![\"Female](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-1324932015.jpg\")
\n\t\tAnyone can call themselves a nurse, no matter their qualifications (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tAnyone can call themselves a nurse, no matter their qualifications (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
What does the term \u2018nurse\u2019 mean to you? <\/p>\n
For most, it appears to be a description of someone who has undergone training, qualifications, and hard work<\/a> to earn the title.\u00a0<\/p>\n But you\u00a0may be shocked to learn that still, right now in the UK, the term \u2018Registered Nurse\u2019 is protected, but the\u00a0more commonly used word,\u00a0\u2018nurse\u2019 is not.\u00a0<\/p>\n It means, practically speaking, that anyone can call themselves a nurse<\/a>, no matter their qualifications. This is a dangerous loophole that must be closed.\u00a0<\/p>\n In 2025, I find that unfathomable,\u00a0especially when other common words like \u2018doctor\u2019, \u2018paramedic\u2019 and \u2018midwife\u2019 are offered legal security.\u00a0<\/p>\n It isn\u2019t just a matter of professional pride \u2014 it\u2019s about patient safety, public trust, and respect.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why I won\u2019t stop fighting until we make this change.\u00a0<\/p>\n The \u2018#ProtectNurse\u2019 campaign,\u00a0<\/strong>led by Professor Alison Leary MBE, Paul Trevatt and many others,\u00a0has gained widespread backing across the healthcare community, and I\u2019ve been so proud to lead this fight within the House of Commons.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t I got involved back in 2021 because I was so appalled to hear that people without any formal nursing qualifications \u2013 or those who have been struck off the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) register, sometimes for serious misconduct \u2013 can still legally call themselves a nurse.\u00a0<\/p>\n There have been some very concerning examples in the past.<\/p>\n Cassandra Grant<\/a>, a \u2018dangerous fantasist\u2019 who posed as a nurse at the Blenheim Palace Horse Trials, was jailed for four years after\u00a0pretending to be a medical professional\u00a0and being involved in injecting an injured rider at the event,\u00a0and while another person was having a heart attack.\u00a0<\/p>\n If only those on the NMC register can call themselves a nurse, such people won\u2019t gain access to patients so easily and such incidents won\u2019t be allowed to happen.<\/p>\n Then there was Kate Shemirani<\/a>, a nurse who claimed 5G caused Covid symptoms and spread vaccine misinformation. She was struck off, but she was still able to legally call herself a nurse.\u00a0<\/p>\n An investigation by Nursing Standard revealed\u00a0that thousands of those\u00a0working in the NHS use the word \u2018nurse\u2019 in their job title despite not being registered.\u00a0There\u2019s also\u00a093% of NHS trusts with staff using the title who do not have the required qualifications.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is not just misleading \u2013\u00a0in my view\u00a0it\u2019s potentially dangerous.\u00a0<\/p>\n When someone says they\u2019re a nurse, the public rightly assumes they\u2019ve been trained to the highest standards and are regulated.\u00a0<\/p>\n Right now, that assumption could have serious consequences,\u00a0and patients deserve clarity.\u00a0<\/p>\n That is why, this year, I\u2019ve reintroduced my Bill to protect the title \u2018nurse\u2019 in law.\u00a0<\/p>\n It would simply mean that only those registered with the Nursing and Midwifery Council<\/a> could\u00a0use that title,\u00a0bringing us in line with protections in other countries.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t I have been clear that my Bill wouldn\u2019t affect other roles like \u2018dental nurse\u2019 or \u2018veterinary nurse\u2019 \u2013 their titles are already clearly defined and regulated under separate laws, so my Bill offers a clear provision to exempt them from this change.\u00a0<\/p>\n Professional nursing associations, nursing unions<\/a>, patient safety organisations, charities that support patients and patient representative organisations have all voiced their support for this protection. Importantly, the Royal College of Nursing is also in favour..\u00a0<\/p>\n The public seems to agree \u2013 I\u00a0have to say I\u2019ve been overwhelmed by the huge support I\u2019ve received.\u00a0<\/p>\n The truth is this change is long overdue. I first tried to bring this forward four years ago, through an amendment to the Health and Care Bill. That amendment had broad support from over 240 MPs \u2013 but the then Tory Government blocked it.<\/p>\n But I haven\u2019t given up.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t Now, I believe we have an amazing opportunity under a Labour Government \u2013 which I know truly cares about the safety of patients.<\/p>\n And we have\u00a0ready-made legislation to fix\u00a0this issue\u00a0\u2013\u00a0 my Nurses (Use of Title) Bill has been published and presented to Parliament, and is awaiting Second Reading on June 20.\u00a0<\/p>\n But we don\u2019t have to wait \u2013 the Government, if it so chooses, can accept my Bill now and bring it into law.\u00a0<\/p>\n My message to\u00a0ministers is: Details will of course need to be worked out, but it should accept it in principle and work with me to bring about the change in legislation\u00a0that patients and professionals need.\u00a0<\/p>\n This is not a party-political issue. It\u2019s a matter of common sense and compassion. We need to close the loophole, ensure public trust, and show the nursing profession the respect it deserves.\u00a0<\/p>\n So, I\u2019m calling on my colleagues in Parliament \u2014 on all sides \u2014 to back my Bill. Let\u2019s finally protect the title \u2018nurse\u2019 and make sure that it means exactly what the public thinks it means: Someone trained, qualified, regulated and\u00a0truly\u00a0accountable.\u00a0<\/p>\n Now is the time. For patient safety. For professional integrity. And for every nurse who has earned the right to be called one.\u00a0<\/p>\n Do you have a story you\u2019d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Share your views in the comments below.<\/strong><\/p>\n Arrow Arrow![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-2100513673.jpg\")
\n\t\tI won\u2019t stop fighting until we make this change (Picture: Eamonn M. McCormack\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Checking](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-622263920.jpg\")
\n\t\tI\u00a0have to say I\u2019ve been overwhelmed by the huge support I\u2019ve received (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n![\"Doctor](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/GettyImages-1130586553.jpg\")
\n\t\tWe need to close the loophole, ensure public trust, and show the nursing profession the respect it deserves (Picture: Getty Images)<\/p>\n
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