Currently, anyone – including those struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for serious misconduct or criminal convictions – can call themselves a nurse. This can result in the public thinking they're getting advice and care from an expert professional like a nurse when they aren't.  

Previous reported examples of the job title being misused include someone calling herself a nurse at a large public event after being struck off and another reportedly masquerading as an aesthetic nurse.

There will be exemptions for relevant professions like veterinary nurse, dental nurse and nursery nurse, where the title ‘nurse' is legitimately used.

Only the title "registered nurse" is currently protected in law. The new legislation will change that - ensuring that only those individuals registered with the NMC can legally use the title. Anyone violating this will be committing a criminal offence and could face a hefty fine running into the thousands of pounds. 

Registered nurses go through high-quality undergraduate and postgraduate degree programmes and complete a process called revalidation every three years – ensuring they can continually update their skills set. The new measures reflect that. The new legislation – expected to be laid this Parliament – will help to strengthen existing safeguards. 

The announcement follows campaigning by unions for the government to act on the issue, as well as by Dawn Butler MP who introduced a Ten-Minute Rule Bill earlier this year to protect the title ‘nurse'. 

Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘This new legislation will help crack down on bogus beauticians and conspiracy theorists masquerading as nurses, and those attempting to mislead patients.

‘The British people hold nurses in the highest regard, and we trust them in our most vulnerable moments, so patients need to know they are genuinely being seen by a nurse. Now they will.'

A previous Freedom of Information request showed that across 93% of all NHS trusts, there were more than 8,000 people with the term "nurse" in their job title who had no registered nursing qualifications. Although these people are supervised and providing important care, their job titles can cause confusion. 

Reaction

Duncan Burton, chief nursing officer for England, said: 'The trust that people place in registered nurses is based on the rigorous training and education required to be registered as a nurse, which gives us the skills and knowledge to deliver high-quality, safe and personalised care.

'Nurses value this trust and protecting the title of nurse can give added confidence and clarity to patients and the public on who is delivering their care and the skills and knowledge they have.'

Professor Nicola Ranger, RCN general secretary and chief executive, said: 'A change in the law will recognise the knowledge, professionalism and clinical expertise that comes with being a registered nurse. It will provide better legal protections for nursing professionals and reassurance to patients.

'Crucially, this is an opportunity to begin the journey to properly valuing nursing as a profession, where respect, reward and investment match the crucial nature of our work.'

Dr Crystal Oldman, chief executive at The Queen's Institute of Community Nursing, said: 'People need confidence that when the person caring for them is described as a nurse, that person really is a qualified and registered nurse.'

Paul Rees, interim chief executive and registrar at the Nursing and Midwifery Council, said: ‘The public should always feel confident that anyone using the title ‘nurse' is a registered professional with all the safeguards that brings.

‘We look forward to working with the government and our stakeholders to deliver on it. In the meantime, it is already an offence for somebody to hold themselves out as a registered nurse when they are not.'

Helga Pile, Unison head of health, said: ‘Charlatans and conspiracy theorists mustn't be allowed to harm patients or damage nurses' reputation and good standing with the public.

‘It's only right that anyone that tries to will now feel the full force of the law.'