Frequently asked questions

We've closely monitored the ongoing and future workforce requirements and the progression of the pandemic.

Informed by the views of our partners and our assessment of the current situation, we’ve made the decision not to open up the temporary register to nursing students.

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You will need to discuss this with your education institution.

Your education institution will have processes to support you during any period of sickness or if your institution closes. Depending on the circumstances, your placement may be deferred for a period of time by your education provider. This may extend the time it takes for you to complete your programme once you return.

Hours worked alongside your programme would not count towards your programme. You will still be expected to achieve all of the learning outcomes specified in our standards.

The minimum practice hours required for nursing and midwifery education programmes to ensure that students are capable of safe and effective practice when joining our register are determined by the standards approved by our Council. These standards were designed to be compliant with European legislation, including minimum practice hours. Although we have left the EU these standards remain until they are reviewed and any changes, if required, are approved by our Council.

You should follow the guidance from your education institution about whether placements are going ahead. If they are not going ahead then your university should advise you on what this means for you, and what this means for the rest of your programme with them.

Your university should advise you on what this means for you, and what this means for the rest of your programme with them.

Preceptorship is employer led and they will be able to advise you about this when you start working.

We require all of the learning outcomes to be met by the end of your programme, this includes practice and theory hours. If you have an concerns about this please speak to your education insituation as they should have plans in place to support you.

As you are still required to meet you clinical placement hours you should speak to your education institution about what alternative solutions to clinical placements they have in place.

Yes, student on clinical placements are still considered key workers. Speak to your AEI regarding evidence should you be asked to provide this.

We recommend you speak with your education institution and your employer, they will be able to discuss your options and support you to decide what the most appropriate option would be. 

During these challenging times, different ways of working are required to keep people safe. You will need to discuss your situation with your education institution who will advise you on the options available.

You should discuss your situation with your employer and your education institution who will advise you on the options available.

We recommend you speak with your education institution and your employer, they will be able to discuss your options and advise you on how to defer and return to your programme. 

Yes, you should discuss the options with your education institution.

If it is not possible to undertake these placements as required in our standards, students may need to defer their placement learning.

Practice learning may be undertaken through simulated learning up to 300 hours (pre-registration nursing education, 2010) or in a proportionate way (standards for pre-registration nursing programmes, 2018).

Approved education institutions must ensure that simulated experiences involve direct contact with a healthy or sick individual and/or community for adult nursing to comply with our standards that were designed to be compliant with European legislation, including minimum practice hours. Although we have left the EU these standards remain until they are reviewed and any changes, if required, are approved by our Council.

Any change to the programme by way of virtual or simulated learning, indicating how this meets the standards for practice learning can be articulated using the Covid-19 exception reporting form.