Nursing associates are set to be charged the same fees as nurses to join the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register, after the NMC Council were advised to ratify proposals on joining costs.
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Current charges for nurses – £120 to register, and then £120 each year thereafter to maintain registration – will be applied to nursing associates that join the NMC register once Council approves the proposal.
The move follows a consultation with current registrants, which found that 66% felt that nursing associates should pay the same as nurses.
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Board papers of the forthcoming NMC Council meeting also revealed changes to the Standards of proficiency for nursing associates, announced last year, that will apply to the first cohort of registrants.
Nursing associates will no longer be expected to administer intradermal medicines after concern was expressed during consultation, but intramuscular medicines will remain after further discussion with clinical and educational experts.
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Similarly, cannulation has been removed from the Standards. But venepuncture – another skill for which concern was expressed during the consultation – will remain.
