Protect the title Nurse in UK law petition. The title nurse can be used by anyone in the UK. Petition created by Professor Alison Leary RN

[Arbella2]

The title nurse can be used by anyone in the UK. They can use this term to offer professional advice and services even if they have no professional qualification, experience or have been struck off a professional register.
To protect the public, the title should be restricted to those who are registered with professional regulators such as Registered Nurses and Dental Nurses. This would be the same as titles such as paramedic, physiotherapist and hearing aid dispenser which are limited to those on the professional registers.
Anyone can sign the petition as long as they are a British citizen or UK resident.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/587939

You may like to read a short article by Professor Leary published in September 2021 explaining the present situation and risks.
https://richmondgroupofcharities.org.uk/news

Also the Royal College of Nursing press release June 2021 re the growing practice of employing those without registered nurse qualifications into registered nursing roles.
https://www.rcn.org.uk/news-and-events/press-releases/nursing-workforce-crisis-leads-to-risky-recruitment-practice

29,290 signatures presently.
Closing date 14/12/21
Target 100,000

BMJ article
The Healthcare Quality and Safety Conference October 2021
"A bedside care workforce with a greater proportion of professional nurses is associated with better outcomes for patients and nurses. Reducing skill mix by adding nursing associates and other categories of assistive personnel without professional nurse qualifications may contribute to preventable deaths, erode quality and safety of hospital care and contribute to hospital nurse shortages"
https://qualitysafety.bmj.com/content/26/7/559

Example of falsely claiming to be a nurse. Not illegal to do so.

Had this person falsely claimed to be a hearing aid dispenser, that would have been against the law.

https://nursingnotes.co.uk/news/politics/newly-elected-mp-falsely-claims-mental-health-nurse/

12/10/21
The nurse title should be protected in UK law so that only registered nurses can use it says Jonathan Ashworth Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary, speaking today at the QNI conference.

https://www.nursinginpractice.com/latest-news/protect-nurse-title-in-law-says-jonathan-ashworth/

Dawn Butler MP on Twitter today
"Can you believe the title 'nurse' has no legal protection ? This is dangerous ! "

The petition has 29,543 signatures presently.
Target 100,000
Closing date 14/12/21

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/587939

Presently there are 29, 643 signatures. It takes less than five minutes to sign.

Currently 29,694 signatures. Please consider signing.

Bumping. I've shared hhis at work as well and have encouraged a few others to sign.

Thank you Cuck00soup

Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Executive NMC (Nursing and Midwifery Council) writing in the Nursing Times September 2021
"One aspect we really want to pursue is that the title nurse is currently not protected"
" I believe it is essential we have the right protected titles and associated enforcement powers to take effective action to protect the public "

Now 29,887 signatures. Can you help push it to 30,000 ?
Anyone can sign the petition as long as they are a British citizen or UK resident.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/587939

Ruth May Chief Nursing Officer
for England
"I am supportive of protecting the nurse title ". 15/10/21

Now 29,916 signatures.

Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland Charlotte McArdle
"Time and again nursing is recognised as the most trusted profession with nurse synonymous with patient safety. It's therefore important for society and for nurses themselves that the title of 'nurse ' is protected "
15/10/21

29,925 signatures to date. Takes less than five minutes to vote. Patient safety at risk. Please consider voting.

Ruth May and Charlotte McArdle quotes above 18/10/21 were published in the Nursing Times 15/10/21

The NHS Retirement Fellowship supports the campaign to protect the 'nurse' title in law.
Nursing Times 24/09/21

"The protection of a professional title provides assurance that someone using that title is competent and safe to practise"
Ruth May Chief Nursing Officer England

Nursing Times 15/10/21

Done and shared.

Thank you elephantstrong

Signed and shared! I had no idea that hearing aid dispenser was a protected title. I'm a registered nurse, madness that people can call themselves a nurse with absolutely no legal justification.

Thank you Handmaid2019

Now 29,931 signatures ! Please help to show that we care about this very important issue

https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/587939

29,933 signatures currently.