Competition celebrating 100 years of ‘Always Caring, Always Nursing’ opens for entries

It’s time to reach for the colouring pencils and get creative as the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) launches a competition marking the centenary of nursing regulation.

100 years on from when Ethel Fenwick won her hard fought campaign for professional regulation of nurses in the UK, the NMC will celebrate with the release of a specially designed commemorative pin badge.

Ahead of the Year of the Nurse and Year of the Midwife in 2020, the professional regulator is inviting those on the register to get inspired and submit an engaging design of what the prestigious badge should look like.

The winning design will be given to long-standing nurses on our register as a wearable limited-edition pin badge.

How to enter:

• Create a design that celebrates 100 years of professional pride.
• The design will need to fit onto a circular badge. The finished badge will be approximately 25mm wide.
• Please use a maximum of four colours.
• Words as well as images can be included.
• Designs can be submitted in any format.
• Entries to be sent via email to communications@nmc-uk.org or via postage to Pin Badge Competition, NMC, 23 Portland Place, London, W1B 1PZ.
• For all submissions, please include a completed entry form and read our terms and conditions.

The deadline for entries is Tuesday 15 October 2019

Andrea Sutcliffe, CBE, Chief Executive and Registrar of the NMC, said:

“The passion and dedication that just drips out of the fingertips of nurses and midwives across the UK and nursing associates in England, is a joy to see. As their professional regulator, it’s such a privilege for the NMC to support them to provide the best and safest care possible which we know makes such a difference for everyone in our communities.

“Our ‘Always Caring, Always Nursing’ celebrations have got off to a great start with some inspiring stories, but we also wanted to create something tangible to honour the hundreds of thousands of amazing nurses on our register. That’s why we are launching this competition to create a special symbol of professional pride.

“I hope as many people as possible will take part in depicting what the past, present and future 100 years means to them, and I can’t wait to see what I’m sure will be some fantastic entries.”

ENDS

Further background

1. Find out more about ‘Always Caring, Always Nursing’  www.nmc.org.uk/always-caring 

2. Join in with @nmcnews Twitter activity using the hashtag #PrideInNursing

4. The ‘Always Caring, Always Nursing’ centenary celebrations began on 14 September 2019 – 100 days before the 100 year anniversary – with a range of activities and events planned throughout the autumn months. Read more

5. The celebrations will act as a springboard into the WHO (World Health Organization) Year of the Nurse and Year of the Midwife in 2020 which the NMC will be marking with its partners across the health and care sector throughout the year.

6. In addition, the regulator will shortly be asking its Council to approve brand new standards of education for the next generation of midwives – a major milestone that, if approved, will be supported by a range of communications activity. This will include a series of UK wide events early next year that will also celebrate the registration of midwives that has taken place for over a century.

7. For further media enquiries, please contact NMC press office on 020 7681 5415 or email media@nmc-uk.org.

About the NMC

We are the independent regulator for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. We hold a register of all the 690,000 nurses, midwives and nursing associates who can practise in the UK. Better and safer care for people is at the heart of what we do, supporting the healthcare professionals on our register to deliver the highest standards of care. We make sure nurses, midwives and nursing associate have the skills they need to care for people safely, with integrity, expertise, respect and compassion, from the moment they step into their first job.

Learning does not stop the day nurses, midwives and nursing associates qualify. To promote safety and public trust, we require professionals to demonstrate throughout their career that they are committed to learning and developing to keep their skills up to date and improve as practitioners. We want to encourage openness and learning among healthcare professions to improve care and keep the public safe. On the occasions when something goes wrong and people are at risk, we can step in to investigate and take action, giving the people affected and their families a voice as we do so.