This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
OPINION


Opinion: What will revalidation mean for nurses and midwives?


New measures set to come into force in early 2016 will mean a major shake-up in the way the UK’s 670,000 nurses and midwives demonstrate their competence to practise. We asked two experts for their take on what the planned changes could mean


DR ELAINE MAXWELL


Associate Professor in the School of Health and Social Care


MARTIN ANDERSON


(BSc Adult Nursing 2003) A&E Advanced Clinical Practitioner and team leader at training provider Pulse Medic Services


‘‘ This will transform revalidation into a critical thinking exercise, melding theory and practice”


‘The traditional “register for life” approach to regulation is no longer fit for purpose. The General Medical Council has already introduced a revalidation process for doctors, specifying data to be collected and requiring employers to nominate officers to ensure the process is carried out correctly. Inevitably, the framework being proposed by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is more flexible, to accommodate a wider range of practice and settings. It has been suggested that this is a cop-


out, but I don’t think that’s the case. I believe the proposals can be of huge benefit to both practitioners and the public.


‘Nurses and midwives have been required to update their skills and keep a record (PREP) since 1991, but this has often been criticised for its reliance on self-declaration. NMC revalidation will build on existing practice by requiring assurance from third parties, as well as asking more of registrants themselves.


‘The number of practice hours required remains the same, while the number of CPD hours increases by five over three years. A more significant change is the requirement to collect five pieces of formal practice-related feedback over three years from patients, clients or colleagues and to complete a minimum of five written reflections.


‘This will transform revalidation into a critical thinking exercise. Professional development becomes a melding of theory and practice, allowing registrants to show how they are continuously developing and to articulate parts of their practice that may not be quantifiable but that are crucial to patient safety and experience.


‘I believe revalidation offers fantastic potential but, as in all things, implementation is key. Facilitating reflection requires skill and expertise, while organisations struggling to meet business targets may prefer to focus on delivery rather than on creating wisdom and expertise. There is a danger that revalidation will be subsumed into operational appraisals. NMC registrants must embrace revalidation and ensure that it remains a professional asset.’


‘I think it was Einstein who said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. This is why active reflection is so important – on the positives as well as the negatives. That’s what I think revalidation will bring, along with some really valuable opportunities for nurses and midwives to learn from both patients and their peers.


‘The current system is too dependent on the individual. For those who are motivated and confident, and know where to look for development opportunities, it works. Others risk being left behind. Revalidation should raise everyone to the same level of engagement with their own development and that can only be a good thing.


‘Inevitably, there will be teething problems. I think in a lot of cases the evidence nurses and midwives will need is already there – it’s just a case of recognising and capturing it. I also think there’s a need for some kind of competency framework to show how development activities are connected to practice and demonstrate why they are meaningful and relevant.


‘This will make nurses and midwives accountable for their own development. At my last trust we set out to reduce the number of patient complaints. Each time there was an incident the nurse involved wrote a statement and a reflective piece. That helped us build up a repository of learning for the whole department.


‘‘ There’s a huge opportunity here to take a real step forward and engage with development in a meaningful way”


‘At the moment, people are panicking a bit about the changes. But if you actually look at the small print of what the NMC is proposing, much of it is already happening. I think attitudes will change as the new arrangements bed in. It’s important that people realise there’s more to this than just ticking boxes. There’s a huge opportunity here to take a real step forward in nursing and midwifery practice, and to really engage with development in a meaningful way.’


Martin’s business, Pulse Medic Services, is based on the LSBU campus. To find out about renting space, get in touch on workspace@lsbu.ac.uk


For more about revalidation, go to: www.nmc.org.uk/standards/revalidation Autumn 2015 | SOUTH BANK | 9


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24
Produced with Yudu - www.yudu.com