The new revalidation for nurses has been hailed a “major success” by the regulator.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) said that 90% of nurses and midwives who were due to revalidate in April have completed the process.
The 14,362 nurses renewed their registration through the new system and 1,401 have left the register.
The NMC said this was in line with the number of nurses and midwives they would usually expect to leave the register in April in any year.
Revalidation was introduced last month following a recommendation in the 2013 Francis Report, Report of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust Public Enquiry, into failings at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust.
Nurses and midwives have to provide a range of details for revalidation, including reflective accounts and practice related feedback and must have completed 35 hours of continuing professional development since their last registration.
The NMC’s chief executive and registrar Jackie Smith said concerns that revalidation would see an exodus of nurses and midwives had not been borne out.
“Statistics from the first month show there has been no increase in the number of nurses and midwives leaving the registrar. This is contrary to concerns that revalidation might cause great numbers of registrants to leave.”
She said the register had seen a net increase of 31,000 in the last six years.
“Nurses and midwives are clearly embracing revalidation, which should reassure patients and the public they are receiving safe care at the hands of professionals who regularly reflect on their practice.”
Registrants have provided “overwhelmingly positive feedback” after going through the revalidation process, said Smith.
“Nurses and midwives are telling us that they find it realistic, achievable and beneficial”.
The first nurse to complete her revalidation said it was the best thing to happen to nurses.
Practice nurse Marcela Elkin who works in a GP surgery and does shifts in A&E said: “It encourages them to push and be a bit braver.”
The NMC has published a series of guides on completing the validation process.
