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Brexit has offered the NMC the opportunity to review the Education Standards as European legislation no longer applies. Until this review is complete the NMC Council has agreed that the COVID-19 recovery standards will remain in place.
A discretionary standard RN6 has been introduced to allow, up to 600 hours of simulation to count towards practice hours.
This will remain in place until the standards development work is complete.
Until the post Brexit review of the NMC Education Standards is complete, the NMC has confirmed that clinical simulation can be used to contribute towards a student's practice hours. This allows nursing students to practice and learn through simulated practice learning where conventional clinical practice isn’t available or possible. A discretionary standard RN6 has been introduced to allow, up to 600 hours of simulation to count towards practice hours. This will remain in place until the standards development work is complete. For more information, please see continued use of recovery standards.
It is the responsibility of the education institution to ensure the safety of students, in line with government guidance.
Any educational practice must take place in line with the government guidance at that exact time. Full risk assessments should be undertaken and mitigations made in order to ensure that the guidance is addressed. The provider must ensure that all staff and students understand the risk assessment and mitigation prior to commencing any activity.
If social distancing isn’t possible PPE will be necessary, with issues around the correct and appropriate use of PPE included in the risk assessment. Read our advice guide on PPE.
If you are concerned for your safety, speak in the first instance to your personal tutor and education institution. If you still have concerns, read our guidance on raising concerns below and contact us if you need further advice and support.
It is important to note that both AEIs and placement providers, should carefully risk assess students to ensure that those at higher risk are properly protected. Nursing students need to feel protected when going onto clinical placements during COVID-19. Therefore, it is important that all nursing students have access to life assurance (often called death in service) benefits should they die as a result of exposure to COVID-19 whilst on clinical placement.
Students on paid placements may also join the NHS Pension Scheme, which provides additional death in service benefits.
For more information please see:
This provision is time limited and the position varies in the 4 UK countries.
This scheme is scheduled to end on 31 March 2022. Claimants have until 31 March 2023 to submit claims for deaths that occurred while the scheme was open.
This scheme is scheduled to end on 31 October 2022. The scheme will automatically expire when the NHS in Scotland is stood down from an emergency footing, or at the direction of Scottish Ministers, whichever is first. Individuals who develop symptoms of COVID-19 related illness after this date and subsequently die will not automatically be accepted. Scottish Ministers however reserve the right to extend or amend the scheme if deemed necessary, provided any amendment will not have any significant adverse effect on any person then benefitting from the scheme.
The scheme will close on 31 March 2022. HSC Pension Service, who administer the Coronavirus Life Assurance Scheme on behalf of the Department of Health, will continue to accept and process applications for twelve months after the closing date of the scheme, for eligible individuals who passed away before the closing date of the scheme.
The scheme will close on 30 June 2022. Claimants have until 30 June 2023 to submit claims for deaths that occurred while the scheme was open.
We expect employers, universities and, in Scotland, further education colleges, to work closely with the affected students’ families following any student death.
Please see our guidance COVID-19 and mandatory vaccination.
It is the responsibility of the educational provider to ensure that students complete the required number of practice hours. The NMC currently allows 600 hours of alternative simulated practice to count towards practice hours. For more information, please see the NMC's continued use of recovery standards.
If you have any concerns, in the first instance you should raise them with your practice supervisor or assessor, or your university tutor. If you are still concerned and haven’t been able to resolve the issue please contact us.
Your educational provider is responsible for offering you a suitable placement which will take into account your knowledge and experience around the environment you are asked to work in. Once on placement you must discuss your assessment of competence and confidence with your practice supervisor and assessor.
Students should work to the NMC code of conduct, preserving safety at all times. Students will remain accountable for the care that they provide. It is essential that students only undertake care that they feel they are competent and confident to carry out. Each educational provider should also provide their own raising and escalating concerns guidance to students.
If you have any concerns, in the first instance you should raise them with your practice supervisor or assessor, or your university tutor. If you are still concerned and haven’t been able to resolve the issue please contact us.
Any educational practice must take place in line with the country-specific guidance at that exact time. Full risk assessments should be undertaken in advance and mitigations made in order to ensure that the government guidance is addressed. It is your responsibility to ensure that you understand and are able to comply with the risk assessment and mitigation prior to commencing any activity.
Mitigation may include the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). For more information please read our advice guide on PPE. Further information can also be found in the country-specific guidance on PPE.
Mitigation may also include testing for COVID-19 infection. This should be delivered in accordance with local infection prevention and control policies.
If you have any concerns, in the first instance you should raise them with your practice supervisor or assessor, or your university tutor. If you are still concerned and haven’t been able to resolve the issue please contact us.
The Omicron Emergency Boost initiative in England, aims to fast-track the delivery of COVID-19 booster vaccinations. Universities have been contacted by the Department of Education, asking for support for this programme from clinical staff and student volunteers.
Health Education England are asking students to consider registering with the bank to take up paid opportunities in support of the vaccination programme.
You must only work within the scope of your competence and only undertake clinical tasks for which you feel confident and competent. This is separate from programmes of study or placement.
Nursing and midwifery students have been asked to participate in the booster programme outside their education programme. Training will be provided by Public Health Agency (NI) and participants will be paid at a band 4.
The RCN advice is that students must only work within their scope of competence. You should only undertake clinical tasks for which you feel confident and competent. This is separate from programmes of study or placement.
Health care students including nursing and midwifery students can apply to register with their local NHS Board Bank. There is availability of three or six-month part-time paid employment with NHS Boards with potential employment via staff banks in acute, mental health and community settings.
The RCN advice is that students must only work within their scope of competence. You should only undertake clinical tasks for which you feel confident and competent. This is separate from programmes of study or placement.
Health care students in Wales, including nursing and midwifery students outside of their education programme, can apply to their local NHS Bank.
The RCN advice is that students must only work within their scope of competence. You should only undertake clinical tasks for which you feel confident and competent. This is separate from programmes of study or placement.
In Scotland, the Scottish Government has committed to students retaining their supernumerary status and their position in the clinical area as learners, stating that priority will be given to ensuring the timely graduation of final year students. The Scottish Government has confirmed the option of part time paid employment is available to healthcare students – this is separate from programmes of study or placement. For more information please see Information for student nurses in Scotland.
In Wales, at the current time there are no changes to the way your theoretical and practice learning is organised other than the same person fulfilling the role of practice supervisor and assessor. Your practice learning should continue as planned. Our priority is the timely registration of final year students, and we want you to retain your supernumerary status on placement. We will keep this position under continuous review. Therefore student nurses in Wales will not be invited to join the temporary register.
In Northern Ireland final year students will not currently be offered the option of an extended paid clinical placement.
Students should feel able to raise concerns without detriment and should receive timely feedback on their concerns. If your concerns remain unresolved, refer to:
and speak to your supervisor/tutor as soon as possible.
If you have followed these steps and the issue is still not resolved, please contact us.
Reasonable adjustments are an entitlement under law and should not be affected by changes to your education in response to COVID-19. Ensure that your needs are known by your university and take a proactive approach in sharing your inclusion plan with your Placement Education Facilitator or other placement contact as early as you’re able to.
If you are having issues in establishing or sustaining the adjustments you need, in the first instance consult your university's disability support team, RCN members can also contact us.
Please see the 'self-isolation: exposure and symptoms' section of our COVID-19 and time off guidance for more information.
The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified existing pressures on staffing and resources in all health and care settings.
This resource has been designed to support members in delivering safe and effective care and with the difficult decisions they make every day.
Page last updated - 22/04/2022
