What is Revalidation?
Revalidation replaces Post-Registration Education and Practice (PREP) and is the process by which registered nurses and midwives are required to regularly demonstrate to the NMC that they remain fit to practise and adhere to the revised code of conduct.
- Revalidation promotes greater professionalism and improves the quality of care for patients.
- Reflective practice is core to revalidation.
- Every 3 years you will be asked to reapply for revalidation using NMC Online.
- Revalidation will start from April 2016.
It is the responsibility of each Nurse to demonstrate they are keeping up to date, actively maintaining fitness to practice, and incorporating The Code into day to day practice and personal development.
To renew your registration all of the NMC’s requirements must be fulfilled.
Why is it needed?
The Robert Francis Inquiry Report into Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust highlighted poor nursing practice. Of the 290 recommendations the final report made a number were specific to the NMC and RCN. This included the following:
‘It is highly desirable that the NMC introduces a system of revalidation similar to that of the GMC as a means of reinforcing the status and competencies of registered nurses as well as providing additional protection to the public.’
The Code
The Code is a professional standard of practice and behaviour and consists of four main sections:
- Prioritise people by actively seeking and reflecting on any direct feedback received from patients, service users and others to ensure that you are able to fulfil their needs.
- Practice effectively by reflecting on your professional development with your colleagues:
- Identifying areas for improvement
- Undertaking professional development activities
- Preserve safety by practising within your competency, reflecting on feedback, and addressing any gaps in your practice through continuing professional development (CPD).
- Promote professionalism and trust by providing feedback and helping colleagues reflect on their professional development, and being accountable to others for your professional development and revalidation.
Requirements
You will be notified at least 60 days before your application to revalidate is due. This will give you 60 days to log onto NMC Online and complete the application form.
For each three years up to renewal of your registration you will need to fulfil all of the following:
- Complete at least 450 hours in practice.
- Undertake 40 hours of CPD, of which 20 hours must be participatory learning.
- Obtain at least five pieces of practice-related feedback.
- Record a minimum of five written reflections on the code of conduct, your feedback and CPD.
- Have a professional development discussion with another NMC registrant (Nurse)reviewing your reflections on The Code, your CPD, and practice-related feedback.
- You must provide third party confirmation that you are fit to practise. If the third party confirmer is an NMC registrant, you will be able to have the professional development discussion with them as well. If the confirmer is not an NMC registrant you will need to have a separate professional development review.
- You must provide a health and character declaration.
- You must declare if you have been convicted of any criminal offence or issued with a formal caution over the 3 years prior to the renewal of registration.
- You must declare that you have or will have when practising, appropriate cover under an indemnity arrangement.
You will not be required to send this evidence to the NMC unless you are selected to provide information to verify your revalidation declarations, or for audit purposes.
Keeping a Portfolio
The NMC provides the following information and advice about keeping a portfolio for revalidation:
- A portfolio structured according to the four sections of The Code is recommended for compiling your supportive evidence for revalidation.
- The portfolio is also helpful for the personal development discussion as well as third party confirmation. You will also need to have this information available in case the NMC requests to see it to verify the declarations you make as part of your application.
- If you already keep a professional portfolio, you will not need to maintain a separate one.
- You can include the supportive evidence for revalidation within your existing portfolio.
- You should keep your portfolio until you have successfully revalidated. You should then collect new evidence in your portfolio for your next revalidation in 3 years’ time.
Preparing for Revalidation
Sign up to NMC Online and get ready.
Nurses and midwives need to start preparing for revalidation now
- Make sure you have an NMC Online account. If you don’t yet have one refer to our step by step guidance on setting up your account.
- Find out your renewal date. This is the date that your registration period will expire. You will need to submit your revalidation application to us before your renewal date. You can find out your renewal date by checking your NMC Online account.
- Learn about what you will need to do. Talk with colleagues about revalidation and return to these web pages regularly.
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