Chief Nurse on Policy Power

Irish nurses and midwives face constant pressure to innovate and improve the nation's health system while maintaining high standards of care. Achieving genuine policy change requires the lived experience of front-line professionals to be heard and acted upon.This episode delves into the critical role nurses and midwives play in shaping high-level health policy, leading workforce reform, and embracing a digital future. We discuss the success of advanced practice in improving patient access, the 47 recommendations from the Expert Review Body, and why optimism must overcome fear regarding AI and technology in healthcare.Host Kathyann Barrett, NMBI Director of Corporate Services and Strategy, is joined by Ireland's Chief Nurse, Rachel Kenna. Rachel is an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health, responsible for the National Patient Safety Office and strategic workforce planning.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT- Rachel Kenna's early nursing ambition.- Value of working abroad experience.- Chief Nurse's extensive policy responsibilities.- Advanced practice drives significant access.- AI and digital as the future.GUESTS DETAILSRachel Kenna is the Chief Nursing Officer for Ireland and an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health. Her responsibilities include the National Patient Safety Office, strategic workforce planning, and professional regulation policy. She is skilled at translating clinical knowledge into effective policy and is committed to ensuring the voice of nurses and midwives is heard at the highest government levels.MORE INFORMATIONNMBI is the statutory body which sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. We advise on how nurses and midwives should provide care to patients, their families and society. Our mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct. We achieve this by providing leadership to registered nurses and midwives to support them to deliver safe care through innovative and proactive professional regulation.  Our functions in safeguarding the public involve establishing and maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We also establish procedures and criteria for the assessment and registration of nurses and midwives. Visit the Registration section of our website to learn more. Additionally, we set the standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery education programmes. We approve education programmes and further education programmes for the purposes for nurses and midwives. Visit NMBI.ie to learn more. QUOTESNurses and midwives can actually turn their hand to anything. - Rachel KennaThe system that we work in and operating as a nurse in a health system, gave me a huge understanding. - Rachel KennaMy clinical knowledge is hugely important in terms of being able to perform in that space. -  Rachel KennaKEYWORDS#AdvancedPractice #NursingPolicy #DigitalHealth #WorkforceReform #NMBI