Return to Practice Nursing & Midwifery

Course description

If you have ever thought about returning to nursing or midwifery, now is the time to do it. This fresh approach to return to practice is designed for nurses from all fields of practice (adult, mental health, learning disabilities and children's nursing) and midwives who are seeking readmission to the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) register.

We have established relationships with practice partners across acute, community and general practice settings and have excellent feedback from our students.

This course is for nurses and midwives who have practised for fewer than 750 hours in the previous five years, or 450 hours in the three years before their application for readmission to the register. It is also suitable for nurses and midwives approaching revalidation who have practised for fewer than 450 hours in the three-year period since their registration was last renewed (900 hours if dual registered) or since joining the register.

The focus of the course is on enabling nurses and midwives to regain their confidence and to update their clinical skills, knowledge, numeracy, literacy, digital and technological literacy in a safe and effective way, in order to meet the NMC standards of proficiency for nurses or midwives. A variety of approaches are employed to support learning and assessment, which take into account intended area of practice, personal circumstances and prior learning. Students are expected to undertake between 150 and 400 hours of supernumerary clinical practice in order to achieve the practice-based requirements for the course in addition to any Trust induction.

This module enables participants to:

• meet the standards of proficiency to remain on, or be readmitted to the NMC register;
• regain confidence, and update their skills and knowledge (including numeracy, literacy, digital and technological) to enable them to provide safe, effective, person-centred

Course intakes

• Nursing: September and January
• Midwifery: September only

Course leader

The Nursing course is led by Sophie Newcombe and Emily Marron.

The Midwifery course is led by Tina Woodford and Georgina Sims.

• Pre-requisites for the programme >

• In accordance with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Standards for return to practice programmes (NMC, 2019), on entry to the programme applicants must:

  • have confirmation of current or previous registration with the NMC as a nurse or midwife;
  • demonstrate (at interview) the values and capability to behave in accordance with the Code;
  • have capability in literacy, digital and technological literacy and capability to update numeracy skills to meet the programme outcomes;
  • have sufficient health and character to enable safe and effective practice, through satisfactory occupational health assessment and criminal record checks;
  • meet the NMC English as a second language requirements, where appropriate (IELT level 7 in everything except written English at 6.5).

  Midwifery applicants must also have an honorary contract with a placement provider confirmed before entry to the programme. Clinical placements for nursing applicants are organised by the Faculty Placements team, unless otherwise agreed.

• What you can expect >
• • A bursary of £650 will be paid to you at the beginning of the course by Health Education England. Midwifery applicants must have an honorary contract with a placement provider confirmed before entry to the programme.
  • Clinical placements for nursing applicants are organised by the Faculty Placements Team from a selection of acute NHS Trusts, independent healthcare organisations, unless otherwise agreed.
  • For those returning to general practice nursing, placements will be arranged in appropriate GP settings. Theory and skills based sessions; a diverse range of clinical learning in the practice environment.
  • Practice Assessors, Practice Supervisors, and Practice Educators in the practice environment are nominated to support the assessment of your practice outcomes.
  • Practice partners working with the University to take Return to Nursing students are keen to employ you and Preceptorship support is provided in the early re-registration period.

  On successful completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate achievement of the learning outcomes, which are mapped to the Future Nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC, 2018) and the Standards of proficiency for midwives (NMC, 2019). The learning outcomes can be applied to all parts of the NMC register.

• Learning outcomes >
• 1. Reflect critically on and act in accordance with the NMC's professional standards of practice and behaviour.
  2. Examine critically and apply the theories and strategies underpinning health promotion, protection and the prevention of ill health when caring for people.
  3. Explore critically and apply the underpinning knowledge and skills required to undertake holistic assessments and to develop person- centred, evidence-based plans of care.
  4. Demonstrate evidence-based, safe, compassionate care and work in partnership with people, families and carers to critically evaluate its effectiveness.
  5. Analyse critically and apply the principles of leading and managing nursing/ midwifery care and collaborating within the interdisciplinary team.
  6. Discuss critically the frameworks, legislation and regulations for clinical governance and quality improvement, and apply these to clinical care.
  7. Explore the nurse's or midwife's role in coordinating, leading and managing the complex needs of people across organisations and settings

  Learning outcomes are assessed through both completion of a case study and a practice based document.

• Entry criteria >

• Applications are invited to all nurses and midwives whose NMC registration has lapsed, regardless of how long you have been out of practice. Assessment of the application will follow with an invitation to selection and interview days as appropriate.

• Key application dates >
• • Closing date for submitting applications is: 31 October 2024.
  • Interviews for eligible applicants would be held on Wednesdays in the month of November.

• Programme for the interview day >

• Interviews will take place virtually via Microsoft Teams. The process will be discussed with you prior to the interview date.

  In preparation for the interview, we recommend that you: Think clearly about why you want to come back to nursing and that you are aware of some the changes in nursing since you left. To do this, it's a good idea to look at websites such as the Department of Health (DH), Social Care Institute of Excellence (SCIE), Royal College of Nursing (RCN), Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC) and other sites as appropriate such as the return to practice website – www.hee.nhs.uk -Be aware of issues related to the health service that are reported in the media.

  Prior to interview please ensure you can provide evidence that you have been a registered nurse with the NMC prior to that the UKCC or GNC. Go to the NMC web page and activate your account to be registered online with the regulator. When you attend for the interview we expect to see the statement of entry from the regulator or a print out of your previous registration

• Number of credits and level of study >

• 30 credits at Level 6

• Assessment >

• Completion of:

  1. Academic assignment: a case study (3,000 words)

  2. Practice Assessment Document for nurses (minimum of 150 hours supervised practice) or the Midwifery Ongoing Record of Achievement

  The PAD and MORA documents reflect the Future Nurse: standards of proficiency for registered nurses (NMC, 2018) and the Standards of proficiency

  for midwives (NMC, 2019) respectively and must be successfully completed in order to pass the programme overall.

• Funding >

• For funding queries please contact returntopractice.london@hee.nhs.uk. There are no tuition fees for you to pay; NHS Health Education England (HEE) will pay for all your course and placement fees. You'll also be given £1,000 to help cover any childcare, travel and book costs.