In out, in out, shake it all about....

You learn something new every day. For example, I recently learnt that not all autistic people avoid eye contact, and that a super trouper is the main spotlight on a stage (that ABBA song makes sense now!). Could I use either of these as reflection points for revalidation? Probably not - I don't work clinically any more, so am unlikely to nurse any autistic patients, and I am not sure that knowing about super troupers will be of much help unless I go on the X Factor.

The new model of revalidation, approved by the NMC Council in October this year,  was tested in 19 pilot sites. Yes, a whole 19! About 2,000 nurses were involved, a small number of practitioners who were given support and information, and not necessarily representative of the 500,00 or so other registrants.

Most of us are still pretty much in the dark about what is required, despite the publication of their handy 56 (yes, 56) page document on how to revalidate*, and I suspect most of our 35 hours of CPD will be spent trying to fathom it out.

Aside from the complexity, questions are being asked about the cost. We will have to complete at least 450 hours of practice, compile five pieces of practice related feedback and prepare five written reflective accounts relating to the code of conduct. Then we have to have a reflective discussion with another registrant, and finally, get all the requirements confirmed and signed-off by a thrid party, prefereably our line manager (even if they are not an NMC regsitrant). Oh, and we'll need a health and character declaration and evidence of indemnity insurance.

Who pays? Will the person providing the reflective discussion have training? What about time - will they (and the nurse revalidating) do this in work time or in their own time? The DH had concerns about this, and were considering delaying implementation for 2 years (http://www.hsj.co.uk/5091485.article). However, they have now agreed that it can go ahead, and that trusts should find ways of suporting registrants through the process.

I have to admit, I think this is going to be too unweildy for most of us. I absolutely agree that nurses need to keep themselves up to date in an appropriate manner. In a previous l ran a course teaching female nurses to catheterise male patients. A nurse from opthalmology outpatients asked if she could attend. I asked how many catheterisations she had done in the previous week/month/year, and the answer was none (to all three). So I asked why she wanted to do the course. For my PREP came the reply. Clearly the PREP/reflective message  hadn't quite filtered through to her adequately.

And I think it will be pretty much the same with revalidation. Nurses will spend money on folders, templates, and guidance from 'independent' companies and will spend much of  their precious off duty attending courses that their organisation won't fund or give them time off for, and then trying to force it all into something the NMC may or may not read.

I hope I am wrong.

*http://www.nmc.org.uk/globalassets/sitedocuments/revalidation/how-to-revalidate-booklet.pdf),