Nurses affirmation trialled

The Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery at King’s College London hosted the first ever trial of a nurses affirmation statement at its annual Leavers’ event on Friday 29 July 2011.

The affirmation statement is an initiative led by the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), the UKs regulator of nurses and midwives, and aims to foster a sense of community, professionalism and dedication to best practice among nurses and midwives upon qualification.

Students from the School have been involved in the development of the language and promises contained in the affirmation statement and it was trialled at the School’s ‘Leavers’ event’ and spoken by an audience of 350 graduating nurses and academics from the School. The affirmation statement comprised six promises to the people who will be in their care, and to their peers. In a separate ceremony, students also received their Nightingale Badges from the School (pictured above).

Professor Anne Marie Rafferty, Head of the Florence Nightingale School of Nursing & Midwifery at King’s, spoke of the affirmation: `It has been an honour and privilege working with the Nursing & Midwifery Council on the statement of affirmation. I am tremendously proud that our students have composed the statement and been involved in crafting its phraseology.’

Following the trial at the School, and feedback received from our students and academics, it is hoped that the affirmation statement will be adopted by all nursing and midwifery schools across the UK for use at their graduation or leaving ceremonies from next year.