Revalidation process gives specialists a chance to shine

As the first tranche of staff renew registration this month, cancer nurses explain why a new system was needed.

At the beginning of this month, the first nurses to use the new revalidation system completed their applications and maintained their registration. By April 2019, every nurse and midwife in the UK will have gone through the process.

Developed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to replace post-registration education and practice requirements, revalidation is intended to ensure that all 685,000 registrants demonstrate that they can practise safely and effectively.

It also aims to encourage nurses to reflect on the role of the NMC Code in their practice and demonstrate that they meet the standards it sets out.

According to the NMC, revalidation also promotes good practice and will improve public confidence in the profession.

All nurses will complete an eight-step process before submitting their