As the government prepares to introduce new legislation to protect the job title of ‘nurse’ and ensure only those with relevant qualifications and registration can use it, Madeleine Anderson spoke with the bill’s proposer about what she hopes it will achieve for public safety and the nursing profession.
Labour MP Dawn Butler has been working closely with the #ProtectNurse campaign in recent months, working alongside Professor Alison Leary, who specialises in healthcare and workforce modelling, to bring in legal protections for the title of ‘nurse’.
Ms Butler told Nursing in Practice that the legislation also acknowledges how the nursing profession has been ‘undervalued’, despite playing a critical role in our healthcare system.
‘That’s why this reform is also about respect. It acknowledges the years of education and dedication nurses commit to,’ she said.
Why is it important that the title of ‘nurse’ is protected?
Ms Butler told Nursing in Practice that the protection of the nurse title is ‘vital for patient safety, professional integrity and public trust’.
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She described how ‘Registered Nurse’ is a description reserved for those on the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register, but the more commonly used term of ‘nurse’ is not.
‘This undermines public confidence and opens the door for misleading the public and potentially dangerous misuse,’ Ms Butler said.
She added that the legislation sends a ‘clear message’, that the title is reserved for ‘qualified, regulated and accountable professionals’.
How will this legislation help to protect patients?
The legislation hopes to prevent patients from being misled about the qualifications of the patients caring for them and ensure more ‘clarity and confidence’ from the public, Ms Butler explained.
‘The title “nurse” will mean exactly what the public thinks it means: someone trained, qualified, regulated and truly accountable. It is all about trust,’ she said.
How will the bill help to protect lower banded nursing and other healthcare staff from exploitation?
A key motivation for the bill was also the protection of lower banded of nursing and other healthcare staff from exploitation at work.
This follows growing reports of staff being asked to work beyond their remit, including healthcare assistants being asked to complete tasks that only registered nurses are qualified and paid to do.
‘I believe this reform will prevent those staff from being unfairly labelled or burdened with responsibilities beyond their training.
‘By legally defining who can use the title, the reform safeguards support staff from being misrepresented and ensures that their roles are respected and clearly defined,’ Ms Butler added.
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Do you think the public are aware that people who are not qualified nurses are currently able to call themselves a ‘nurse’?
Ms Butler believes lack of public understanding about who can call themselves a nurse is ‘shocking’, and something she was previously unaware of before a nurse shared their concerns with her.
‘This lack of awareness poses a serious risk to public safety, because people trust the title without realising it can be misused.
‘People naturally assume the title “nurse” means someone who is trained, qualified, and regulated – now, by closing the loophole, we are going to make sure that is the case,’ she explained.
Earlier this week, Professor Nicola Ranger, Royal College of Nursing (RCN) general secretary and chief executive, championed the legislation an ‘important moment’ for nursing.
‘A change in the law will recognise the knowledge, professionalism and clinical expertise that comes with being a registered nurse.
‘It will provide better legal protections for nursing professionals and reassurance to patients,’ she said.
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Interim chief executive and registrar at the NMC Paul Rees shared her praise, saying: ‘The public should always feel confident that anyone using the title ‘nurse’ is a registered professional with all the safeguards that brings.
‘We look forward to working with the government and our stakeholders to deliver on it.’
