Your Revalidation Guide

1. Getting started

Take a deep breath!!!

In all of the revalidation sessions that the team here in Education and Development have delivered, the overwhelming sense of relief once nurses know what is required, is obvious. Many have been so concerned that the process is difficult but once it has been broken down it is clear that whilst requirements are a little different to PREP, the additions simply build on what we are doing already.

Firstly, read the 'How to revalidate guide' from the NMC. It does honestly help. If you have attended Trust training days you will have already been given this.

Contrary to popular belief you do not have to have an online portfolio or 'e-potfolio'. You can continue to use your own PREP portfolio if you wish, but we advise that you utilise the templates that the NMC provide. And if you have undertaken the Revalidation Day with us you can use the folder and dividers that we gave you. This really ensures that you gather detail in a logical order making it straight forward for you and your confirmer.  If you do decide to use an e-portfolio the NMC provide some important e-portfolio guidelines in relation to this and should be read if you chose to use one.

A few things that are essential before you start gathering the evidence for your revalidation:

1. Establish your revalidation date. This is easy to do by just searching the NMC Register with your PIN Number, First Name and Surname. Follow this link

2. Ensure that you have set up an online account with the NMC. This is easy to do- just follow this link

3. Set up a direct debit payment with the NMC, this is also easy to do and will you give reassurance that you won't miss a payment. The NMC have also added a facility to stagger your yearly payments option. Just follow this link

4. Remember your online revalidation portal will open 60 days prior to the date for revalidation which will the 1st of the month in which you normally renew. For example if your renewal date was previously 30th April, your new revalidation date will be April 1st. In the 60 days prior to the 1st of the month you will be able to go in and out of the form as many times as you need- Updates will be saved.

5. Ensure that you take time to read the BCHC Trust Policy for Nurse Revalidation. This can be found on the Trust intranet site so you'll need to access this via a Trust computer. It clarifies your responsibilities in relation to the process and also outlines the role that the Trust will play in supporting you. It also clarifies your position should you fail to revalidate on time; this has changed with the new system of Revalidation. 

Now you can get started; collating and gathering the information that you will need.

2. What are the requirements?

The Requirements

The NMC Revalidation website is an amazing resource and will become your best friend as you go through this 3 yearly cycle. Using the official NMC site ensures that you are taken directly to the latest forms, templates and guides. No need to worry if they are the latest versions. Please take some time to explore. The section on requirements is very clear and lays out exactly what you need to do. Take a look

• Practice Hours
• Continuing Professional Development (35 hours- 20 of which must be participatory)
• Practice Related Feedback (Five pieces)
• Written Reflective Accounts (Five accounts)
• Reflective Discussion (One discussion with another Registrant)
• Health and Character Declaration
• Professional Indemnity Arrangement (As an employee of BCHC you are covered by the Trust)
• Confirmation (It is a requirement at BCHC that Confirmation is carried out by your line manager)

Many nurses have started panicking at this stage about uploading all of this onto the NMC site; most concerned about, scanning and how to do this. Stop worrying you don't have to do this at the point of revalidation. You will only be required to complete an online form that takes about 20 minutes in total...no upload or scanning needed. It is very simple. For many we have advised that if you are concerned about not being that IT savvy...now is the time to set some targets in relation to this. It could even become one of your CPD activities!  

If you have any questions please don't hesitate to contact the Professional Development Team EMAIL/CONTACT- we are very happy to support you in the Revalidation process.

3. Gathering the evidence

This is a three year cycle and much like PREP before it, Revalidation is about you demonstrating to the public and the profession that you have ensured that you have kept yourself up to date and how you did this. You must gather this detail and ensure that you have evidence ready to hand when you have your discussion with your confirmer. Using templates that the NMC have given us makes the process simple and straight forward. And don't forget to refer to the NMC Guide to Revalidation Booklet.

1. Please use the NMC templates to present all your evidence. You may choose to store the completed forms in either paper or electronic format. Please make sure you respect the fact that these forms contain personal data about the registrant that you have your Reflective Discussion with and your Confirmer, and that you uphold your obligations in relation to confidentiality and data protection. You can familiarise yourself with your obligations in our guidance on non-identifiable information, see page 14 of How to revalidate with the NMC.

2. Practice Hours- 450 hours (or 900 as a dual registrant 'NURSE & MIDWIFE') use evidence such as a job descriptions, ESR read outs, timesheets or off duty to support the number of hours that you wish to record. The NMC have provided a completed set of templates to guide you.  Remember if you are a dual registrant; nurse and midwife, you will need to evidence 900 hours. Here the NMC guide you through ensuring that you meet the requirements of dual registration.

3. Continuing Professional Development- 35 hours, 20 of which should be participatory. The completed templates will guide you again here.  Remember to refer to the NMC guide if you need to refresh your memory.

4. Practice Related Feedback- 5 pieces. Think as a registrant about the sorts of feedback that reflect your role. Try not to gather five similar pieces, eg all from patients. Think about feedback from students, managers, other health care professionals and perhaps families and how this breadth will demonstrate the many facets of your role and give your confirmer a real insight into your role.  Take a look at the completed templates if you need some inspiration.

5. Reflective Accounts - 5 accounts. There isn't a requirement in terms of wordage or references...so many have started panicking about producing essay style accounts. Stop the panic! Whilst they need to be articulate and reflective of a thinking practitioner, there is not a requirement to produce a very academic piece, supported by multiple references. But if you feel that you would like to share the reading that you have undertaken behind the pieces include them. These will be a great resource to share. Remember you only need to present 5 pieces.....before long you'll realise that you are constantly reflecting on your practice and could probably present 5 a day!!! But all you need to do is five in 3 years.  Again the completed templates will reassure you.

6. Reflective Discussion.- This discussion must take place with another NMC registrant. It may be that your line manager (if they too are a registrant), is happy to have this discussion with you when you are 'confirming'. But clarify this as soon as possible with them. This discussion is so important and will enable you to explore your reflections in a meaningful way. Remember that you too will be called on to have such discussions with your colleagues. This is a really positive way to ensure that we share best practice and learn from each other and from areas where development may be required. Look at the completed templates to ensure that this is completed correctly. This discussion can take place anytime in the 12 months leading up to your Revalidation date.

7. Health and Character- When your online account opens this will be a question field that you will answer online. There is no form to fill in.

8. Indemnity Insurance-When your online account opens this will be a question field that you will answer online. There is no form to fill in. In your role within this Trust you will be covered.

9. Appraisal- When your online account opens this will be a question field that you will answer online. There is no form to fill in. The NMC ask when you last had an appraisal.

10.Confirmation-The confirmation process in this Trust should be had with your line manager. You can identify, this if you aren't sure, through your ESR account. It does not have to be another NMC registrant. Again the completed templates will reassure you. You will also find the NMC guides to the Confirmer role really valuable. Information for Confirmers

4. Reflective Discussion

You are required to have ONE Reflective Discussion around your FIVE pieces of reflection. These five pieces will have been gathered over the three years of your revalidation cycle. The Reflective Discussion can take place anytime in the year leading up to your revalidation date and must be had with another NMC registrant (must be live on the register at the time of the discussion).

It may be that your Confirmer (normally your line manager in this Trust) if they are a NMC Registrant will be happy to have the Reflective Discussion with you. Early planning will help you clarify this with them. If not then you can approach another registrant to explore your reflective pieces.

The Reflective Discussion is a great opportunity for us as nurses to begin sharing our experiences and  learning with each other and in turn impact in a positive way upon patient care. Good practice and resources will be shared and in turn we will learn for one another; identifying areas of good practice and also where care can be improved and developed. Sharing our experiences in this formal way ensures transparency and confidence in our roles.

The NMC offer clear guidance on the Reflective Discussion, demystifying and supporting us all in the process. This is about us formally sharing our reflection with another registrant, enhancing us personally and also enhancing the profession. Reflecting offers many opportunities to share, debate. justify and explore practice with colleagues. In the past reflection was seen as the domain of academics, or when we were undertaking courses and attending university. What Revalidation has done has enabled us to embed this amazing learning tool into our everyday practice. Giving reflection real meaning.   

If you are not having your Reflective Discussion with your line manager then chose the person wisely. Don't go for the easiest option; someone who won't challenge you. Go for someone who will. A colleague, friend who will explore your accounts with some depth and analysis. This isn't a paper exercise. It is your opportunity to showcase your skills and demonstrate an ability to explore your five accounts with confidence, competence and skill.

Once again the completed templates will help guide you as to how this form should be completed. The Reflective Discussion and the detail within should be stored in safely. As we said before please respect the fact that this form contains personal data about your collegaue, and that you uphold your obligations in relation to confidentiality and data protection. You can familiarise yourself with your obligations in our guidance on non-identifiable information, see page 14 of How to revalidate with the NMC.

This is such a positive opportunity for us as a profession to showcase our work, use it with enthusiasm and your confidence in sharing your reflections will increase and with it raise the profile of the profession. 

5. Confimation

Confirmation is the final stage in the revalidation process. It is an important stage and is the point at which the confirmer looks at the evidence you have collected and 'confirms' that you have met the revalidation requirements.

Here in BCHC this should be completed with your line manager (you can find out who this is by accessing your ESR records). For some of you this will mean that your Confirmer may not be a NMC registrant. This is not an issue and they can perform this role. You may wish to direct your manager to the Confirmer Guidance if they aren't familiar with the process. As time passes by this will become less of an issue as Revalidation for nurses will be common place. You can access the Confirmer guidance HERE . You may also find this guidance helpful to dispel any myths that you might have around what your Confirmer will expect from you.

As with the Reflective Discussion, Confirmation can take place anytime in the last year of the Revalidation cycle. You may wish to time this around your personal development review (PDR). Start thinking ahead and don't leave till the day before your Revalidation date. Your managers are busy and remember they will be revalidating many members of staff.  The Confirmer discussion should take place 'face to face' since you need to talk them through how you have met all of the requirements of revalidation. 

You must use the NMC form to record your confirmation. Although you are not required to submit this form to the NMC at any point, you should keep it safe as part of your records. You may choose to store the completed confirmation form in either paper or electronic format. Please make sure you respect the fact that this form contains personal data about your confirmer, and that you uphold your obligations in relation to confidentiality and data protection.

Once the 'confirmation' of your portfolio of evidence has successfully taken and you have satisfied your confirmer that all requirements of revalidation have been met place, you are ready to revalidate as soon as your online NMC portal opens 60 days prior to your revalidation date. Remember this will always be the 1st of the month that you normally re register/ renew in.

6. Confimer Guidance

The role of the Confirmer is crucial to the process of Revalidation and as with all aspects of this the NMC offer us comprehensive guidance for the Confirmer.

Exploring and understanding this information  as the registrant revalidating and as the Confirmer will ensure that the process is undertaken in the correct way. In our Trust the Confirmer should be the line manager as found on ESR. In contrast with the process of Reflective Discussion,  the Confirmer does not have to be a NMC Registrant. This recognises that many nurses are managed by non registrants; so as a Confirmer you might be a Speech and Language Therapist or perhaps a Physiotherapist.

So what you need to do?

As the Confirmer you will need to see written evidence of:

• 450 practice hours (900 hours if the registrants Revalidating as both a nurse and midwife)
• 35 Hours of Continuing Professional Development (CPD); 20 of the 35 must be participatory and you must see accurate records of the CPD undertaken.
• 5 pieces of practice related feedback; written or oral evidence that satisfiesyou that the nurse or midwife has received 5 pieces of practice related feedback.
• 5 written reflective accounts relating to their CPD and/or practice related feedback and/or an event or experience in practice and how this relates to the NMC Code of Conduct. Registrants should have used the NMC template for Reflective Accounts.
• Reflective Discussion; A completed and signed NMC Reflective Discussion Form recording that the Reflective Discussion has taken place with an NMC registrant (Nurse or Midwife). If you are a nurse registrant you can have the Reflective Discussion with the registrant who is undergoing Confirmation.

The Professional Development Team are here to help if you have any question about your role as a Confirmer. Our email contact is on the main page of this site, to the left hand side.

7. Top Tips

1. Don't put your head in the sand......start early! Remember that you must Revalidate on the first of the month that you are due to do so. You can no longer leave this till the end of the month. Your Revalidation online portal opens 60 days before this date.

2. Ensure that you have an online NMC account. If you haven't set this up already this is easy to do. Go to NMC Online HERE

3. Talk to your colleagues- so many of us have been through the process, a brief chat will help to reassure you.

4. Gather your evidence and organise yourself. The Trust folder will help you do this but don't panic if you haven't had one! You just need to follow the steps that you've explored here.

5. If you haven't done so already join the Trust library. The Team here are amazing and can offer you help and support with Revalidation and so much more. Their contact details can be found HERE. 

5. If you feel that you are struggling don't leave till the last minute to contact the Professional Development Team. We are here to help and support you.  

6. Look on the process as building on PREP, not something new.

7. Familiarise yourself with the Trust appraisal paperwork for nurses (found on the Trust Intranet) and how this links to your Revalidation. Approach your PDR with the same confidence that you now have in your Revalidation process. 

7. Value the process and share your portfolio with colleagues- we will learn so much from each other...Don't be shy!

8. You can do this!