Competence is a complex ‘context’ and ‘time’ specific concept. Legislators nursing and midwifery regulatory authorities agree that monitoring the continuing professional competence of health care professionals is necessary to protect the public. Notably the absence of competence has been linked to suboptimal care and serious consequences for the patient (Kowalski Anthony 2017).
The Irish Nurses and Midwives Act (2011) legislates for the first time in Ireland that ‘A registered nurse or registered midwife shall whenever required by the Board (Irish Nursing Board) to do so demonstrate competence to the satisfaction of the Board in accordance with any requirement of the Board under section 88(1)’ (p.71). The Act also makes a specific reference to an applicable professional competence scheme which has yet to be developed (Government of Ireland 2011).
