If you have previously been a registered nurse or a registered midwife and wish to return to the profession then you may need to undertake a Return to Practice programme. Your skills and experience are invaluable and therefore you will be supported to return to practice.
Why and How I Returned to Practice as a Midwife | Nursing and Midwifery Careers NI
Return to Practice programmes
The Return to Practice programme is a combination of theory and practice-based learning, with study periods and clinical practice.
Part of the programme you choose will be based at a university, with the lecturers working with you to support your learning experience. The remainder of the programme will be spent on a clinical placement, where a practice supervisor and practice assessor will work with you to support and assess the development of your clinical practice.
Return to Practice programme – Nursing
An NMC approved ‘Return to Practice’ (RTP) nursing programme is available locally at Ulster University, for nurses with a lapsed NMC registration who wish to re-enter the NMC register. The Department of Health normally commission places on the RTP programme and fully funds the University fees. Practice placements are facilitated by the five HSC Trusts, which may also include other elements of support.
The RTP programme at Ulster University is designed for nurses from all fields of practice (adult, mental health, learning disabilities and children’s and young people ) whose NMC registration has lapsed, who have practiced for fewer than 750 hours in the previous five years, or 450 hours in the three years before their application for readmission to the register.
The programme focuses on enabling you to regain your confidence in knowledge and practice and to update your clinical skills, knowledge, numeracy, literacy, digital and technological literacy in a safe and effective way, to meet the NMC standards of proficiency for registered nurses.
A variety of approaches will be offered to support your learning and assessment, taking account of your intended area of practice, personal circumstances and prior learning and experience. You are normally expected to undertake between 150 and 400 hours of supernumerary clinical practice to achieve the practice-based requirements for the programme. The exact number of hours will be determined following an assessment process that considers your prior learning and experience and the length of time since you last practised.
To find out more about the RTP programme, visit:
Return to Practice Nursing at Ulster University entry – Part-time Postgraduate Study in Belfast
Alternatively use the NMC’s search for Return to Practice (RTP) programmes across the UK.
Return to Practice programme – Midwifery
Currently Return to Midwifery Practice programmes are not available in Northern Ireland.
Listen to or read stories from nurses and midwives who have returned to practice at:
Why and How I Returned to Practice as a Midwife | Nursing and Midwifery Careers NI
See Also
- Current Vacancies
- Currently on the Nursing and Midwifery Council register but not working as a Nurse or Midwife?
- Moving to work in Northern Ireland
- Nursing and Midwifery Programmes in Northern Ireland
- Registration as a Nurse or Midwife in UK