Announcing the 2025 recipient of the Bernie Carpenter Perpetual Bursary Award
By Gemma Smyth, cANP, IAANMP Committee Officer
The Bernie Carpenter Perpetual Bursary Award was established in memory of Bernie Carpenter, one of the founding members of our association and a passionate advocate of nurse education. Bernie’s career was marked by her lifelong commitment to advancing nursing practice and supporting the professional development of nurses across all stages of their careers. Since her passing in March 2021, this award has served as a way to honour her legacy and values.
We are delighted to announce Hannah Walsh, ANP in the Emergency Department at Wexford General Hospital, as the 2025 recipient of the Bernie Carpenter Award.
This year’s applications were of a very high standard, each reflecting a strong commitment to advancing nursing practice in line with the core ANP competencies of clinical leadership, research, and service development. We extend our sincere thanks to all applicants for their thoughtful, innovative submissions, and for their ongoing contributions to advanced nursing practice.
Hannah’s proposal was selected following careful consideration against core criteria. The project focuses on integrating point of care ultrasound (PoCUS) into ANP practice in emergency settings in Ireland. It is a timely and relevant topic with direct implications for clinical care and workforce development.
Hannah’s application stood out for several reasons:
- It combines practical professional development through an introductory musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound course with a structured action research study, reflecting both personal growth and wider service impact.
- It demonstrates strategic thinking, with a well-defined rationale for course selection (the SMUG MSK ultrasound course) and a plan for evaluating the potential benefits and challenges of PoCUS implementation for nurse practitioners.
- The proposal articulates a vision for future service development, including the potential to inform PoCUS education pathways for ANPs more broadly, aligning with the evolving demands of healthcare delivery.
Hannah’s work reflects the spirit of the Bernie Carpenter Award – advancing nursing through evidence-based practice, innovation in education, and a clear commitment to professional development.
We congratulate Hannah on this well conceived and timely initiative, and we look forward to the outcomes of the project and its potential to influence ANP practice and patient care across emergency services. We are especially pleased to welcome Hannah to share more about this work at our annual conference on October 13 this year.
MRHT Nightingale Award 2025
Paula Ward, Palliative Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner at the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore (MRHT), has been honoured with the MRHT Nightingale Award 2025.
This award is given to an individual at MRHT who has consistently gone above and beyond in their daily role, making a significant impact on patient care and the healthcare community.
The Nightingale Award nominations were part of this year’s MRHT International Nurses Day celebrations. Paula was nominated by her peers and selected as the winner in recognition of her outstanding contributions.
She is celebrated by her colleagues and management team as an exceptional role model, demonstrating dedication, compassion, and excellence in her work.
Congratulations to Paula on this remarkable achievement from the IAANMP.
IAANMP monthly webinars in partnership with MedCafe
By Dona Cromar, RANP, IAANMP Committee Officer
The Irish Association of Advanced Nurse and Midwife Practitioners (IAANMP) monthly webinar series is well underway. The series, hosted by MedCafe, provides valuable education for IAANMP members and enhances professional development.
While all our webinars are recorded for your convenience, we strongly encourage members to attend the live sessions whenever possible. These events provide not only valuable clinical insights and continuing professional development opportunities but also play a vital role in supporting the ongoing work of the IAANMP.
Our webinars are generously sponsored by pharmaceutical partners who recognise and support the role of advanced practice. Continued sponsorship relies on strong engagement and attendance figures. By joining live, you help us maintain and grow these free, high-quality educational events for the ANP and AMP community. Your presence really does make a difference.
Our aim is to deliver a diverse range of clinical topics that resonate with our members and inspire meaningful engagement across advanced practice. If you have expertise or material you would like to share as part of an upcoming webinar, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch and help us continue to deliver high-quality, relevant content for our community.
Our upcoming July webinar will focus on respiratory care, providing valuable insights for respiratory specialists and those with an interest in this field. Full details will be available soon on our website, so stay tuned for updates. Looking ahead, our August webinar will focus on gastrointestinal health, followed by women’s and men’s health in September.
IAANMP monthly webinars 2025: Sessions to date:
- June 19, 2025. Mental health: ‘Managing patients with depression’, presented by Dr Hassen Hossenbaccus.
- May 15, 2025: ‘The injured knee: A focus on fractures, dislocations, and soft tissue challenges’, presented by RANPs Caroline Fraser and Dona Cromar.
- April 17, 2025: ‘An educational evening on obesity’, presented by Dr Michael Crotty.
- March 20, 2025: ‘A cardiology focus’, presented by RANPs Fiona Colbert and Kathleen Canavan.
All IAANMP-recorded webinars can be found on MedCafe’s MEDMEETINGS section in the ‘IAANMP recorded meetings’ area. For access to the webinars, IAANMP members must be registered with MedCafe.
The set-up process involves creating a MedCafe account, completing a profile (including NMBI PIN), and joining the MedMeetings group. A reminder email will be sent one hour before the webinar. For members who are not already MedCafe users, they can sign up and request access to the group.
The MedCafe privacy policy and MedCafe terms of service are available on the IAANMP website. Members can opt out at any time by contacting support@medcafe.ie.
Instructions to set up an account on MedCafe:
- Visit MedCafe.
- Click ‘Sign up’, enter your details.
- Check your email for a link to confirm your account.
- Complete your profile (including NMBI PIN).
- Download Zoom (if not already installed).
- At the time of the webinar, log into your MedCafe account and click ‘Join webinar’.
- A reminder email will be sent one hour before the event.
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