Following an extensive pilot across the UK, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved the introduction of a new system for maintaining the professional registration of all nurses and midwives called revalidation.

Every three years nurses are required to undergo revalidation. This process ensures that nurses regularly demonstrate their ability to deliver care in a safe, effective and professional manner. The first nurses to revalidate under the new requirements will be those with a renewal date of April 2016.

The new requirements encourage professionals to reflect on the NMC Code of Professional Standards of Practice and Behaviour, and demonstrate a range of evidence in order to maintain their professional registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.

Nurses will be using the NMC Online platform to find out their renewal date, manage their registrations and complete the process which evidences the invaluable work and care nurses deliver.

Guidance and information regarding the process and evidence required for revalidation has been published by the NMC and is available on the Trust intranet. Awareness sessions are also being held Trust-wide in order to ensure that nurses are well prepared for their renewal dates.

One aspect of the process gives nurses the opportunity to reflect on their care to patients by discussing their practice with a fellow member of nursing staff. This element of revalidation has been built in to the Trust appraisal process. This will enable nurses to improve their nursing care and practice according the standards outlined in the NMC code.

Carolyn Pitt, Lead Nurse for Workforce explains "Revalidation is an interactive process and a positive way for nurses to reflect on practice, feedback, education and training. They also have the opportunity to discuss the impact this has on the work they deliver every day. Nurses should embrace this as a way to raise standards and deliver the best in care".

If a nurse has gone the extra mile for you whilst you have visited the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham please share this with a member of the nursing staff or via our patient experience team:

Email: PatientExperience@uhb.nhs.uk
Tel: 0121 371 4492

Feedback received from patients and visitors contributes to revalidation portfolios and can help nurses reflect on their areas on practise.

For any further queries regarding revalidation please contact the team:

Email: NMCRevalidation@uhb.nhs.uk.