Policy overview
Revalidation is a professional process for nurses and midwives. It allows them to stay registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC).
All nurses need to meet a range of requirements designed to show that they are up-to-date and working safely. It is good to reflect on their practice of the NMC Code of Conduct to show that standards are followed.
To stay on the NMC register, every nurse needs to pay an annual fee. Revalidation is needed every three years for nurses to keep working. It is a continuous process that nurses will engage with throughout their career. It is not a point in time activity or a single test of a nurses' fitness to practise.
The purpose is to support professionalism by closely following the code. The code covers four key areas that the nurse must use in their everyday work. These four areas are shown during the revalidation process.
The four areas of the code are:
- Prioritise people - Asking for and thinking about feedback given from patients, service users and others. This will ensure that NMC registrants can fulfil their needs.
- Practise effectively - Thinking about personal, professional development with colleagues. Identifying areas for improvement in personal practice. Taking part in professional development activities.
- Preserve safety - Practising within personal competency for the minimum number of practise hours. Thinking about feedback. Addressing any gaps in practice through continuing professional development (CPD).
- Promote professionalism and trust - Giving feedback and helping other NMC colleagues reflect on their professional development. Being accountable to others for their professional development and revalidation.
This policy aims to help nurses and LCC in the implementation and delivery of a system that:
- is robust and quality assured
- supports revalidation
- meets the requirements of the NMC
Nurses have to maintain their NMC registration. We are not responsible for this. Providing they maintain registration with the NMC, a nurse can choose to achieve the requirements of revalidation in a different way to this policy.
More information about the revalidation process is available via the NMC website.
Scope and requirements
The policy applies to all registered nurses employed by us who are required to maintain a professional registration as a contractual part of their employment. It is a requirement to maintain their professional registration. This is as a contractual part of their employment with us. The policy applies to all temporary, fixed term and permanent contracts.
The policy may apply to those staff who do not have NMC registration in their contract. This may be the case if they rely on skills, knowledge and experience of being a registered nurse. This could include roles in management, policy and education.
Content
All nurses need to sign up to NMC Online to submit their notification of practice (NoP). This is a secure service which allows registrants to manage their registration online. We recommend this account is linked to an enduring email address.
Contact details should be kept up to date so the NMC can notify when revalidation is due. Through this portal, the annual payment date for registration and the three-yearly revalidation date are confirmed.
Requirements of revalidation
The requirements for NMC revalidation will be every three years and include:
- minimum of 450 practice hours
- minimum of 35 hours of continuing professional development. 20 hours must be participatory
- five pieces of practice-related feedback
- five written reflective accounts
- evidence of a reflective discussion with another NMC registrant
- declaration of health and character
- declaration of professional Indemnity arrangements
- confirmation by a third party that the registrant has met the revalidation requirements
Full guidance on the NMC revalidation requirements are on the NMC website.
It is the responsibility of the NMC registrant to recording and collecting evidence. This is for revalidation. It is not the employing organisation's responsibility.
Nurses can record evidence using the templates on the NMC website.
Practice hours
Practice hours do not always mean hours spent in face-to-face clinical practice. These can be hours worked where the employee relies on their:
- skills
- knowledge
- experience of being a registered nurse
This could include nursing management, education and policy. Examples of evidence could consist of timesheets, job descriptions and specifications.
A recommended template for recording practice hours is available on the NMC website.
The discussion is a chance for the nurse to review their written reflective accounts. This might highlight how they have changed or improved their practice as a result.
A mandatory template for recording reflective discussions is available on the NMC website. Both parties must complete this in full.
Continuing professional development (CPD)
We require all registrants to maintain accurate and verifiable records of CPD activity, to include:
- the method of delivery
- a description of the topic
- dates and hours the CPD happened (including any participatory hours)
The registrant must also identify which parts of the NMC Code the CPD relates to. This must include evidence to support CPD participation. This can include:
- certificate of completion (participatory and/or e-learning),
- training records,
- notes of coaching and/or supervision.
A template for recording CPD hours is available on the NMC website.
Practice related feedback
Feedback can be written or verbal, formal or informal, positive or constructive. Examples can include:
- feedback on practice from service users and colleagues
- complaints
- team performance reports
- root cause analysis investigations
- appraisal feedback
We recommend that feedback is recorded so that it does not identify any individual(s). A recommended template for recording feedback is available on the NMC website.
Written reflective accounts
Reflection accounts can incorporate:
- events or experience in practice
- practice related feedback
- and, or CPD
We recommend that feedback is recorded so that it does not identify any individual(s). A mandatory template for written reflective accounts is found on the NMC website.
Reflective discussion
The reflective discussion must be undertaken with another active NMC registrant. The purpose of the discussion is to encourage a culture of sharing, reflection and improvement. The reflective discussion can be part of the confirmation discussion. This can be done as part of the performance and development appraisal process if the line manager is an NMC registrant.
The discussion is a chance for the nurse to review their written reflective accounts. This might highlight how they have changed or improved their practice as a result.
A mandatory template for recording reflective discussions is available on the NMC website. Both parties must complete this in full.
Health and character and professional indemnity arrangements
Individual nurses are responsible for confirming to the NMC that:
- they are of good health and character
- they have professional indemnity arrangements
All nurses requiring NMC registration will be issued indemnity arrangements as part of their employment. The NMC does not require any additional evidence for these areas of revalidation. This does not replace 'fitness to practice'.
Confirmation
The nurse will need to provide third-party confirmation that the requirements for revalidation have been met. This excludes health and character and professional indemnity arrangements.
The confirmer is the person who looks at the evidence. They will 'confirm' the nurse has met the revalidation requirements.
The confirmer does not need to be an NMC registrant. They do not need to be the same person as the reflective discussion partner. The NMC recommends that where possible, the line manager should act as the confirmer. In this case, an annual revalidation discussion can become part of the performance and development appraisal process. This approach would provide an additional level of assurance to the organisation.
The confirmer needs to sign to confirm to the NMC that the registrant has met the revalidation requirements. They are not making a judgement on the registrant's performance as:
- a nurse
- midwife
- their fitness to practice
Confirmation should occur in the final year of the three-year renewal period.
A mandatory confirmation template is available on the NMC website. Both parties must complete this in full.
Roles and responsibilities
Individual nurse
The nurse must maintain their NMC professional registration. Revalidation, as part of re-registration, is also the duty of the nurse. The NMC will formally notify the nurse no later than 60 days before their application is due.
Applications will need to be submitted via the NMC Online portal. The NMC can be accessed at any point during the 60 days.
If a registration lapses from November 2015, the nurse needs to apply for readmission to the NMC register. That process can take two to six weeks, depending on individual circumstances.
The nurse will not be able to undertake their full duties in line with our policy:
- if temporarily removed from the NMC register, and
- where NMC registration is essential criteria to their contractual duties
Employer
We will support nurses to achieve and demonstrate the requirements of revalidation. We recommend that a record of annual renewal and three-yearly revalidation dates is kept. This will:
- ensure revalidation requirements are being met on an ongoing basis
- assure that mechanisms are in place to govern the revalidation process
Late submission of applications might result in temporary removal from the NMC register. The nurse will not be able to undertake their full duties and will be managed in line with our policy:
- if temporarily removed from the NMC register, and
- where NMC registration is essential criteria to their contractual duties
Multiple employers
For nurses employed by us who have more than one line manager, they will need evidence encompassing all roles. For example, part-time workers with more than one job or more than one role within the council.
Only one confirmation is required, however. That confirmation needs to include all elements of practice undertaken. We recommend the confirmer is the one where the nurse undertakes most of their practice.
If we do not employ the confirmer, the nurse needs to submit a copy with:
- the confirmers name
- contact details to their respective LCC line manager
Temporary NMC registered staff
Proof of revalidation is needed before the commencement of work for staff who:
- work temporarily for us
- are employed on a fixed-term contract
- are employed through an agency
Quality assurance
The revalidation discussions are integral to the annual performance and development appraisal process. The appraisal is a 'living document'. This will assure the organisation and support the nurses' clinical competence.
Each directorate will keep an up-to-date electronic database of nurse registrants. Minimum information will need to include the:
- name of the nurse
- NMC pin
- annual re-registration date
- annual appraisal date (and completion)
- three-yearly revalidation (renewal) date
The NMC may contact us regarding the declarations made in revalidation submissions. This is part of a selected NMC audit sample. We will share all appropriate information requested by the NMC. The nurse should raise any concerns with their line manager.
Disputes
Revalidation is not:
- an assessment of a nurse's fitness to practise
- an alternative way to raise fitness to practise concerns
Any such concerns must remain separate from the revalidation process. These should be reported through the appropriate line management. They will be managed in line with our policies.
We will address any false declarations made during the revalidation process in line with our policies.
Late submission of applications might result in temporary removal from the NMC register. The nurse will not be able to undertake their full duties. The nurses will be managed in line with our policies if:
- temporarily removed from the NMC register, and
- where NMC registration is essential criteria to their contractual duties