How to become an OB nurse in Ireland

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Hi everyone!

I am currently a senior in nursing school, completing my BSN in August. I would really love the opportunity to work in Ireland as a nurse one day, but it seems like it is almost impossible. I want to be an OB nurse, and I think that my BSN might not qualify me to be an OB nurse in Ireland since they are trained separately? Does anyone know anything about this?

Luckily, I already have dual-citizenship so I wouldnt have to worry about obtaining a work visa or anything like this. The process still seems really difficult. I would love some information about how to make this possible.

Thank you all so much!

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Specializes in Surgical, quality,management.

Hi kaaatydid,

I am a nurse from Ireland. I studied and worked there before emigrating to Australia for work in 2008. I saw the economy tanking and knew that health care would be one of the hardest hit areas.

You are correct there is no such thing as an OB nurse in Ireland or the UK. anyone who wants to work in maternity needs to be a midwife. This can be done as graduate diploma if you are already REGISTERED with An Bord Altranis (Irish Nursing Board) or as an under grad degree in Ireland. If you do have the above qualifications you will not be able to work on a maternity unit. contact Irish Nursing Board, An Bord Altranais for more information.

However your biggest problem is getting a job. local graduates are not getting positions currently so I would expect an overseas graduate with no experience would find it near impossible. Also there is no long orientation like the US. Because of the high exposure to clinical areas as a student (approx 50% of time) Orientation is usually 3-5 DAYS.

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Specializes in Pediatric GI/Pulm.

HI RN4008, Did you ever apply to be an OB nurse in Ireland? From reading the NMBI website, it doesn't seem like our U.S. BSN's didactic hours or clinical hours equate the same as in Ireland.What did you chose to do?

:)

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Specializes in Complex pedi to LTC/SA & now a manager.
HI RN4008, Did you ever apply to be an OB nurse in Ireland? From reading the NMBI website, it doesn't seem like our U.S. BSN's didactic hours or clinical hours equate the same as in Ireland.What did you chose to do?

:)

There are no OB nurses in Ireland/UK. Midwives handle OB/maternity.

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Specializes in Pediatric GI/Pulm.
There are no OB nurses in Ireland/UK. Midwives handle OB/maternity.

Yes, I guess my question for RN4008 wasn't clear, being that she can't do OB nursing in her current situation, what did she/he decide to do? go back to school to be a midwife or apply as a general RN?

thanks

:)

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