Subject matter expert groups

The eighth steering group meeting took place on 20 February 2023, chaired by Professor Jean White CBE.

The following is a summary of the issues discussed:

• Steering Group members received an update about the NMC Council meeting held on 25 January, where consideration was given to our final proposals. We are pleased that Council approved all our recommendations, details of which can be found on our website: Reviewing our pre-registration programme requirements. In addition to approving these changes, it was noted that Council received an update on research we have carried out into nursing programmes offered in overseas countries that use fewer practice hours, and the context behind this.
• We are currently working to design the standards in our new visual identity, and these versions will be uploaded to the website in March. We’re also translating the approved standards into Welsh, and this will be available on the website at the same time. All AEIs will need to demonstrate that they are meeting the required changes to the revised standards by 31 January 2025.
• Members received an update on the work to develop supporting information to help successful implementation of the new standards in the following areas: safeguarding of students under 18 years of age, simulated practice learning for nursing and experience of different maternity providers to gain a varied experience of leadership and team working. This work has been informed by the discussions held in three webinars held in February. This information will also be available in March.
• Council has agreed that a further phase of work may be undertaken beginning later this year, noting that the timeline is yet to be set for this work. Steering Group members put forward suggestions and comments to inform the scope of this next phase.
• The Chair was thanked for her work in leading this phase of the work and noted that she is now stepping down. We will be beginning a recruitment process for a new Chair shortly. Membership of the Steering Group will be appraised or informed ahead of the next phase of the work beginning.

The seventh steering group meeting took place on 15 November 2022, chaired by Professor Jean White CBE.

The following is a summary of the issues discussed:

• At the last meeting members had identified a number of areas that arose from the consultation that needed further thought by the Standards Development Groups (SDGs). We considered the feedback from the SDG discussions and agreed the wording of the proposed standards that will go forward to the Council for consideration at its January meeting. We also agreed the areas where NMC should develop supportive guidance for the implementation of these new standards, if approved.
• We received a presentation from the NMC research team who had conducted a review into five countries outside the EU that have significantly different (usually lower) practice hours in their nursing programmes than those mandated by the EU Directive. The research built on the evidence review conducted by Harlow Consulting in 2021 and included consideration of the factors that influenced the decisions regarding practice hours. The final report will be presented to the NMC executive by 9 December. Implications for a UK context will be considered in the January Council meeting.
• We agreed to hold a meeting in February 2023 to consider next steps for this programme of work. 

The sixth steering group meeting took place on 11 October 2022, chaired by Professor Jean White CBE.

The following is a summary of the issues discussed:

• We received two presentations outlining initial findings from the consultation activities conducted this summer. The reports from the two companies are due to be presented to the NMC by the end of October.
  • Blake Stevenson undertook user testing with a variety of groups who will use the standards as part of their work, ie academic staff, students and recent graduates, practice staff and service users involved in curriculum development.
  • Britain Thinks had conducted an on-line open survey, an easy-read survey, several focus groups and a representative omnibus general public survey. These activities had produced quantitative and qualitative information.
• It was noted that the data collection phase of the review into overseas nursing programmes that have fewer practice hours than the UK/EU is now complete. A report is being developed and findings will be presented at the next meeting in November.
• We agreed to hold the next meeting on 15 November.

The fifth steering group meeting took place on 19 July 2022, chaired by Professor Jean White CBE.

The following is a summary of the issues discussed:

• Members noted that the consultation related to phase one of the work went live on 13 July 2022. The consultation will run for ten weeks, closing at midday on Wednesday 21 September. The consultation is being hosted by Britain Thinks, an independent research organisation that will analyse responses on our behalf. Focus group interviews and webinars will provide additional information to the on-line survey. Members agreed to promote engagement with the consultation.
  
  
• We updated members on the work to date considering overseas nursing programmes that have fewer practice hours than the UK/EU. The provision in five countries is being considered: USA, Canada, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.  The review is in two phases: desk top review of published literature, which is underway, and interviews with key experts, eg national regulators that will take place in August and September. Members were asked to contribute their views to the areas to be explored with the in-country experts. A further update from this work will be presented at the next meeting.
  
  
• We agreed to hold the next meeting on 26 September.

The fourth steering group meeting took place on 20 April 2022, chaired by Professor Jean White CBE.

The following is a summary of the issues discussed:

• Members signed off the documents containing the collated amendments proposed for the nursing and midwifery standards that will go forward to the Council meeting at the end of May.  These changes will be subject to public consultation beginning in July.
  
  
• We updated members on the scope, methodology and plans for our research into overseas programmes with fewer practice hours than the UK/EU. This work will be conducted over the remainder of this year and be presented to the January 2023 Council meeting.
  
  
• Harlow Consulting presented a summary of the available international evidence on the use of simulated practice learning in nursing programmes. This was followed by two examples (University of Dundee and University of Portsmouth) of how simulated practice is currently being used to support learning.
   
• Agreed to hold the next meeting on 19 July.

The third steering group meeting took place on 6 April 2022, chaired by Professor Jean White CBE.

The following is a summary of the issues discussed:

• We provided an update on the work since the last meeting, this included:
  • A revised definition of simulation of practice.
  • The wording for a new standard on diversity of placements for midwifery students.
  • Noting that the scope and methodology for further research into overseas programmes with fewer practice hours was progressing.
    
    
• We presented the draft midwifery programme standards retaining the number of required experiences, modernising the language, aligned to our standards of proficiency. These were confirmed.
  
  
• Within midwifery, we discussed the importance of multidisciplinary education and training, especially in respect of promoting teamwork, communication and managing obstetric emergencies. We’ll consider whether the existing standards fully address the significance of this issue.
  
  
• We’ll consider the use of language in the midwifery standards in relation to: antenatal, labour/delivery and postnatal v antepartum, peripartum and postpartum; and ensuring inclusivity.
  
  
• We presented the collation of all proposed amendments for Standards for Pre-registration Nursing programmes, which showed the proposed edits from this project to date. These were confirmed.
  
  
• We discussed options for the timing of the consultation, post Council discussion in May 2022. It was recommended that a 10 week consultation period be undertaken. This would cover July, August and finish mid-September. This allows sufficient time for analysis before the January 2023 Council meeting. We provided an indication in respect of the types of consultation questions that will be developed.
  
  
• We agreed the subjects to be covered in the next Steering Group meeting to be held on 20 April.

The second steering group meeting took place on 15 March 2022, chaired by Professor Geraldine Walters CBE, NMC Executive Director of Professional Practice, due to the Chair being unwell.

The following is a summary of the issues discussed:

• We provided an update on the work to date, which includes holding 11 nursing and midwifery standards development groups (SDGs), three policy advisory groups (PAG) and one steering group meeting. The work is on schedule for the proposals to be presented to Council in May before public consultation.
• Following the request from the first steering group meeting related to the standards on entry to programmes, an additional draft standard on safeguarding students under 18 years old was presented and agreed.
• The group considered various definitions of simulation that can be used across curricula and agreed on a combination of these definitions to be confirmed at the next meeting. The group also agreed the wording for a draft standard allowing up to 600 hours simulation out of the 2,300 hours of practice.
• We presented the work from the Midwifery SDG for a standard requiring midwifery students to experience a diversity of placements in different clinical provider organisations. The group agreed this with one suggested addition.
• We presented the work from the Nursing SDG in relation to placement settings in nursing programmes. We noted that the current Future Nurse standards already offer flexibility and require students to have experience in all four fields of practice. We agreed that dropping reference to the EU Directives would not require amendment to the current standards.
• Where appropriate, we should make changes to the programme standards for nursing associates, return to practice and prescribing programmes to ensure consistency.

• The terms of reference were agreed as a working document. We’ll keep them under review
• We presented on the structure and governance arrangements for the programme.
• We presented on the work to date by the nursing and midwifery standards discussion groups (SDGs), which are considering possible changes to the standards. All proposed changes to the standards will be subject to public consultation this summer, following Council approval.
• Members received an update from the two working groups in relation to proposed amendments to the nursing and midwifery standards in the following areas:
  • Removing the EU Directives requirement of 12 years of general education, thus widening participation; considering the impact on the minimum age for admission to Approved Education Institutions (AEIs)
  • Amending the draft programme standards for nursing by removing the reference to the EU Directives in respect of knowledge and skills.
• We provided an update on our work to review the structure of nursing and midwifery programmes offered in other countries.
• We agreed a communication plan for sharing progress