Mailing of Documents on Behalf of Other Persons or Organisations

The Board is sometimes requested to send information to nurses and midwives on behalf of other organisations.  Legal advice has been received that the database of names and addresses may be used only for purposes that are consistent with the legislated functions of the Board. This may include research but does not include recruitment or advertising. 

Mailing of Research Questionnaires

If the Board is satisfied that a matter is for genuine research, it may agree to mailing documents on behalf of the researchers. However it is necessary to balance the benefits of worthwhile research against the intrusion on the time of nurses and midwives.

Names and addresses are never provided. Where the Board agrees to mail research questionnaires, the documents are provided to the Board by the researcher(s) and then mailed by the Board staff or agent. Names and addresses are never disclosed.  Nurses and midwives who receive questionnaires are free to respond or not, as they choose.

No costs are subsidised. The Board's funds, from the fees paid by nurses and midwives, are not used for this purpose. While the Board assists by mailing questionnaires to nurses and midwives, researchers are required to reach agreement with the Registrar in regard to payment of costs.  

Researchers may submit a copy of the document(s) they wish to be mailed so that the Board may decide if it is prepared to approve use of its database for the mailout.  Researchers should also provide a draft covering letter that explains to recipients that the Board has assisted by mailing the documents but that researchers do not have names and addresses unless recipients choose to provide this information; the letter must also explain that the researcher is paying the costs of the mailout.  NMB envelopes will be used, showing the Board's office as the return address so that any undelivered questionniares are returned to the Board's office and not to the researchers.
 
Approval of a mailout request should not be presumed. Every application is assessed on its merits. In the first instance, enquiries regarding logistics etc. may be directed to the Registrar and enquiries regarding any professional aspects of a request may be directed to the Executive Director.