The government has announced that anyone misleading the public and describing themselves as a nurse without the relevant qualifications and registration will be committing a crime.
New measures have been announced to protect the title of nurse in law.
It is hoped the move will help to boost protections and safety for both patients and staff, driving up standards and improving patient experience across the NHS through the government’s Plan for Change.
Currently, anyone is able to call themselves a nurse, including those struck off by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for serious misconduct or criminal convictions.
There will be exemptions for relevant professions like veterinary nurse, dental nurse and nursery nurse, where the title ‘nurse’ is legitimately used.
Currently only the title 'registered nurse' is protected in law. The new law will ensure that only those individuals registered with the NMC can legally use the title. Anyone violating this will be committing a criminal offence.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: "Nurses carry out lifesaving work every day, and I am determined we do everything we can to support them and safeguard trust in the profession.
"I’ve been appalled to read reports of so-called nurses spreading dangerous misinformation and harming the public.
"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.
"This is part of our Plan for Change to fix the NHS and gets the right staff working in the right place at the right time."
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."
