Description:
Role Overview
The purpose of this role is to develop the Advanced Nurse Practitioner (ANP) Stroke Service through the organisation’s clinical and operational governance structures. This will be achieved under the direction of the Health Care Provider’s Advanced Practice Stakeholder Governance Group, enabling the post holder to meet the NMBI Criteria for Registration as an Advanced Nurse Practitioner in line with the Advanced Practice (Nursing) Standards and Requirements (NMBI, 2017).
The post holder will undertake the required academic preparation and progressively develop the advanced clinical, leadership, professional, and decision-making competencies necessary for registration as a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP). During this developmental phase, the role is designated as Candidate Advanced Nurse Practitioner (cANP) and is non-autonomous, reflecting the incremental development of advanced practice expertise.
The role includes responsibility for completing and submitting all required documentation for registration as an RANP with NMBI. In collaboration with the Advanced Practice Stakeholder Governance Group, a RANP (Stroke) job description and supporting documentation will be developed to facilitate the transition from cANP to RANP.
The role safeguards and articulates the contribution of nursing as a distinct profession, ensuring that advanced nursing services complement and enhance existing services rather than replace them (NMBI, 2017).
The overall purpose of the post is to deliver safe, timely, and evidence-based nurse-led care at an advanced practice level. This includes managing complete episodes of patient care—assessment, diagnosis, planning, treatment, and discharge—in accordance with agreed protocols and scope of practice. The role requires advanced clinical expertise, critical thinking, leadership, and autonomous decision-making in line with governance frameworks.
The post holder will demonstrate professional scholarship and clinical leadership to advance nursing practice and contribute to service development and health policy at local, national, and international levels.
Essential Criteria
1. Professional Qualifications, Experience and Competence
Candidates must, at the latest date of application:
(i) Be registered as a General Nurse with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland (NMBI), or be eligible for registration
And
(ii) Be registered in the General Division of the NMBI Register relevant to the application, or be entitled to be so registered
OR provide evidence of validated competencies where services span multiple patient groups or divisions of the register
And
(iii) Possess a broad base of clinical experience relevant to the advanced field of practice
And
(iv) Be eligible to undertake a Master’s Degree (Level 9 NFQ) in Nursing or a relevant discipline aligned with advanced practice, including a minimum of three advanced practice modules and clinical practicum
OR
(v) Be currently undertaking, or eligible to undertake within an agreed timeframe, a Master’s Degree in Nursing (Advanced Practice Pathway) or equivalent Level 9 modules including clinical practicum
OR
Hold a Level 9 Master’s Degree (or higher) relevant to advanced nursing practice, including three advanced practice modules and clinical practicum
(b) Demonstrate the required knowledge, skills, suitability, and professional, clinical, and administrative capacity to fulfil the role.
2. Annual Registration
Maintain active annual registration on the Advanced Nurse Practitioner Division of the NMBI Register
Provide annual confirmation of registration to the HSE via the Patient Safety Assurance Certificate (PSAC)
3. Age
Applicants who are not classified as new entrants under the Public Service Superannuation (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2004 must be under 65 years of age at the closing date.
4. Health
Candidates must be medically fit and capable of performing the duties of the role with reasonable prospect of providing regular and efficient service.
5. Character
Candidates must be of good character and suitable for appointment.
Post-Specific Requirements
Demonstrated depth and breadth of experience in Stroke care
Other Requirements
Access to transport, as the role may involve travel.