We reported last week that nursing students faced unemployment in Ireland after they graduate and now there's been an interesting development: Minister for Health Simon Harris has promised full-time Irish nursing contracts upon graduation.
That's a big promise to make but Harris has already said it's guaranteed in an address to the annual delegate conference of the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation (INMO) on Saturday.
According to the Journal, the minister outlined three commitments as part of this plan:
- Delivering 1,208 additional permanent posts to the nursing and midwifery workforce this year
- Converting agency staff into direct HSE employees
- Offering all graduating students full-time contracts
Harris said that the Department of Health will be “writing to each of those student nurses in the coming days to tell them this and outline the next steps”.
“I wish to reaffirm once again my absolute commitment to the implementation of this agreement,” Harris said.
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“These are not just soothing political words. My statement of commitment is matched by an unprecedented direction to the HSE,” he added.
This is excellent news for students graduating from nursing or midwifery this year.
What are your thoughts?
