The changing environment for the Code and revalidation

The Code and revalidation are two of the key foundations that underpin safe, effective and compassionate nursing and midwifery practice across the UK, says Donna O’Boyle of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) – she encourages everyone to take part in their review

As a fellow Registered Nurse, I know how the Code and revalidation guide our daily decisions, shape how we reflect on our practice, and give the public confidence that as professionals on the NMC register, we’re meeting the standards that people rightly expect.

That’s why the reviews we’ve launched of both the Code and revalidation matter so much – not because regulation is an end in itself, but because getting these fundamentals right helps raise the standards of practice and quality of care.

I extend an invitation to you to become involved in the work to review the Code and revalidation by joining our community of interest, and engaging in our short survey, helping us to shape the approach and ensure it is relevant to the work you do, no matter where you work.

As the nursing, midwifery and nursing associate professions change and grow, we want to make sure the standards that guide your practice reflect the challenges you meet every day and provide support to you that is future-facing, fair and practical.

Related Article: Independent reviews ‘provide reassurance and learning’ for NMC

It’s in all of our interests to help professionals work to a high standard to provide the best possible care for the people and communities we serve.

A changing environment

Health and social care have changed significantly since the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) published the current Code in 2015. Care is now delivered in more settings than ever, with a growing emphasis on prevention and community-based services.

We’re seeing new roles and ways of working, rapid advances in technology like artificial intelligence, and a greater focus on equality, diversity and inclusion. We must also respond to what we learn from high-profile public inquiries and the day-to-day insights of professionals, employers and people who receive care.

These reviews are our opportunity to future-proof the Code and revalidation so that they remain relevant, practical and meaningful in every setting where registrants work.

They sit at the heart of a wider programme to modernise our standards, alongside reviews of our practice learning requirements and our work to regulate advanced practice, supporting professionals across their entire careers.

Taking forward the Code and revalidation reviews in parallel means that what we expect in the Code can be clearly reflected in how professionals demonstrate those expectations through revalidation.

And this programme of work is one of the ways we are building a new NMC. By enhancing our core regulatory tools, we can better protect the public and support professionals.

The importance of co-production

We cannot design these reviews from behind closed doors. Co-production is central to our approach: we want to hear from everyone on the NMC register to tell us what works, what doesn’t and what needs to change.

That includes nurses, midwives and nursing associates who may be delivering care across a diverse range of settings: whether in community, hospitals, care homes, education, research, leadership, workforce planning, policy, regulation, management or in a myriad of other roles.

Related Article: ‘I must warn you that this blog won’t be an easy read’

We also need the perspectives of students, employers, educators and members of the public, so the Code and revalidation reflect the full range of people and contexts they are designed to support.

That’s why we’ve launched a short survey to gather initial views. Please take a few minutes to share your perspective.

I’m also delighted to welcome Professor Sharon Arkell MBE as chair of the independent steering group for these reviews.

Sharon brings a rare combination of clinical, academic and leadership experience, and she has a deep commitment to how regulation supports safe education and practice.

The steering group will include professionals, employers and public representatives from across the UK who will guide our evidence gathering, engagement and the development of proposals before they go to the NMC’s governing Council for approval.

Next steps

What happens next? Your feedback will shape our research and engagement over the coming months. Subject to Council approval, we expect to run a formal consultation from September 2026 and publish the updated Code and revalidation process in October 2027. There will be other opportunities to get involved between now and then – through webinars, workshops and public consultation.

Related Article: NMC appoints chair for Code and revalidation steering group

Please take a moment to complete the survey, join our community of interest, and tell us what matters to you. Your voice will help shape standards that protect the public and strengthen the professions we are so proud to be part of.

Donna O’Boyle is acting executive director of professional practice at the NMC and registered nurse