Professionalism and Professional Standards for Nurses and Midwives

About this course

Professionalism is how nurses, midwives and nursing associates earn and keep the trust of the people they care for, their colleagues and the public. It is visible in how they communicate, how they delegate and supervise, how they support students, how they respond to pressure and mistakes, how they keep their knowledge up to date, and how they behave outside work and online. The NMC Code sets out these expectations, and revalidation gives registrants a structured way to show that they continue to meet them.

This course explains what professionalism means in nursing and midwifery, the NMC's role, registration, revalidation and indemnity, the core principles of professional practice, how the Code shapes daily behaviour, delegation and accountability, supporting learners and new colleagues, leadership and speaking up, boundaries and online conduct, and what happens when standards are breached.

CPD Value and How to Record It:

This course is designed to provide approximately 2 hours of learning, including reading, the reflection points, the reflective account and the assessment. In the UK, CPD is generally recorded as the time actually spent learning, so you should record the time you genuinely spend, which may be more or less than the estimate.

How the course fits your revalidation or CPD requirements depends on your regulator. For example, the NMC asks nurses, midwives and nursing associates to record 35 hours of CPD over three years, of which at least 20 must be participatory; self-directed online learning such as this course usually counts as individual learning unless you complete it with others. The GMC expects doctors to reflect on CPD for appraisal and revalidation rather than setting a fixed number of hours. The HCPC, GDC, GPhC, GOC, GOsC and GCC each set their own CPD requirements, so check the current rules that apply to you. Always keep your certificate together with your written reflection.

What you will learn

• Define professionalism for nurses, midwives and nursing associates.
• Describe the NMC's role, revalidation and indemnity requirements.
• Apply the core principles of professionalism in daily practice.
• Delegate safely and remain accountable for delegation decisions.
• Support students, preceptees and new colleagues in line with NMC standards.
• Lead, speak up and maintain boundaries, including online.
• Respond to breaches with insight and evidenced remediation.

Who this course is for

Registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates, including practice supervisors, assessors, preceptors, leaders and those responding to a concern.

Course content

8 sections · 2 CPD hours · 15 MCQs

Course facts

CPD value

Approximately 2 CPD hours (estimated learning time, including reflection and assessment); counts towards the 35 hours of CPD required for NMC revalidation

Format

Self-paced reading with workplace cases, reflection points and a written reflective account

Standards covered

NMC The Code; revalidation; Standards for student supervision and assessment; Principles for preceptorship; guidance on social media and raising concerns; safe staffing legislation in Wales and Scotland; fitness to practise

Assessment

15 scenario-based multiple-choice questions; pass mark 12 out of 15 (80%)

Questions about this course