Critical exploration of the new NMC standards of proficiency for registered nurses.

Abstract

Following its consultation with key stakeholder groups the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has launched Future nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurses ( NMC, 2018a ). These compulsory new standards will be available for use in curricula by approved education institutions (AEIs) from the end of January 2019. In this article, the authors provide their personal perspectives on the potential impact of the new standards, particularly focusing on those relating to supporting and assessing students from within the practice environment. The new roles of practice supervisor, practice assessor and academic assessor are explored, making comparisons to the current mentorship role. There is a clear need for effective partnerships between AEIs and healthcare organisations as they lead on the implementation of the standards. They must think creatively about practice placements and provide opportunities for interprofessional supervision, so that students can learn about the roles of other disciplines and how to collaborate in a multidisciplinary team.