NMC Revalidation and Fitness to Practise 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which organisation is responsible for investigating fitness to practise concerns about nurses and midwives in the UK?
- NHS England
- Care Quality Commission
- Nursing and Midwifery Council (Correct answer)
- General Medical Council
Correct answer: Nursing and Midwifery Council
The NMC is the regulatory body responsible for setting standards and investigating fitness to practise concerns for registered nurses and midwives.
Question 2: If a nurse receives a criminal conviction, what is their primary obligation under the NMC Code?
- Notify their employer only
- Notify the NMC in addition to their employer (Correct answer)
- Take unpaid leave immediately
- No action is required for minor offences
Correct answer: Notify the NMC in addition to their employer
Registrants must inform the NMC of any criminal convictions, cautions, or charges as part of their professional duty of candour and self-referral obligations.
Question 3: Which of the following is NOT a recognised ground for impaired fitness to practise under NMC proceedings?
- Misconduct
- Lack of competence
- Being assigned excessive workloads (Correct answer)
- Physical or mental health conditions
Correct answer: Being assigned excessive workloads
Excessive workloads are a systemic issue, not a personal ground for impaired fitness to practise; impairment grounds relate to the individual registrant's conduct, health, or competence.
Question 4: What is the primary purpose of the NMC fitness to practise process?
- To discipline and punish registrants
- To protect the public from unsafe practitioners (Correct answer)
- To provide financial support to affected nurses
- To improve NHS staffing efficiency
Correct answer: To protect the public from unsafe practitioners
The overarching purpose of NMC fitness to practise proceedings is public protection, not punishment of the registrant.
Question 5: A caution order issued by the NMC typically remains on a registrant's record for how long?
- 6 months to 1 year
- 1 to 5 years (Correct answer)
- 5 to 7 years
- 10 years
Correct answer: 1 to 5 years
NMC caution orders last between one and five years and appear on the public register throughout that period.
Question 6: What does a 'striking-off order' issued by an NMC fitness to practise panel mean for the registrant?
- Temporary suspension pending review
- Permanent removal from the NMC register (Correct answer)
- A formal written warning on their record
- Conditions placed on their ongoing practice
Correct answer: Permanent removal from the NMC register
A striking-off order permanently removes the registrant from the NMC register, meaning they can no longer legally practise as a nurse or midwife.
Question 7: During a suspension order imposed by the NMC, what is the registrant permitted to do?
- Continue to practise with additional supervision
- Not practise as a nurse or midwife at all (Correct answer)
- Practise only in independent sector settings
- Practise only within their previous area of specialty
Correct answer: Not practise as a nurse or midwife at all
A suspension order removes the registrant's right to practise entirely for the duration of the suspension — they cannot work in any nursing or midwifery capacity.
NMC Revalidation and Fitness to Practise 2
Which organisation is responsible for investigating fitness to practise concerns about nurses and midwives in the UK?