Fitness to practise: the latest guidance

As a registered nurse it has been ingrained in me that, as a professional, I will be held accountable to an expected set of behaviours. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) Code (2018) states that:

‘You uphold the reputation of your profession at all times. You should display a personal commitment to the standards of practice and behaviour set out in the Code.’

The NMC has a Fitness to Practise (FTP) Library that shares the policy and guidance for NMC colleagues around decision making (NMC, 2024a). This is publicly available and a resource that I was not aware of until recently.

The NMC regularly updates its guidance, based on learning from cases and current issues of concern in society. Recently, the NMC held some discussions with professionals to consider several revisions to guidance, specifically focused on conduct outside of professional practice. There are several areas that have been clarified that are key for us to understand as professionals and employers.