Last updated on June 29th, 2017 at 10:21 am

The theme of International Nurses Day 2016 is ‘A force for change’.  The day gives the opportunity for nurses to raise their profile and is often celebrated with nurses organising careers talks with local schools and display boards in public venues to encourage younger people to think about nursing as a profession.

More nurses needed

Due to the level of vacancies, some English trusts have resorted to expensive international recruitment. To ensure we train the number of nurses required for the future, more university places need to be funded and more people need to learn about the rewarding role that is offered by nursing.

Revalidation for nurses and midwives

Following the Francis Report into the failings at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, a key recommendation was the requirement for the nursing professional body, the Nursing Midwifery Council to implement a process for registration called revalidation. Revalidation is the biggest change to the regulation of nurses and midwives in the history of the NMC. The new legislation was introduced in April 2016 and means that all 692,000 nurses and midwives now have to be able to regularly demonstrate their ability to deliver effective, safe and professional care.

Revalidation goes hand in hand with the 6Cs campaign that was launched in December 2012. The campaign focuses on 6 key requirements for nurses in that they must practice:

• care
• compassion
• courage
• communication
• commitment, and
• competence

The 6cS are believed to be the foundation for a professional nurse.

If all nurses practice within their professional code of conduct ensuring that the 6Cs are embedded in nursing practice then nurses day in the UK really will be a celebration

Save one life and you’re a hero. Save a hundred lives and you’re a nurse.

Happy Nurses Day!