The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has become the official regulator for nursing associates, they announced today.
Related Article: Community nurses call for more ‘GP back-up’ in palliative care decisions
The announcement follows a request by former health secretary Jeremy Hunt in January 2017 that the NMC should regulate the new profession.
Related Article: All GP practices to be trained in supporting veterans in £1.8m programme
The NMC council will meet in September to agree on the standards that nursing associates must meet to join the register, their Code, and decide on the registration fee for the profession.
The first wave of nursing associates will join the register in early 2019.
Related Article: Action needed on ‘damaging’ school nurse decline to help tackle STI rise
NMC chief executive and registrar Jackie Smith said: ‘This is a significant milestone on the nursing associate journey and regulation of this new role has now become a reality. There is still much to do to before the first nursing associates join our register early next year and we will continue to work with our partners to ensure this new role is understood.’