Our role is to protect the public and maintain confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions and we do this by ensuring that every registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate has benefited from effective education, and meets clear standards of conduct and practice, in the public interest.

We have a duty to investigate concerns and to take steps to protect the public in the relatively rare instances where we need to limit or restrict a nursing or midwifery professional’s right to practice.

The overarching aim of the Council is the protection of the public by:

• Protecting, promoting and maintaining the health, safety and well-being of the public
• Promoting and maintaining public confidence in the professions regulated under the Order
• Promoting and maintaining proper professional standards and conduct for members of those professions

Our regulatory responsibilities are to:

• Maintain the Register of nurses and midwives who meet the requirements for registration in the UK, and nursing associates who meet the requirements for registration in England. We assess the language and competency skills of overseas applications
• Set the requirements for the professional education that supports people to develop the knowledge, skills and behaviours needed for entry to, or annotation on, our Register
• Shape the practice of the professionals on our register by developing and promoting standards, including our Code, and promoting lifelong learning through Revalidation every three years
• Investigate and, if needed, take action where serious concerns are raised about a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s fitness to practise

Our role is to protect the public and maintain confidence in the nursing and midwifery professions. As the largest independent regulator in Europe of more than 867,900 nursing and midwifery professionals, we have a crucial role in making this a reality.

We do this by setting and promoting high educational and professional standards for all future and registered nurses and midwives in the UK and nursing associates in England.

We also ensure that every nurse, midwife and nursing associate on our Register meets clear standards of conduct and practice, thereby protecting the public and the reputation of our professions.

We have a duty to investigate concerns and to take steps to protect the public in the relatively rare instances where we need to limit or restrict a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s right to practise.

We are building a new NMC with Integrity, Fairness, Respect, Equity and Effectiveness at its core.

We are determined to improve and modernise our culture and ways of working. This will ensure that the public and professionals feel confident in our work.