What’s in the name ‘nurse’? When it comes to professional respect, everything actually
‘Nurse’ title can be, and frequently is, used in job titles where the individual is not a registered nurse, and so will probably not have the education, qualifications and training that NMC registration requires. Nurses and unions have campaigned for protection of the nurse title in law, bringing it in line with the ‘registered nurse’ designation. A bill is going through parliament that, if passed into law, will make it illegal to claim or ascribe nurse status without NMC registration. Legal protection of the nurse title ensures clarity about an individual’s level of knowledge, skill and training, which is essential for patient safety. And it recognises and respects the qualifications required to be a registered member of the nursing profession.
‘Nurse’ title can be, and often is, used in job designations where the individual is not a registered nurse. But happily, that could soon become illegal
What’s the difference between a ‘nurse’ and a ‘registered nurse’? The answer itself is confusing – it could be nothing, or everything.
If someone introduces themselves as a ‘nurse’ to a patient or service user, they may well be a registered nurse (RN) and simply drop the ‘registered’ for ease and job-title reasons.
Nurses who campaigned to protect title may soon be claiming success
Conversely, they may have a job with the word nurse in the title, yet don’t possess the necessary qualifications and experience or be registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council and so have an NMC PIN. More worryingly and dangerously, they could be using the title – and trust it bestows – as a form of fraud.
Some argue that the thousands of job titles featuring the designation ‘nurse’ for unregistered posts at band 4 and below, as uncovered by Nursing Standard, are a form of fraud.
Now, after years of campaigning by nurses, unions and others, the fight to protect the title of nurse in law – ‘registered nurse’ is already protected – may be almost over.
The campaign has passed its first parliamentary hurdle, with Labour MP Dawn Butler making the case for legislation. The bill will have its second reading at the end of March. If it passes into law, anyone calling themselves a nurse without the correct qualifications and registration will be breaking the law.
Registered nurse status is hard-won for a reason
Why does this matter? Primarily, it’s for patient safety – to ensure a person who is treating someone is suitably qualified. But, it is also about professional recognition and respect for the education, training and experience of registered nurses, who are required by law to remain fit to practise and fulfil the requirements of the NMC code. Which, of course, links inextricably back to patient safety.
In her speech to MPs, Ms Butler quoted Nursing Standard/RCNi research that suggested more than 8,000 unregistered support staff in the NHS were in jobs with titles containing the word ‘nurse’.
Support staff do immensely important work that must be respected and valued in its own right. But ‘nurse’ must always mean nurse. This is not nothing; it is everything.
Flavia Munn is editor of Nursing Standard
