Registered nurse
The title ‘registered nurse’ is protected in the UK. It refers to all nurses on part one of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register. This can be for any of the four fields of nursing: adult, mental health (MH), learning disability nursing (LDN), and children and young people (CYP) .
As the nursing and midwifery regulator, the NMC set the standards of proficiencies expected at graduation. These skills should be demonstrated throughout the revalidation cycle by the registered nurse.
RCN Levels of Nursing
The first two years of a registered nurse’s practice
A registered nurse is defined as a regulated professional who is accountable for their own practice under the NMC code. This includes newly qualified graduates to the profession and early career nurses who continue to build experience, confidence, and professional judgement during the first two years in practice.
During this period of consolidated learning, registered nurses apply their knowledge consistently in practice. They also develop confidence in exercising professional accountability in day-to-day care delivery.
Post NMC registration
At the point of first NMC registration, registered nurses are typically appointed at Band 5 in the NHS or at an equivalent level in the independent sector. At this level, the registered nurse is a professionally accountable practitioner who delivers safe, effective, and evidence-based care.
Practice is characterised by:
- the application of core nursing knowledge and skills attained during their degree course
- the development of clinical judgment
- growing confidence in managing patient care
Although newly qualified nurses hold professional accountability from the start, their practice should be supported through training and structured supervision, allowing them to consolidate learning as they transition from student to independent registered nurse.
