Recognising the benefits and challenges of simulated practice learning

Following the changes to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) education programme standards in 2023, a programme of work commenced to explore further how practice learning can be supported (NMC, 2024). The plan is for this to include the outcome of the NMC review of simulated practice learning (SPL), led by Professor Paula Holt and due for publication in late September.

As a reminder, in November 2021 the NMC approved a recovery (discretionary) standard RN6(D), permitting up to 600 hours of SPL for those approved education institutions (AEIs) who could demonstrate that they have appropriate resources and infrastructure to implement this effectively and safely while still meeting the requirements of the NMC's (2023) education and training standards. It is an alternative means of delivering practice learning to placements and can be included (when approved) as up to 600 of the 2300 practice learning hours required in pre-registration nursing curricula.