Following the introduction of the Nurse (Use of Title) Bill by Labour MP for Brent East, Dawn Butler, the Government has announced it will move to legally protect the title nurse to ensure it can only be used by those with the appropriate training and registration.
On International Nurses Day, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed that measures will be brought forward to safeguard the title in law. Until now, individuals struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register – or those without any nursing qualifications – have been able to use the term.
Under the new bill, the title nurse may only be used by professionals registered with the NMC, along with those qualified as dental, nursery or veterinary nurses. The Government confirmed the changes will be introduced during this Parliament as part of broader reforms to health and care regulation.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said, “The British people hold nurses in the highest regard, and we trust in our most vulnerable moments, patients need to know they are genuinely being seen by a nurse. Now they will.”
