Nursing and Midwifery Council facts for kids
NMC Logo
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| Founded | 2001 |
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| Headquarters | London, WC2 Offices in Edinburgh; Cardiff |
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Key people
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Andrea Sutcliffe, CEO |
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is a special group that makes sure nurses and midwives in the United Kingdom do a good job. They keep a list of all the nurses, midwives, and other health workers who are allowed to work in the UK.
The NMC also sets the rules for how nurses and midwives are taught, how they act, and how well they do their jobs. If someone complains about a nurse or midwife, the NMC checks to see if they are still meeting these rules. Since 2002, the NMC has been a legal group. Its main goal is to keep the public healthy and safe. The NMC is also a charity, which means it helps people and doesn't make money for itself.
Contents
History of the NMC
Before the NMC: The UKCC
Before the NMC, there was a group called the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC). It started in 1983. The UKCC took over from older groups that had been around since 1919.
The UKCC's job was to keep a list of nurses, midwives, and health visitors in the UK. It also gave advice to these professionals and handled complaints if someone wasn't doing their job right. At the same time, special boards were set up in each UK country. These boards checked the quality of nursing and midwifery schools.
In 1990, the UKCC started a new plan called Project 2000. This plan helped nurses get their qualifications through higher education. Later, in 1995, they brought in a system called PREP. This system helped nurses and midwives keep learning after they finished school. Today, this idea is called Revalidation, and it started in 2016.
How the NMC was created
The UKCC worked for many years. But in April 2002, it closed down. A new group, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), took over its jobs. This change was made legal by a special law in 2001. The NMC then became the main group looking after nurses and midwives in the UK.
The NMC Council
The NMC has a special group called the Council. This Council has two main jobs. First, they decide the big plans and goals for the NMC. Second, they watch over the work of the NMC's senior staff.
The Council also makes sure the NMC follows all the important laws. This includes the law that created the NMC in 2001.
The Council has 12 members. Some members are nurses or midwives themselves. Others are "lay members," which means they are not nurses or midwives but have other useful skills. There is one member from each of the four UK countries. These members are chosen by a group called the Privy Council. The current Council started its work on May 1, 2013.
What the NMC Does
The NMC has several important jobs to keep people safe and healthy:
- It protects the health and safety of the public.
- It sets rules for how nurses and midwives are trained. This helps them give good healthcare.
- It makes sure nurses and midwives keep their skills sharp. They must also follow the NMC's rules.
- It has clear ways to check on nurses and midwives. If someone doesn't meet the rules, the NMC investigates.
NMC Activities
The NMC is a busy organization. It has a budget of over £52 million each year. More than 400 people work for the NMC. To do its work, the NMC charges a fee to the nurses and midwives who are on its register.
Education for nurses and midwives
The NMC sets the rules for nursing and midwifery schools across the UK. These rules help decide what students learn. They also say what a registered nurse or midwife needs to know and be able to do.
The NMC checks and approves universities and colleges to teach these programs. They currently approve about 1,000 programs in 79 schools.
When students finish their training, their school tells the NMC. They confirm that the students have met the standards. If students are ready to practice, they can apply to join the NMC register. Each year, over 22,000 new nurses and midwives join the register.
Keeping the register of nurses and midwives
As of March 2017, there were 690,773 nurses and midwives on the NMC register. This means the NMC looks after the most healthcare professionals in the UK. Nurses and midwives must be on this register to work in the UK. Anyone can search the NMC register to check if a professional is listed.
Registering nursing associates
Nursing associates are a newer type of healthcare professional. As of June 2019, there were 1,000 nursing associates on the NMC register.
Setting professional standards
The NMC has a special rulebook called "The Code." This Code became active on March 31, 2015. It contains important rules for how all nurses and midwives should act.
The Code has four main sections that explain what nurses and midwives must do:
- Always put people first.
- Do their job well and effectively.
- Keep everyone safe.
- Act professionally and build trust.
The Code was updated to fit changes in healthcare and society. It now includes new rules about basic care, being honest, speaking up about concerns, and using social media.
The Code says that when nurses and midwives join the register, they promise to follow these rules. If they don't follow the Code, the NMC can take action. In serious cases, they might even be removed from the register. The Code is important for anyone who cares about good nursing and midwifery.
Revalidation: Keeping skills up to date
The NMC has a system called Revalidation. This system started in October 2015. All nurses and midwives in the UK must go through it to stay on the NMC register.
Nurses and midwives need to renew their registration every three years. They must show that they are still fit to practice. They do this by meeting the rules in "The Code." They also need to show they have worked enough hours and kept learning new things. They must also get someone else to confirm that they are still good at their job.
The NMC asked the public for ideas on how Revalidation could work. They also tested the system with over 2,000 nurses and midwives. Revalidation officially started on April 1, 2016. All nurses on the NMC register will eventually go through this process when it's time to renew their registration.
Handling concerns about nurses and midwives
The NMC looks into concerns made about nurses and midwives. If needed, they investigate these concerns. The NMC can limit what a nurse or midwife can do. In serious cases, they can even remove them from the register.
The NMC also gives advice to nurses and midwives about speaking up if they see something wrong. This guidance helps them act to protect the public. It also tells them about laws that protect people who report problems.
How Laws Affect the NMC
Laws are very important for the NMC. They help the NMC do its job properly.
Changes to healthcare rules
In 2014, a group called the Law Commission suggested new laws. These laws would help healthcare regulators like the NMC work better. The NMC's Chief Executive, Jackie Smith, said that these new laws were needed quickly. She explained that the NMC spends a lot of its money on checking complaints. New laws would help them be more efficient.
Rules for professionals from other countries
There are also rules about healthcare professionals who come from other countries in Europe. A new rule in 2016 helps the NMC check if nurses and midwives from other European countries know enough English to work safely in the UK.
Who Oversees the NMC?
The Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (PSA) is an independent group. It checks on the NMC and eight other healthcare regulators in the UK. The PSA makes sure these regulators are doing a good job.
In 2015, the PSA checked the NMC's work from 2014. They found that the NMC had improved, but still had some areas to work on.
See also
- Nursing in the United Kingdom
- Royal College of Nursing
- Maternity in the United Kingdom
