An Bord Altranais (the Board) was established by the Nurses Act, 1950 to take over the functions of two bodies, the Central Midwives Board and the General Nursing Council, which had been established in 1918 and 1919, respectively. The Board was re-constituted and its functions were re-defined and expanded by the
Nurses Act, 1985
. The Board continues to operate under the provisions of this Act.
The Board consists of twenty-nine members, seventeen of whom are nurses and midwives elected by the nursing profession. The remainder are appointed by the Minister for Health and Children. An Bord Altranais is the regulatory body for the nursing profession.
Its main functions are:
to establish and maintain a register of nurses
to provide for the education and training of nurses and student nurses
to inquire into the conduct of a registered nurse on the grounds of alleged professional misconduct or alleged unfitness to engage in such practice by reason of physical or mental disability
to give guidance to the profession
to manage the Nursing Careers Centre, which was set up in 1998 to facilitate a centralised system of processing and selection of applicants wishing to enter nursing; promote and market nursing as a career; provide careers information to registered nurses and midwives
In addition to its statutory functions detailed in the Nurses Act, 1985, the Board also:
advises the Minister for Health and Children on all matters relating to the functions assigned to the Board by the Act
advises the public on all matters of general interest relating to its functions
ensures the application of relevant EU Directives in the regulation and control of nursing and midwifery practice
undertakes additional functions assigned by the Minister for Health and Children in relation to the practice of nursing and the persons engaged in such practice
maintains and fosters relations with relevant international organisations
provides both library and information services to the profession
manages the Nursing Careers Centre, which provides career guidance to nurses and midwives
produces an Annual Report
Additional information can be obtained from the An Bord Altranais website at
www.nursingboard.ie
