Dr Louise McBride, Head of Department of Nursing and Healthcare, ATU Donegal, has been elected as the new Board President of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland.
Originally from Duleek, Co Meath and living in Co Donegal, Dr McBride is a registered general nurse and nurse tutor, specialising in Orthopaedics and Emergency Nursing.
She is currently Head of the Department of Nursing and Healthcare at Atlantic Technological University, Donegal providing undergraduate and post-graduate nursing and healthcare-related studies in the North West. She is currently involved in funded research projects in the area of mental health and wellbeing of third level students in partnership with University of Ulster.
Dr McBride has served on the Board of the NMBI since 2015, when she was appointed by the Minister for Health as the Technological Higher Education Association (THEA) Institutes of Technology representative. She has been Vice President of the Board since 2017.
During her time on the Board, Dr McBride served as chair of the Education, Training and Standards Committee, and has also served as a member of the Business, Strategy and Finance Committee and the Fitness to Practise Committee.
In her new role, Dr McBride will oversee the implementation of NMBI’s new Statement of Strategy 2023-2025.
Speaking on her appointment, Dr Louise McBride said: “I am privileged and honoured to become President of NMBI. As I step into this role, from Vice President, I recognise both the opportunities and challenges that exist within the nursing and midwifery professions and look forward to working with the Board, NMBI’s executive and key stakeholders as we promote and protect the integrity of the professions.
“l am delighted to have been elected by my Board colleagues to take up the position of President. I want to thank my former colleague and outgoing President, Essene Cassidy, for her leadership over the past seven years. I look forward to using my knowledge of the Board and my professional, academic experience and practice to further NMBI’s mission to protect the public and uphold the highest standards of nursing and midwifery education and practice.”
NMBI CEO, Sheila McClelland congratulated Dr McBride on her new election: “I want to offer my sincere congratulations to Louise on her election as Board President. I have worked closely with Louise over the past number of years and I know that she is strongly committed to furthering our work to support registered midwives and nurses to provide patient care to the highest standard. I look forward to continuing to work alongside our Board to achieve our new strategic objectives.”
