We know that students, approved education institutions (AEIs) and their practice partners continue to experience unprecedented challenges as the pandemic continues.
Our priority is to continue to support students to successfully complete their programmes on time, so that they can begin their careers as qualified, registered professionals.
Changes to our programme standards
We've introduced a number of recovery programme standards to support students, approved education institutions (AEIs) and their practice partners.
These are temporary changes to the standards which set out how education providers should organise nursing and midwifery programmes.
Find out more about our recovery programme standards.
If your course is impacted
Speak to your university or approved education institution
Please speak to your university or AEI if you have any questions about your course or practice placements.
They will let you know about any impact on your learning experience and can support you.
Meeting your practice and theory hours
To make sure you qualify with the skills and knowledge to deliver safe, effective and kind practice, we require all of the learning outcomes in our education standards to be met by the end of your programme. This includes the minimum practice and theory hours.
We know Covid-19 has had a significant impact on learning opportunities in practice placements, with pressure on the number and range of placements.
Our recovery standards give Approved Education Institutions (AEIs) the flexibility to offer practice learning in simulated environments for up to 300 hours, where conventional clinical practice isn’t available or possible.
We’ve also approved a new recovery standard so AEIs can request to offer up to 600 hours of simulated learning if they have the capacity and capability to do so.
Your education provider may choose to use these recovery standards to deliver your course. Speak to them if you have any questions.
Why we haven’t waived the minimum practice hours
Our education standards, including minimum practice hours, were designed to be compliant with European legislation.
Although we’ve left the European Union, these standards will remain in place until they are reviewed and any changes, if needed, are approved by our Council.
Watch our webinar recordings
We held some webinars with our partners to answer questions from students about the changes.
You may also find the following links helpful:
- NMC statement on enabling student education and supporting the workforce
- Open letter to all nursing and midwifery students in Scotland from Fiona McQueen, Chief Nursing Officer
- Open letter to all nursing and midwifery students in Wales from Jean White, Chief Nursing Officer
- Health Education England's nursing student support guidance during Covid-19
