Asked how she’d sum up the new revalidation process for nurses and midwives, Karen Thompson says, in all sincerity: “It was a joy!”

“I really got into it and found it very enjoyable,” smiles Karen, team leader/integrated community support manager in the Biggar Aligned Team.

Revalidation, which began in April, is a requirement from the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) to promote good practice. Every three years, nurses and midwives will have to revalidate by showing they meet the requirements.

These include evidence of 35 hours of continuing professional development over three years, five pieces of practice feedback and five written “reflective accounts” to have a reflective discussion with another registered nurse or midwife, and a confirmation discussion to ensure you have met the requirements.

Karen, who revalidated in May, said: “At first I was anxious. I wondered if it would be a heavy, academic piece of work. But it’s not and it gave me a great opportunity to reflect on how I carry out my role and how that ties in to the NMC’s code.”

For her feedback, Karen included thank-you messages from patients and positive comments about her from a GP, a practice manager and social work colleagues.

She adds: “I enjoyed the reflective accounts. One was about how I tackled a particularly busy night shift. Another was about how I reacted when a difficult situation was raised at a local carers group.

“I did my reflective discussion and my confirmation with my service manager, who also has a nursing background.”

Karen advises colleagues to start early on their preparation for revalidation.

She says: “I’m already working on my next revalidation – three years away – by reflecting on issues that happen each day and adding to my e-portfolio, using the templates on the NES website.”