Continuing professional development (CPD) has always been important in nursing.
It helps nurses and midwives keep up-to-date with their training so they can deliver the best care to patients. It also lets their colleagues and managers know how they're doing and if they need any support to maintain safe and effective practice.
While CPD has always been an important part of nursing, it plays an even bigger role now revalidation is in place. In October 2015, the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) launched revalidation to replace the old PREP (post-registration education and practice) system. The basic principles are the same – both systems require all nurses to complete 35 hours of CPD – but under revalidation, 20 of these hours need to be participatory learning.
