NMC renewal: Don't get caught out

With over 670 000 registrants, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is the largest health-care regulator in the UK and there is a need to constantly review and update its processes. I am sure we are all aware of the impending changes to statute relating to the purpose of supervision of midwives. Then there is the newly introduced revalidation processes that aim to ensure nurses and midwives have met their PREP requirements in a meaningful way (NMC, 2011); these are to remain in place until April 2016, when revalidation is scheduled to be in place. Registrants will have a responsibility to reflect on and constantly seek to improve and evaluate their practice.

This is not a new concept to midwives as it is similar to the annual review, which puts in place safeguards for both midwives and women. Engagement with this, however, can be a challenge. Some midwives prepare for their annual review by maintaining a log of training, reflecting on practice and seeking to keep up to date. Others meet only the minimum requirements. Hopefully the revalidation process will ensure some equity, with employers able to address and provide financial support for training—something the supervision of midwifery could not offer. Midwives need to review the NMC (2015) guidance on revalidation to ensure all documentation and reflections are available for whomever their employer nominates to oversee this process.