More foreign nurses than Irish nurses are registering to work here, according to An Bord Altranais.
The nursing board's latest bulletin shows that about 1,400 new Irish-trained nurses registered in 2000, but there was almost an equal number from other EU member-states and more than 800 from third countries. So far this year another 2,000 foreign-trained nurses have sought registration in the Republic.
The number of nurses from other EU states registering with An Bord Altranais has been rising steadily through the 1990s. In 1991 the number was just over 600. It rose to 900 in 1997 and 1,200 in 1999.
The number of nurses from third countries in 1991 was fewer than 200. However, the figure jumped to over 300 in 1998, over 400 in 1999 and doubled last year.
Irish nurse registrations in the Republic peaked at 1,800 in 1996 and have been falling since. Figures are expected to rise again with the increase in Leaving Cert students opting for nursing. Numbers are rising because of more effective recruitment campaigns and the significant pay increases secured by the profession between 1997 and 1999.
However, the increase could prove temporary. Longer-term trends suggest Irish nurses may form a minority of staff in hospitals by the end of the decade. Despite the increase in student registrations there is strong anecdotal evidence that newly qualified nurses are leaving the profession in large numbers.
According to An Bord Altranais News, there are over 2,000 applications from abroad at various stages of registration already this year. The professional qualifications of each registrant have to be checked, as well as passport details and references obtained before the process can be completed.