NMC to launch landmark consultation on new Code and Revalidation process

The Code details the standards of performance and conduct that guide each of the 867,935 nursing and midwifery professionals on the Register in their daily practice. Revalidation is a three-yearly process that all registrants must complete to maintain their registration, encouraging a culture of lifelong learning in nursing and midwifery.

From September to December, the regulator will consult on a series of proposals to strengthen expectations in the Code on:

• Anti-discrimination, including anti-racism, bias and stigma
• Public protection and safety considerations, including safeguarding and other areas such as inappropriate access to patient records, bearing in mind recommendations and learnings from public inquiries and reviews
• Working cultures, safety in working environments and wellbeing of registrants
• Professional accountability, including in the context of inquiries and reviews
• Professional behaviours – including behaviour outside of professional practice
• Safe and effective use of digital and other technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI)
• Public health and tackling health inequalities.

The regulator will also propose changes to strengthen the Revalidation process by:

• Developing a new vision for Revalidation, to better explain its purpose and meaning for the professions and the public
• Making the process more robust to support public protection through an increased role for confirmers and reflective discussion partners
• Strengthening requirements to support the development of individual professional practice by further embedding the new Code and Standards of Proficiency
• Improving access, including moving to 12-week automatic extensions for professionals with valid reasons
• Refreshing the verification process by doubling the number of professionals selected and moving to a fully random verification sample.

Chris Dzikiti, Executive Director of Professional Practice, said:

"This is a landmark moment for nursing and midwifery in the UK. Health and social care have evolved significantly over the past decade, and our professional standards must evolve too.

“These proposals are designed to ensure the Code and Revalidation remain relevant to current and future practice, strengthening public protection while supporting professionals to navigate emerging challenges, from tackling discrimination and health inequalities to using digital technologies safely and effectively.

"We've developed these proposals by listening carefully to professionals, employers, people who use services and the public. We'll also reflect on the rich discussions with Council members, including ensuring that the proposed changes to the Code emphasise the need for nursing and midwifery professionals to take a trauma-informed approach to listening to mothers, fathers and families in maternity settings.”

Further information

As part of its reviews, the NMC has already conducted extensive engagement and research. This has included via its independent steering group, led by nursing leader Professor Sharon Arkell MBE, and its three advisory groups – that represent the breadth of the Register, students and recently registered professionals, and the public – testing and debating ideas, and ensuring the NMC has a strong professional, student and public input.

This has included hosting public webinars to gauge people’s views, as well as roundtables to hear from distinct groups of professionals – including midwives, nursing associates and nurses working in independent practice and social care.

In addition, more than 13,700 people responded to the NMC’s public survey last year, resulting in many calling for a greater focus on digital technologies, anti-racism and staff wellbeing.

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