What we do

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NMBI’s role and key functions

NMBI is the statutory body which sets the standards for the education, registration and professional conduct of nurses and midwives. We advise on how nurses and midwives should provide care to patients, their families and society.

Our mission is to protect the public and the integrity of the professions of nursing and midwifery through the promotion of high standards of education, training, and professional conduct. We achieve this by providing leadership to registered nurses and midwives to support them to deliver safe care through innovative and proactive professional regulation.  

Our functions in safeguarding the public involve establishing and maintaining the Register of Nurses and Midwives. We also establish procedures and criteria for the assessment and registration of nurses and midwives. Visit the Registration section of our website to learn more.

Additionally, we set the standards and requirements for nursing and midwifery education programmes. We approve education programmes and further education programmes for the purposesfor nurses and midwives. Visit the Education section of our website to learn more.  

We also set standards of practice and provide support for registered nurses and midwives. This includes developing, publishing and reviewing:

  • the code of professional conduct and ethics
  • guidance on all aspects of professional conduct, and
  • guidance on maintaining professional competence.

Learn more about this on the Standards and Guidance section of our website. 

Through our fitness to practise functions, we investigate and consider complaints against registered nurses and midwives. Learn more about the complaints process here.

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