About the Irish Practice Nurses Association

The Irish Practice Nurses Association (IPNA) is a professional membership association of Practice Nurses and was granted Charitable Tax Exemption (CHY 17932) in June 2008.  

The main objective of the association is the advancement of education in general practice in Ireland by promoting and assisting nurses in further education programmes and to provide a forum for the dissemination of information on developments in the general Practice Nursing field which will promote the highest standards of care to benefit the community.  

From its' humble beginnings in the early 1990’s as a small group of Practice Nurses who decided to meet regularly to share ideas and information, it has expanded steadily and now boasts over 700 Practice Nurse members nationwide, with 19 Branches holding monthly meetings. Each of these monthly Branch meetings includes an educational session on a topic relevant to Practice Nursing, and therefore provides a vital opportunity for Practice Nurses to access Continuing Nurse Education.

The Annual Educational Conference and the bi-monthly journal “Nursing in General Practice” are other forums for Practice Nurses to access education, workshops, the latest research and updates that are specific to Practice Nursing.

Aside from the very much appreciated help from the National Council in hosting our first website, the IPNA has never received any grants or funding from the Department of Health. The growth and successful development of the IPNA can be solely attributed to the hard work of many dedicated Practice Nurses who have given so generously of their own time over the years. The IPNA is also immensely grateful to the many generous sponsors of our branch meetings and Annual Conference.

IPNA Logo   

The IPNA logo was designed in 1990 by Kate MacCormack (daughter of Netta Williams - one of the IPNA's founding members) when she was a 1st year student in the National College of Art & Design.  The four people represent a family and the hand behind them represents the Practice Nurse supporting the family.  The hand also symbolises the "hands-on" clinical nursing care provided by Practice Nurses.

Membership

Membership of the IPNA is available to Registered General Nurses who are currently working in General Practice in the Republic of Ireland.  For more information please see the Membership page of this website.  Alternatively, you can contact Tracey Rooney (part-time Membership Secretary) at mobile: 086-2634917 or e-mail:  membership@irishpracticenurses.ie

Branches of the Irish Practice Nurses Association

IPNA monthly educational meetings

Information for Practice Nurses

Each of the 19 branches of the Irish Practice Nurses Association holds at least 6 meetings per year for the local members. Meetings are held on a weeknight and include an educational talk on a subject that is relevant to Practice Nursing today. For information on joining the IPNA please see the Membership Page of this website.

Information for IPNA members

Invitations to branch meetings are coordinated by your local branch committee. The Education page of this website also has an area where upcoming branch meetings may be listed.

Information for Sponsors of IPNA educational meetings.

Companies/groups who are interested in sponsoring any of the IPNA Branch Educational Meetings can contact the IPNA Administrator at admin@irishpracticenurses.ie for information.

IPNA Guidelines regarding Educational Speakers at branch meetings

The National Executive Committee has written these guidelines in order to:
a) Maintain the highest standards in the provision/facilitation of educational opportunities and clinical updates for its’ Practice Nurse members.
b) Protect the reputation of the IPNA from perceptions or accusations of bias, favouritism or conflicts of interest.
c) Ensure that members receive value for money for their membership fee.

GUIDELINES
• The Branch Committee shall select or approve the educational topic and speaker for each branch meeting, regardless of who sponsors the meeting.

• Educational topics and speakers may be selected for their relevance to Practice Nursing locally or generally; or to address a specific educational need identified by the branch members.

• The representative of the sponsoring company may speak for a maximum of 10 minutes either after or before the educational speaker to promote their product.

• If the educational speaker cancels, attempts should be made to find another suitable educational speaker.

• If no other speaker can be found at short notice, the business part of the meeting may go ahead but all members should be informed beforehand that the educational speaker has cancelled.

• Product branding may be displayed as agreed in advance with the branch committee.

Date: 6th May 2009.

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IPNA Statement on Working with Other Groups

The Irish Practice Nurses Association (IPNA) is a professional membership body with Charitable Tax Exemption CHY 17932. The main object for which it is established is “the advancement of education in general practice in Ireland by promoting and assisting nurses in further education programmes and to provide a forum for the dissemination of information on developments in the general practice nursing field which will promote the highest standards of care to benefit the community”. All activities aim to encourage and foster the highest standards within Practice Nursing for the benefit of patients and their families.

While the IPNA will ‘work positively with other groups and organisations that it deems to be suitably equipped to provide the necessary educational programmes or skills required for the enhancement of Nursing in General Practice’ (Article 4.1a), the IPNA “shall not associate itself with any group whose work is not in keeping with the ethos, aims and objectives of the association”, (Article 4.1b).Therefore, the IPNA will not:
a) participate in any project, research, study, steering group, etc that is set up by, or receives funding in any way (either directly or indirectly), from the groups listed below.
b) seek or accept sponsorship from the groups listed below.

LIST

Companies from the drinks industry.
Companies from the tobacco industry.
Companies from the fast food industry.
Companies from the snacks/sweets industry.
Any other company whose work is deemed by the National Executive Committee not to be in keeping with the Aims and Objectives of the Association.