IAANMP 2025 year in review

A year of growth, leadership, and national impact

Last year, 2025, was a landmark for the IAANMP, defined by innovation, collaboration, and substantial progress in amplifying the voice and visibility of ANMPs across Ireland. As a national representative body for ANMPs, the IAANMP continued to lead with purpose and vision, championing advanced practice, supporting professional development, and promoting excellence in patient-centred care.

Throughout the year, the Association demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that advanced practitioners are recognised as key clinical leaders driving innovation, improving access to services, and shaping the evolving landscape of Irish healthcare.

Representation, growth, and advocacy

Membership of the IAANMP grew exponentially in 2025, reflecting the expansion of ANMP posts across primary, secondary, and tertiary care. The Association now proudly represents 572 members. This growth mirrored the ongoing national recognition of advanced practice roles as essential components of Ireland’s integrated and multidisciplinary model of healthcare delivery.

In 2025, the IAANMP took a leading role in shaping national workforce and policy decisions, engaging directly with government, the Department of Health, the HSE, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Ireland, the Irish Nurses and Midwives Organisation, and academic experts.

These strategic collaborations ensured that ANPs and AMPs had a strong, influential voice, advancing the expansion of advanced practice, professional recognition, and driving sustained investment in role development across Ireland.

The Association collaborated with Tile Media on their TG4 production Altraí na hÉireann, further promoting the visibility and impact of ANMPs at a national level. In addition, IAANMP committee officers were involved in the E-STAR online survey project, a national research initiative evaluating the standards and requirements for advanced practice in Ireland, contributing valuable insights to inform future policy and workforce planning.

Through its strategic partnerships and national presence, the IAANMP continued to influence health policy and promote the role of advanced practitioners in delivering safe, effective, and accessible care aligned with national healthcare reform.

The IAANMP Advanced Practice Supplement

A defining achievement of 2025 was the introduction and continued success of the IAANMP Advanced Practice Supplement, published within the Nursing in Practice Ireland (NiPI) journal. In collaboration with GreenCross Publications, NiPI editor Denise Doherty, IAANMP Chair Melissa Hammond, and the IAANMP Committee, Theresa Lowry Lehnen (RANP) initiated the concept that led to the establishment of the supplement and also continues to play an editorial role in its ongoing development and publication.

The IAANMP Advanced Practice Supplement provides a professional forum for ANMPs to share evidence-based practice, research findings, clinical innovations, and reflective professional insights, and highlights the influence and impact of advanced practitioners across the healthcare sectors.

The supplement has significantly enhanced the visibility of advanced practice in Ireland and has become a cornerstone of professional communication and engagement for IAANMP ANMPs. Its success reflects the collective strength of Ireland’s advanced practice community.

Professional development and education: IAANMP webinars via MedCafe

Education and professional growth remained a priority for the IAANMP in 2025. In collaboration with MedCafe, the Association delivered a series of live and recorded webinars that reached and engaged advanced practitioners across Ireland, providing high-quality, evidence-based continuing professional development (CPD).

The MedCafe platform provides flexible and accessible learning opportunities that support the educational needs of ANMPs across diverse clinical settings. These webinars reflect members’ strong commitment to lifelong learning and reinforce the IAANMP’s reputation as a leading provider of high-quality professional education for advanced practitioners.

Digital transformation: The Siilo platform

2025 saw the introduction of the Siilo platform, a secure and interactive digital space developed to strengthen communication, engagement, and resource sharing across the IAANMP membership. The initiative was set up for members by Dona Cromar, RANP and IAANMP Committee Officer.

Siilo serves as a modern, digital hub where members can access Association news, policy updates, educational materials, and event information. The platform also facilitates real-time collaboration and networking through discussion forums and professional communities.

The launch of Siilo represented a major step forward in the Association’s digital strategy, fostering connectivity and engagement across Ireland’s advanced practice network. It reflects the IAANMP’s commitment to digital innovation and to creating inclusive, interactive environments that support professional dialogue and peer collaboration.

IAANMP updated website

The IAANMP updated its website in 2025 to provide a more streamlined, informative, and engaging experience for members and visitors. The refreshed site reflects IAANMP’s ongoing commitment to supporting the professional development, collaboration, and visibility of ANMPs across Ireland.

The updated website features improved navigation and expanded content, including sections on membership, the IAANMP Supplement in NiPI, webinars, a national repository, education updates, news and events, and professional resources. These enhancements ensure members have easy access to key information, clinical guidance, and updates relevant to advanced practice.

Showcasing the growth of advanced practice in Ireland, IAANMP now represents 572 advanced practitioners across more than 30 specialist areas. The updated website serves as a central hub for communication, research, and innovation, promoting excellence in advanced nursing and midwifery practice nationwide.

IAANMP social media influence

In 2025, the IAANMP strengthened its digital presence and influence through its active LinkedIn and X (Twitter) platforms, highlighting the achievements of advanced practitioners, and fostering professional collaboration. Throughout the year, IAANMP’s social media networks engaged a growing audience of practitioners, educators, and healthcare leaders, amplifying the voice of advanced practice in Ireland. Regular posts showcased clinical insights, policy developments, and member achievements – fostering leadership, innovation, and advocacy across the profession.

GDPR

The IAANMP updated its general data protection regulation (GDPR) policy in 2025 to reflect current data protection standards and best practices. The updated policy ensures full compliance with the GDPR and Irish data protection laws, reinforcing the Association’s commitment to transparency, accountability, and the secure handling of personal data.

The IAANMP collects and processes only the information necessary for membership, communication, and organisational purposes, safeguarding all data through secure systems and limited authorised access. Personal information is never shared with third parties without explicit consent, and members retain the right to access, correct, or request deletion of their data at any time.

The 2025 IAANMP National Conference

The 2025 IAANMP National Conference was a standout highlight of the year, marking one of the Association’s most successful events to date. It attracted record attendance from across the advanced practice community, academia, and healthcare leadership, showcasing the growing impact and reach of advanced practice in Ireland.

The 21st annual conference provided an important forum for knowledge exchange, showcasing advanced practice innovation, Irish research, and service development projects that demonstrated the measurable impact of ANPs and AMPs on healthcare delivery.

Key themes included strengthening and evolving the Advanced Practice Model of Care, clinical competence, leadership, innovation, education, and wellbeing. Delegates engaged in panel discussions, interactive sessions, and keynote presentations that reinforced the leadership role of ANPs and AMPs in shaping the future of Irish healthcare.

The conference also celebrated professional achievement through the presentation of the IAANMP Bernie Carpenter Bursary Awards to Ms Sarah Daly (Respiratory RANP) and Ms Hannah Walsh (Emergency RANP), recognising their outstanding contributions to clinical excellence and research.

The poster competition awards further highlighted the innovation, scholarship, and clinical leadership demonstrated by practitioners across a range of specialties. First prize was awarded to Gemma Finegan, cANP Paediatric Emergency Medicine, Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, for her poster titled ‘What is the current level of nurses’ knowledge regarding paediatric fever, and how do nurses in a general hospital paediatric setting approach its management in clinical practice?’.

Second prize was presented to Avril Gannon, cANP Respiratory, Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore, for her poster on ‘COPD admission avoidance winter initiative’. Third prize was awarded to Niamh Orla Finan, RANP, Brothers of Charity Services Ireland West Region, for her poster ‘ANP – transforming care for adults with intellectual disabilities’.

Together, these awards and presentations showcased the depth of expertise, innovation, and dedication within Ireland’s advanced practice community. The 2025 IAANMP National Conference reflected the Association’s ongoing commitment to professional excellence, leadership, and the advancement of clinical innovation and healthcare reform nationwide.

Overall, the 2025 IAANMP National Conference reflected the Association’s unwavering commitment to professional excellence, leadership, and advancement. It highlighted the IAANMP’s pivotal role in driving the national conversation on clinical innovation, healthcare reform, and the ongoing evolution of the advanced practice model of care in Ireland.

Advanced Practice Week (10th-16th November 2025)

We had an excellent response to Advanced Practice Week 2025, during which we showcased powerful testimonials from IAANMP members, patients, and colleagues who work alongside them. These testimonials highlighted the outstanding, high-quality work being carried out by ANPs and AMPs across the country, reflecting the depth, impact, and professionalism of advanced practice in Ireland. Caroline Fraser, RANP IAANMP committee officer, played a key role in coordinating the initiative, using IAANMP digital and social media platforms to highlight the campaign and enhance its visibility.

Policy engagement: Submission on recommendation 28

Thank you to the Chief Nursing Officer at the Department of Health for inviting the IAANMP to submit our vision in response to Recommendation 28 of the Report of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery. We also extend our sincere thanks to all who contributed to the recent survey on education pathways for advanced practice and senior nursing leadership roles.

Recommendation 28:
To inform continued strategic implementation and development of advanced nursing and midwifery practice, a further evaluation of the impact of advanced practice across the system should be commissioned by the Department of Health and HSE within two years (four years post-implementation of the Policy on the Development of Graduate to Advanced Nursing and Midwifery Practice).

The IAANMP welcomed the opportunity to make the submission to the Department of Health on recommendation 28 of the Expert Review Body on Nursing and Midwifery report as this aligns with the future development, integration, and sustainability of advanced practice roles within Ireland’s health and social care system. Since its establishment, IAANMP has been dedicated to advancing the role of ANMPs as pivotal leaders in delivering high-quality, evidence-based, and person-centred care.

This submission was delivered in December 2025 to the Department of Health, and is available on the IAANMP website for our members to read.

Purpose of the IAANMP submission: To align existing legislation and policy with the recommendations of the Expert Review Body (ERB) on Nursing and Midwifery (2022) by formally recognising that all registered nurses and midwives can act as independent practitioners within their defined scope of practice under the Nurses and Midwives Act 2011 and the Health Act 1970.

Irish context from the view of IAANMP members practising on the ground: Ireland’s nursing and midwifery workforce is the largest and most widely distributed professional group in health service delivery. The ERB Report (2022) and Sláintecare (2019-2023) both call for a rebalanced model of care, moving from hospital to community and from dependence to professional autonomy. Current legislation and policy already enable independent practice but have yet to be activated at scale.

ANMPs have consistently demonstrated their capacity to improve patient outcomes, enhance service efficiency, and contribute to workforce innovation across both acute and community care settings.

This submission outlines key recommendations to strengthen the advanced practice framework in Ireland, including strategies to:

• Support the continued growth and equitable distribution of ANMP posts across all healthcare settings.
• Ensure sustainable pathways for education, mentorship, and clinical supervision.
• Recognise and expand the leadership and research contributions of ANMPs in shaping national healthcare policy.
• Promote the integration of advanced practice roles in addressing system pressures, such as waiting lists, chronic disease management, and access to care.

IAANMP believes that fully realising the potential of advanced practice will not only improve access to care and patient outcomes but will also support a more resilient, responsive, and modern health system, aligned with Sláintecare goals and the Department’s vision for high-quality, person-centred, and integrated healthcare.

We look forward to continued collaboration with the Department of Health and other stakeholders to advance this critical agenda and ensure that advanced practice continues to thrive as a cornerstone of healthcare delivery in Ireland.

Innovation and clinical excellence

2025 was a year defined by innovation, with ANMPs leading transformative initiatives across multiple healthcare settings. From chronic disease prevention and management to respiratory, cardiovascular, women’s and men’s health, emergency department and mental health services, cancer care, and beyond, ANMPs continued to pioneer service improvements that enhanced access, improved quality, and enriched the patient experience.

The IAANMP proudly celebrated these achievements, recognising that ANMPs embody the principles of evidence-based, autonomous, and patient-centred care. Many practitioners contributed to audit, quality improvement, and research initiatives that informed national standards and clinical policy.

Through its national conference, policy engagement, advanced practice supplement, and digital channels, the IAANMP amplified these successes, ensuring that the contributions of advanced practitioners were acknowledged and valued within Ireland’s healthcare system.

Looking forward to 2026

As 2025 drew to a close, the IAANMP celebrated a year of remarkable growth, innovation, and professional achievement. Looking ahead to 2026, the Association is committed to consolidating these successes and further strengthening the foundations laid over the past year, driving continued advancement in advanced practice across Ireland.

Plans for 2026 include the continued publication of the IAANMP Advanced Practice Supplement within NiPI, increased collaboration via the Siilo platform, and the expansion of educational initiatives via MedCafe webinars and digital resources.

The IAANMP is committed to deepening partnerships with government bodies, nursing and midwifery leaders, and academic experts to drive policy development, champion research, and support the sustained growth and advancement of advanced practice roles across Ireland.

The IAANMP reaffirms its commitment to representing and supporting advanced practitioners, advocating for continued investment in advanced practice roles, and ensuring that ANMPs remain central to the delivery of safe, effective, and person-centred healthcare in Ireland.

Acknowledgement: The IAANMP Committee extends its heartfelt appreciation to all members for their professionalism, dedication, and leadership throughout 2025. Your expertise, innovation, and commitment to excellence continue to define the strength of the advanced practice community and to inspire progress across the Irish healthcare system.

Together, we advance practice, empower leadership, and strengthen our collective voice. Together, we shape the future of healthcare in Ireland.

#StrongerTogether