NursingNotes
  • login
  • signup
  • Latest News
  • Clinical Updates
  • Professional
  • Education
  • Opinion
No Result
View All Result
NursingNotes
No Result
View All Result

Home > News > Professional

Protecting ‘nurse’ title looks increasingly likely as nursing leaders declare support

A petition calling upon the Government to introduce legal protections to the title has reached nearly 30,000 signatures. 


15 October 2021
Student nurse in hallway

Shutterstock

A recent high-profile case “underlined the limitations of “Nurse” not being a protected title”.

Protecting the “nurse” title is looking increasingly likely after several key nursing leaders have declared their support for the campaign.



Under current legislation, only the term “Registered Nurse” is legally protected requiring registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC). This is in contrast, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, dietitian and paramedic, which are all legally protected titles and professionals must be registered with The Health and Care Professions Council in order to use them.

The proposals follow a recent high-profile case which “underlined the limitations of “Nurse” not being a protected title”.

Protection.

A petition, started by healthcare academic Alison Leary, calls upon the Government to introduce legal protections to the title has reached nearly 30,000 signatures. 

Several Chief Nursing Officers (CNO) have now declared their support for the campaign.


In a statement on social media today, CNO for England Ruth May said: “I am supportive of protecting the nurse title and welcome the Department of Health and Social Care’s review as part of the government review of the regulation of health professionals.

“The protection of a professional title provides assurance that someone using that title is competent and safe to practise and I am committed to doing all we can to strengthen protection of the public.

“It is important that any change is carefully considered and I look forward to working with the Department of Health and Social Care on this.”

In 2018, Ms May’s predecessor also made a commitment to protect the title. 


The CNOs for Wales and Scotland have also said they welcome any changes that could improve patient care.

Protecting the public.

There have been several recent instances of struck-off nurses continuing to use the title, which has led to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to also support the call.

In a formal response to the Department of Health and Social Care, they wrote; “Recent high profile cases have underlined the limitations of “Nurse” not being a protected title.

“It is essential that we have the right protected titles and associated enforcement powers to be able to take effective action to protect the public and maintain confidence in the professions.

“We would welcome a further discussion with DHSC to ensure that our protected titles and enforcement powers are fit for purpose under the new legislation.”



Popular

student nurse staff nurse

Student nurses ‘used and abused’ on placements

13 June 2022

Close-up of rapid Covid-19 home lateral flow antigen test with positive result

Special paid leave for Covid sickness and isolation scrapped for NHS workers

1 July 2022

Patient lying on bed while nurse writing on clipboard in hospital

Nurses told to stop ‘overworking’ by staying late without pay

27 June 2022

Insight

Busy A&E waiting room

‘The NHS is having its worst winter ever – and the reasons run much deeper than COVID’

28 January 2022

Hospital curtain intensive care

‘During the Downing Street Christmas Party we were caring for dying patients and forbidden from seeing family’

8 December 2021

Vaccine inPPE

‘Making vaccination compulsory for NHS frontline workers likely to make patients suffer’

19 November 2021


Related Posts

Nurse preparing IV for a patient in intensive care
International

UK poaching nurses from already short-staffed countries to hit recruitment targets

9 June 2022
Nurse pay bills
Professional

NMC asked to cut its annual registration fee amid cost of living crisis

27 May 2022
Nurse with patient
Professional

Regulator considers relaxing English proficiency rules for overseas trained nurses

25 May 2022
NursingNotes

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk

Navigate Site

  • Who are we?
  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us
  • Agenda for Change Pay Scales

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Latest News
  • Clinical
  • Education
  • Health Politics
  • Opinion
  • Resources

© 2019 NursingNotes.co.uk