Student officer Dara Ann O’Malley clarifies the Organisation’s stance on the government graduate recruitment programme

Prior to the Croke Park extension talks, the INMO had direct discussions with the Minister for Health, James Reilly, and the CEO/director general designate of the HSE, Tony O’Brien, about the government’s graduate nurse and midwife jobs initiative.

The Organisation approached this meeting with the aim of significantly revising the proposed programme in a way which respects the agreed salary scale and offers meaningful postgraduate educational opportunities. No final agreement was achieved but positive progress was made.

The graduate jobs initiative was raised during Croke Park extension talks, however, the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) proposals do not reference this issue. There have been no further negotiations on the issue since the INMO walked out of the Croke Park extension talks. The Organisation believes that the resolution of this issue is completely separate from, and unrelated to the Croke Park extension proposals.

The INMO had referred this flawed graduate initiative to the LRC and was given a date for the hearing. However, the HSE refused to attend. The INMO is currently awaiting clarification from the LRC and the employers as to why, under the referral, they refused to attend. Following this clarification the Organisation may refer the matter to the Labour Court.

Nursing and midwifery students raising funds during TCD Health Day, which was sponsored by the INMO

‘Preceptor of the Year’
The INMO has received a high number of nominees for the Preceptor of the Year award 2013. Five nominees have been shortlisted and the winner will be informed in the very near future.

The INMO has extended congratulations to all preceptors who were short listed for the award. Their dedication and enthusiasm to teaching has left a lasting impression on their students and inspired them to reach their full potential. The Organisation will be in contact with each nominee when the final decision has been made.

The winner of the ‘Preceptor of the Year’ will be invited, together with their partner or colleague, to the awards dinner at the Annual Delegate Conference in Letterkenny in May to receive their award. They will also receive a €1,000 cash prize sponsored by Cornmarket. The member who has nominated the chosen preceptor will also be invited to the awards dinner, with a colleague of their choice.

TCD Health Day The INMO was thrilled to sponsor TCD Health Day this year, which took place on February 20. This fundraising event was organised by the health science students in TCD in aid of Spinal Injuries Ireland, mental health services in St James’s Hospital and the Student Hardship Fund.

Students from various disciplines, including nursing, midwifery, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and dietetics, worked together to successfully raise €4,500.

Meeting the students
Over the next few weeks I will be meeting the fourth-year students in Sligo General Hospital, Beaumont hospital, Connolly Memorial Hospital, Temple Street Children’s Hospital, Tralee General Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital, Mid-Western Regional Hospital Limerick and the Daughters of Charity Services, Dublin.

If any students would like me to talk to their college group about the graduate campaign, please email:daraann@inmo.ie

Student focus - Recruitment drive a separate issue