Regulation and support for international registrants practising at advanced level

When the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) approved work to progress towards additional regulation for registrants working at an advanced practice (AP) level, it also committed to undertake research to understand any potential impacts of additional AP regulation for internationally educated nurses and midwives (IENMs) in the UK. This comprehensive research, which was commissioned from the Florence Nightingale Foundation (FNF), has now concluded and will be published this month.

The study shows that advanced nursing and midwifery talent is being lost within the health and social care systems, with two-thirds of IENMs reporting that their AP experience goes unrecognised. The full report includes responses from over 1500 IENMs and multiple focus groups, offering detailed insight into the experiences of IENMs at various stages of their AP journey in the UK, for example:

‘I have previously done a master's in nursing with modules in advanced leadership, advanced pathophysiology, research methods, curriculum design and documentation, dissertation, health assessment, and decision-making. Yet I am unable to use these as most advanced practice roles require a band experience and I have been unsuccessful in securing that so far. This is making me feel I am rusting away and not giving my best to patients and my trust.’