Ready to reignite a fulfilling career in nursing? Your experience and skills are invaluable to us, and we’re here to help you return to nursing with confidence.
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Benefits of returning
Few other roles will give you the same kind of fulfilment as nursing – think how many lives you’ve already changed? But it’s not just emotionally rewarding, there are plenty of practical benefits too, including some you may not have experienced before:
One of the most generous pension schemes in the UK.
Flexible working and opportunities to work part-time, helping to create a balance that suits you. Childcare support may also be available but it varies between NHS trusts.
At least 27 days holiday a year plus public holidays, and a standard working week of 37.5 hours.
Additional support for professional development, helping you to feel confidence in your skills and achieve your career goals.
A greater emphasis on working in multidisciplinary teams, allowing you to work with experts from many different departments.
Sarah Roberts
Return to practice nurse
Getting back to nursing is the thing that I am most proud of. I did it for me and it’s reminded me that this is the best job in the world!
Our team of over 330,000 registered nurses make an incredible difference, every single day, and we can’t wait for you to re-join them.
Still have an active registration?
If you have an active nursing registration but are not currently working in clinical practice, we'd love to help you come back. Just get in touch with us via email and you'll be connected to a local nursing contact who can support your journey to return. And you can access an online training programme on the eLearning for Health platform to help you gain confidence before returning to the workplace.
Don't have an active registration?
It’s not a problem if you’re no longer a registered nurse – returning to practice is really straightforward, and here’s how you can do it:
You might be able to re-register with the NMC without doing a course or a test. You'll need:
450 registered practice hours over the last three years or 750 hours over the last five, including any practice hours gained on the COVID-19 temporary register
35 hours of continuing professional development (CPD) in the last three years
to provide three character references
You can apply directly through the NMC website or if you want to use hours worked through the COVID-19 temporary register, you'll need to email the NMC to request a paper copy of the readmission pack.
You can find lots more information on requirements and the process on the NMC website.
You can apply through the NMC website, where you’ll also find lots of preparation materials and essential reading to help you revise for the test.
Financial support for the test
We’ll cover the cost of you taking a Test of Competence, but you may have to pay upfront and claim it back once you’re registered and working with us. You may also be able to reclaim your travel and accommodation costs for your travel to the test centre.
If you’d like to know more, you can drop us an email and we’ll put you in touch with a member of our team who can answer any questions you may have.
A return to practice course will refresh your skills, leaving you ready to return to nursing with confidence. It involves a combination of classroom and placement-based learning, so you can get stuck in right from the start. You’ll also be assigned a personal mentor to support you through your studies.
The course takes between 3 and 12 months to complete, depending on how long you’ve been out of practice.
You won’t just be emotionally supported by our team, you’ll be financially supported too. If you apply directly to a university, NHS England will pay for your course and placement fees. You’ll also be given £1,000 to help cover any childcare, travel and book costs.
If you apply through an NHS organisation, your course and placement fees will be covered and you’ll either receive a salary or £1,000 to help cover your costs.
Finding a course
Our course finder is an easy way to look for return to nursing programmes. You can also use it to search for return to practice courses in general practice nursing.
There are also opportunities for you to earn while you study. To search for a salaried return to practice course, visit NHS Jobs and search ‘return to practice’.
Returning to nursing won’t just make a difference to other people’s lives, it’ll make a big difference to yours too – and we’re here to make it as easy as possible. No matter which route you choose, we can guide you through the process. If you’d like to discuss your options, simply request a call-back and a member of our team will give you a call.
If you have previously been a registered nurse and wish to return to the profession then you may need to undertake a Return to Practice programme. The programme allows you to update your skills and knowledge so that you can become re-registered and return to work in nursing. The course will take approximately three to six months to complete, although some people may take longer (up to 12 months) depending on clinical placement hours required, the length of time out of practice and length of time previously in practice. Courses are flexible to fit around existing commitments, such as childcare.
Funding
Health Education England (HEE) will provide a one off contribution to nurses Returning to Practice to assist with costs and expenses such as purchasing books, car parking, child care etc. HEE will also pay for the course for returnees as well as contribute to placement costs.
Apply today
Applications for Return to Practice programmes should be made directly to the named person at this university (above). They can tell you more about their course and which local trusts provide the clinical placements. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the East of England on [email protected]
If you have previously been a registered nurse and wish to return to the profession then you may need to undertake a Return to Practice programme. The programme allows you to update your skills and knowledge so that you can become re-registered and return to work in nursing. The course will take approximately three to six months to complete, although some people may take longer (up to 12 months) depending on clinical placement hours required, the length of time out of practice and length of time previously in practice. Courses are flexible to fit around existing commitments, such as childcare.
Funding
Health Education England (HEE) will provide a one off contribution to nurses Returning to Practice to assist with costs and expenses such as purchasing books, car parking, child care etc. HEE will also pay for the course for returnees as well as contribute to placement costs.
Apply today
Applications for Return to Practice programmes should be made directly to the named person at this university (above). They can tell you more about their course and which local trusts provide the clinical placements. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the North East and Yorkshire on [email protected]
If you have previously been a registered nurse and wish to return to the profession then you may need to undertake a Return to Practice programme. The programme allows you to update your skills and knowledge so that you can become re-registered and return to work in nursing. The course will take approximately three to six months to complete, although some people may take longer (up to 12 months) depending on clinical placement hours required, the length of time out of practice and length of time previously in practice. Courses are flexible to fit around existing commitments, such as childcare.
Funding
Health Education England (HEE) will provide a one off contribution to nurses Returning to Practice to assist with costs and expenses such as purchasing books, car parking, child care etc. HEE will also pay for the course for returnees as well as contribute to placement costs.
Apply today
Applications for Return to Practice programmes should be made directly to the named person at this university (above). They can tell you more about their course and which local trusts provide the clinical placements. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the North West on [email protected]
If you have previously been a registered nurse and wish to return to the profession then you may need to undertake a Return to Practice programme. The programme allows you to update your skills and knowledge so that you can become re-registered and return to work in nursing. The course takes six months to complete. Courses are flexible to fit around existing commitments, such as childcare.
Funding
Health Education England (HEE) will provide a one off contribution to nurses Returning to Practice to assist with costs and expenses such as purchasing books, car parking, child care etc. HEE will also pay for the course for returnees as well as contribute to placement costs.
Apply today
Applications for Return to Practice programmes should be made directly to the named person at this university (above). They can tell you more about their course and which local trusts provide the clinical placements. Alternatively, you can contact NHS Health Education England in the North West on [email protected]
If you have previously been a registered nurse and wish to return to the profession then you may need to undertake a Return to Practice programme. The programme allows you to update your skills and knowledge so that you can become re-registered and return to work in nursing. The course will take approximately three to six months to complete, although some people may take longer (up to 12 months) depending on clinical placement hours required, the length of time out of practice and length of time previously in practice. Courses are flexible to fit around existing commitments, such as childcare.
Edge Hill University offers registered nurse return to practice courses at level 6 and level 7.
Funding
Health Education England (HEE) will provide a one off contribution to nurses Returning to Practice to assist with costs and expenses such as purchasing books, car parking, child care etc. HEE will also pay for the course for returnees as well as contribute to placement costs.
Apply today
Applications for Return to Practice programmes should be made directly to the named person at this university (above). They can tell you more about their course and which local trusts provide the clinical placements.
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