The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) strongly recommends that all newly registered professionals have a period of preceptorship when commencing employment, describing preceptorship as a structured start for newly registered nurses, midwives and nursing associates. This should help newly registered professionals to develop the confidence to practise competently as a nurse, nursing associate, midwife or specialist community health nurse and ensure they meet their obligations under the NMC Code and relevant NMC standards.

Anyone who has entered a new part of the register, has returned to practice after re-joining the register, or is newly admitted to the register from countries outside of the UK, should also receive a period of preceptorship.

The RCN’s Nursing Workforce Standards (standard 10) states: "All members of the nursing workforce must be appropriately prepared and work within their scope of practice and (for registrants) in accordance with the NMC Code".

Additionally, the nurse lead is expected to ensure that: 

• all newly-appointed members of the nursing workforce are allocated a period of supernumerary time and structured induction
• newly-registered nurses have a period of structured preceptorship
• individuals with no or limited previous experience in an area have tailored preceptorship periods, which include structured inductions and close supervision, until specialty competence and confidence are achieved.

Read the RCN Nursing Workforce Standards for more information.

Please see the NMC Principles of preceptorship and Standards to support learning and assessment in practice.

England

• NHS England: National preceptorship framework for nursing
• Health Education England: preceptorship framework

Northern Ireland

• (NIPEC): preceptorship framework

Scotland

• SNHS Education for Scotland: Scotland’s Preceptorship Framework

Wales

• Welsh Government: Nursing preceptorship and restorative clinical supervision - a national position statement

These national frameworks should be read in conjunction with your employer's own policy.

NHS Employers has guidance on preceptorships for newly qualified nurses, nursing associates, midwives and allied health professionals. 

An NHS employer is obliged to provide you with a period of preceptorship in your first year as an employee. A period of preceptorship can also be used to support international recruits and those returning to practice. You should check your employer’s preceptorship policy for the specific details.

If you're employed outside the NHS, there is no requirement for your employer to provide a period of preceptorship, although the NMC and the RCN recommend it. Speak to your employer to clarify their preceptorship arrangements. The NMC's guidance states that its principles apply to any health or social care setting across the UK including the 'social care sector, and the independent and charitable sectors'.

As a newly-registered professional, it’s important to work within the limits of your competence. If you’re involved in any incidents at work or feel you’re not getting the support you need as a newly-registered member of staff, please discuss this with your manager in the first instance. 

Our advice guides cover a wide range of employment, legal and professional issues, which may help. The list below covers the most common issues:

• Bullying and harassment
• Capability and performance issues
• Changes to your shifts
• Flexible working
• Health and safety concerns
• Investigations
• Problems at work
• Raising concerns
• Redeployment and unsustainable pressures
• Sickness
• Training: statutory and mandatory

RCN's Early Career Nurse (ECN) network 

The Early Career Nurse (ECN) network is run by students and ECNs and exists to provide peer support and guidance to members in their last six months as a student, all the way up to five years post-registration.

RCN's Newly Registered Nurses (NRN) Handbook

The NRN handbook provides a whole host of guidance, including:

• the foundations of good practice
• how to make the most of your preceptorship
• finding a balance for your health and wellbeing
• advice on employment issues
• everything you need to know about your RCN membership.

The handbook is also available for members on RCN Starting Out.

Advice and support from the RCN

If you have issues with your preceptorship, speak to your line manager or employer first. It can be helpful to reference the frameworks within this guide, along with the NMC's information.

If you need further advice, contact us for more support. 

It’s very important to think about how you’ll maintain your NMC registration. Make a note of important dates and make sure you keep your contact details up to date at NMC online.

Paying your NMC registration fees (annually or monthly)

If you fail to pay your NMC fees or meet revalidation requirements, your registration will lapse and you’ll need to apply for readmission. This is a serious issue as you can’t work as a registrant if you’re not on the NMC register. You could also be suspended from work and face disciplinary action. If you’ve worked without registration, the NMC will want to know why.

Completing revalidation (every three years)

The NMC's guidance and information on revalidation has all of the information you need.

The RCN also has information and advice to support members through revalidation, including case studies and useful tips.