Description

This year the NCNM Quarterly Review celebrates its sixth year, having started its life in January 2001 as the NCNM Newsletter. While the National Council itself was established in November 1999 by order of the Statutory Instrument (SI No 376, 30 November 1999) issued from the Minister for Health and Children, entitled The National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery (Establishment) Order, 1999, the Executive of the National Council did not commence operations until January 2001. The NCNM Quarterly Review has chronicled all the developments in the history of the National Council since its foundation and has also served as a platform for discussion and description of key issues affecting the professional development of nursing and midwifery in Ireland. The Review will continue to provide this service and we in the National Council look forward to many more years of service to the profession. This issue contains all of our usual regular features and some new ones. We provide information on the Framework for Developing Joint Appointments published by the National Council in September 2005. This publication is a response to the growing importance of joint appointments in the profession and draws from best international practice in setting a standard for this important area of professional development.