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On 12 May, the Westminster government announced the job title of “nurse” will be given protection in law to ensure only those with the right training and registration can use it. At present, “registered nurse” is protected in law, but the more commonly used title of “nurse” is not. This proposal is a welcome first in the health care profession.

: “Anyone misleading the public and describing themselves as a nurse without the relevant qualifications and registration will be committing a crime under new measures announced to protect the title 'nurse' in law.”

The move by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) follows a campaign by nursing leaders, including RCN Deputy President Professor Alison Leary MBE, and MP Dawn Butler. Earlier in the year, we urged members to call on their local MP to support a proposed bill that was aimed at addressing this issue.

In 2021, Professor Leary, RCN Fellow Paul Trevatt and other RCN members started the #ProtectNurse campaign, and RCN Congress voted in favour of a resolution to protect the title "nurse" that same year. In 2024, RCN members reached 98% of UK MPs, asking them to support Dawn Butler MP's ten-minute rule bill on this issue.

Read more: 'Nurse' title must be protected, says RCN

In 2024, we developed a strategic group to co-ordinate protection of the title “nurse”. 极速资源 consists of representatives from staff groups, the professional nursing committee, RCN Fellows, as well as RCN Council members. The group meets regularly to discuss and implement any required RCN actions arising from government policy on this issue and will continue to do so while the legislative change progresses.

We anticipate the change will be introduced through an update to the .

The NMC Order is a piece of secondary legislation. This means it was made under powers given by an Act of Parliament and sets out the detailed rules and regulations and can be amended without a full parliamentary bill.

The DHSC is currently drafting changes to the General Medical Council legislation, and engaging with the NMC and the Health and Care Professionals Council. The DHSC plans to start developing the protect "nurse” details this year ahead of the consultation on the NMC Order.

We expect the process to include a statutory three-month consultation with input from all four nations of the UK. The RCN will continue to engage with DHSC and officials to ensure the original intention of the campaign and its proposals are at the forefront of designing this new law.