‘Not appropriate’ to offer student nurses early registration, says NMC

The regulator says it has taken into account the views of students and universities.

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has today announced that it will not be allowing student nurses to join its temporary register.

In a statement, the regulator said the decision was made after very careful consideration, guidance from chief nursing officers and the views expressed by students, universities, and their respective representative bodies.

Health services have avoided becoming overwhelmed and the total number of nurses deployed on the temporary register has been small.

Thousands of student nurses are instead currently supporting the health service through extended practice placements.

Andrea Sutcliffe CBE Chief Executive and Registrar of the NMC, said, “At the start of the emergency situation, we worked closely with UK nursing and midwifery leaders, universities and representative bodies so undergraduate nursing and midwifery students who wished to be involved in the response to Covid19 could do so safely as part of their education programmes.

“Since then we’ve seen a phenomenal response with more than 25,000 students across the UK making a huge contribution caring for people through their extended clinical placements. In addition, the temporary register now has more than 13,000 former or overseas nurses and midwives either working already or on standby to assist in this national emergency.

“The concerted efforts of so many people have meant our health and care system hasn’t been overwhelmed in the way we initially feared, although a long road remains ahead.

“For all these reasons, it will not be necessary to invite nursing students to join the temporary register in the final six months of their education programmes.

“I hope today’s announcement will help provide clarity for students, whose lives like so many others have been disrupted by the impact of this global pandemic. We can all continue to focus on supporting students to complete their education and begin their careers as fully qualified, registered professionals making a difference to people’s lives.

“The way all of our students have coped with this extraordinary situation has filled me with confidence for the future and I would like to thank them all.”