Vocational Education & Training (VET) and professional education in health care and nursing in Ireland

This Chapter forms part of a publication by ITB, University of Bremem produced as part of the CREDICARE project. This Chapter aims to give a comprehensive overview of Vocational Education & training and professional education in relation to Nurse Training Programmes currently (2011-12) operating within the Irish national context, thus contributing to the overall CREDICARE European macro context. Additionally this chapter porports to explore the entry requirements from both formal (university) and informal (access courses) perspectives as illustrated in the National Framework Qualifications (NFQ) system and to draw overall comparison with the European Qualification Framework (EQF). Furthermore this report examines the roles and responsibilities of the various stakeholders involved in relation to pre and post registration2 nurse training programmes available nationwide as well as outlining the role of and discussing An Bord Altranais (the regulatory board), The Nursing Careers Centre, entry requirements, programmes available, employment structure, and other relevant issues relating to the nursing education system in Irelan