Health and character as a student

Health

You must tell your education institution about any health conditions and/or disability when you apply to study to be a nurse, midwife or nursing associate which could affect your ability to practise safely and effectively.

Your education institution will provide a supporting declaration for you in relation to your health when you come to register with us.

To be able to provide this declaration, they’ll need to be aware of any health condition and/or disability which could affect your ability to practise safely and effectively.

When we assess your health condition and/or disability, we’ll check whether you have disclosed your health condition and/or disability to your education institution.

You should speak to your education institution if you have any questions about what you need to declare to them.

Read our guidance on health and character to find out how we’ll assess your health when you apply to join our register.

Character

You will be required to tell your education institution of any police charges, cautions, convictions or conditional discharges when you apply to study to be a nurse, midwife or nursing associate.

If you’re charged with a criminal offence or receive a caution, conviction or conditional dischargewhile you’re studying, you must tell your education institution. Your education institution will then investigate to decide if it calls into question whether you are of good character to remain on the course.

If you remain on the course, your education institution will provide a supporting declaration for you in relation to your character when you come to register with us.

You must also declare the charge, caution, conviction or conditional discharge to us when applying to join our register, unless it is protected.

When we assess your character, we’ll check whether you have disclosed the police charge, caution, conviction or conditional discharge to your education institution.

You should speak to your education institution if you have any questions about what you need to declare to them.

Read our guidance on health and character to find out how we’ll assess your character when you apply to join our register.

Local fitness to practise panels

Approved education institutions (AEIs) and their practice learning providers are required to have a local fitness to practise panel to consider health or character issues, and to protect the public.

Local fitness to practise panels should only be used if a student’s health or disability is likely to compromise or has compromised their ability to meet the required competencies and practise safely.

If necessary a local fitness to practise panel will meet to make a decision about your suitability to remain on the programme. This would apply if your attitude or behaviour is such that it calls into question your good character.

Professional conduct

Members of the public cannot always see the difference between a student nurse, midwife or nursing associate, and someone who is qualified and registered with us.

That’s why your conduct is important in upholding the reputation of the professions, both when you are studying and in your personal life.

You should make sure you conduct is in line with our standards and guidance.