If a panel of the Fitness to Practise Committee has decided that a nurse, midwife or nursing associate’s fitness to practise is impaired, there are a range of sanctions (restrictions) they can impose.
These sanctions are made to:
- protect the public
- maintain public confidence in the professions and the NMC
- declare and uphold proper standards of conduct and performance.
Sanctions are not intended as a punishment for the nurse, midwife or nursing associate.
Deciding on sanctions
Panels will always consider the sanctions in the order from a caution order, to a striking off order.
Caution order
The nurse, midwife or nursing associate is cautioned for their behaviour but is allowed to practise without any restriction. The caution order can last from one to five years.
Conditions of practice order
This order restricts a nurse, midwife or nursing associate's practice for up to three years, and must be reviewed by a fitness to practise panel before it expires.
We use it when the concerns identified in their practise are considered capable of being addressed through re-training or assessment.
The nurse, midwife or nursing associate must, comply with the restrictions or directions in order to practise. For example, they may be restricted from working in a particular setting or directed to re-train in a particular area.
Read more about conditions of practice orders
Suspension order
A suspension order prevents the nurse, midwife or nursing associate from practising for a specified length of time.
Striking-off order
If a nurse, midwife or nursing associate is struck off, their name is removed from our register and they are not allowed to work as a nurse or midwife in the UK, or as a nursing associate in England.
If a nurse, midwife or nursing associate is currently subject to a sanction, you will be able to see this when you search for their name on the register.
