The Royal College of Nursing has warned that increasing instances of people without registered nurse qualifications being employed for registered nursing roles could compromise safety.

Substantial academic evidence shows that the education and specialist skill of nurses registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) improves patient safety – including outcomes and mortality.

Many reviews – including the Francis report into the Mid Staffordshire crisis – highlight that patient safety is at risk when the right nursing care and nursing leadership is not in place.

The RCN has found examples where employers have formally opened registered nurse vacancies to people without registered nursing qualifications, or from different professional backgrounds, including physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The adverts often carry a caveat that post holders need to be registered either with the NMC or the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

Pat Cullen, RCN Acting General Secretary & Chief Executive, said: “Filling registered nurse vacancies with those who are not registered nurses is not filling those vacancies. Acting in this way not only leads to vacancies elsewhere but also carries a risk to patient care. The very fact that employers are needing to fill nursing posts in this way should set alarm bells ringing with ministers that cannot be ignored and spur them into a proper investment in the long-term future of the nursing workforce.”