United States:  Opiate medications are only administered by the consultant rather than the nurse; patient physical assessment by the nurse does not include palpation or auscultation of lung, heart or bowel sounds; conscious sedations are procedures run by an anesthetist rather than the ED consultant and ED nurse.  Those are the differences that I have noted in practice.

I must add that I have only practised at Blackrock Clinic, so I am unsure of the nurse scope of practice in other A&Es in Ireland.  The biggest difference, unfortunately, is the pay scale.  Ireland pays its nurses quite a bit less than what nurse salaries are in the States.  It was an adjustment, but I have a job for which I am grateful, a roof over my head, and a fridge full of food.  All is well.

How are you finding your department in particular? The department I work in is quite good, because of the really fabulous nursing team that works hand in hand with the consultants.

What support is there and what are you colleagues like? We are a team in the ED, and I know that I could call on any one of my colleagues for assistance at work or outside of work.

What career opportunities or professional development have you found there? During the COVID19 Pandemic, I and two of my colleagues have been deployed to the ICU at Blackrock.  It is an amazing learning experience, and an opportunity I am grateful for.  The learning curve is steep, for this dyed in the wool ED nurse, but I find it exciting and gratifying to be doing and learning something new to expand my nurse experience and knowledge.

How are you finding the cost of living in Dublin – is it very different to home? It is expensive here, but not that different from Chicago.

What were your goals before travelling to Ireland? To land a job in an A&E in Dublin and play my mandolin in a real live session at one of the pubs here. Are you achieving what you set out to do or have these changed? I have achieved one of the above, and am working on the other.  A new goal I have is to find every Round Tower, Martello Tower and High Cross in Ireland.  A lofty goal, I know, but well worth the effort:  it allows travel to all parts of Ireland and the opportunity to meet many on the way.

What advice would you give to someone thinking of travelling to Ireland? If one is thinking about traveling to Ireland for work, my advice would be, once one has landed the job:  Take your time, ask lots of questions, listen and watch and learn how your department and your new team works.  Also, have all your paperwork and down payment in hand when looking at a rental flat/apartment; the competition for living quarters is brutal.

What is your overall opinion to date?  Ireland has been a good move for us.  We love it here more and more every day.  We are hoping for the best of health for her people during this pandemic, as we are hoping for our families back in the US, and all people of the world during this unprecedented time.

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