Council approves continued use of recovery standards to increase flexible use of simulation

Published on 24 November 2021

Find out more

Our Council has today approved the continued use of our Covid-19 recovery standards (RN5 and RN5.1). These standards allow all Approved Education Institutions (AEIs) to enable up to 300 hours of practice learning using a full range of new and innovative practice simulation methods that are currently available.

Council also approved a new recovery standard - RN6(D) - which will increase the allowance to 600 hours for those AEIs who can demonstrate that they have the capacity and capability to do so.

Unlike our other recovery standards, AEIs need to seek NMC approval before implementing the new discretionary standard, RN6(D). They will need to provide evidence that they have the appropriate resources and infrastructure to implement it effectively and safely.

AEIs implementing the new standard will also need to show how they will evaluate the increased use of simulation. This evaluation will support our ongoing work to update our education programme standards.

These standards will now remain in effect until we’ve completed our work to update our pre-registration education programme standards, following the UK’s departure from the EU.

We’ll write to all AEIs in the coming weeks setting out how they can submit a request to access the new standard.

Professor Geraldine Walters, Executive Director of Professional Practice, said:

"I’m pleased that the Council have agreed for the existing recovery standards to remain in place while we consider the permanent changes we might make to our education standards following the departure of the UK from the EU. These, and the additional discretionary standard will allow AEIs more flexibility to explore and evaluate new and innovative approaches to nursing education."


Other recent news…

NMC making fitness to practise more compassionate

Published on 03 September 2025

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is making changes to improve the experience of nurses, midwives and nursing associates involved in the fitness to practi


5,000 international professionals join the register after employers vouch for their high standards of English

Published on 01 September 2025

Clear and effective communication is essential to high-quality nursing and midwifery care. Flexibility in our English language requirements is upholding standar


A year of progress: How we’re achieving record numbers of screening decisions

Published on 29 August 2025

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has been making record numbers of screening decisions this year as we progress our Fitness to Practise (FtP) Plan, impro

News categories