CPD Reflection for NMC Revalidation
Completing professional learning is valuable, but reflection helps you consider what that learning means for your nursing practice. Use this guide to move from simply recording CPD to thinking about its relevance, impact and potential application.
Reflection turns learning into professional thinking
A CPD record tells you what learning you completed. Reflection asks deeper questions: What did I learn? Why does it matter? How does it connect with my professional responsibilities? What could I do differently as a result?
CPD is more than collecting hours
Revalidation should encourage continuing professional development rather than becoming an exercise in accumulating certificates. Reflection can help you consider how learning relates to the care you provide and your ongoing development.
Clarify what you learned
Identify the knowledge, understanding or professional insight you gained from the learning activity.
Connect learning to practice
Consider why the learning is relevant to your role, patients, colleagues or professional responsibilities.
Identify potential change
Ask whether the learning reinforces current good practice or suggests something you could approach differently.
Support future development
Reflection may identify further questions, knowledge gaps or professional development priorities.
Four questions for reflecting on CPD
Reflection does not need to begin with a complicated model. These four questions can help structure your thinking after a professional learning activity.
Questions to help you think more deeply
You do not need to answer every question. Choose prompts that genuinely help you explore the learning you completed.
From CPD activity to reflection
The example below illustrates how a nurse might think about professional learning. It is not a template to copy; your reflection should be based on your own learning and practice.
Consider which part of the NMC Code relates to your learning
Connecting professional learning with the Code can help place CPD within the wider context of your professional responsibilities.
Prioritise people
Consider learning connected with person-centred care, dignity, communication and responding to people's needs.
Practise effectively
Consider learning relating to evidence-informed practice, communication, teamwork and professional knowledge.
Preserve safety
Learning concerning risk, medicines, deterioration, safeguarding or escalation may connect particularly strongly with safety.
Promote professionalism and trust
Consider learning related to leadership, professional behaviour, integrity and maintaining confidence in the profession.
CPD reflection and your five written reflective accounts are not the same thing
Reflecting routinely on CPD is useful professional practice, but it is important not to confuse an informal reflection on every CPD activity with the specific written reflective account requirement for NMC revalidation.
Reflecting on CPD
You may choose to reflect on professional learning to help understand its relevance, impact and possible application to your practice.
Written reflective accounts
NMC revalidation separately requires five written reflective accounts relating to CPD, practice-related feedback, or an event or experience in your professional practice, and how these relate to the Code.
Use a simple CPD learning cycle
Need help organising your CPD?
NurseNet's CPD recording guide explains how to record activities, participatory hours, evidence and links to the Code.
How to Record CPD for NMC Revalidation →CPD reflection FAQs
Do I have to write a reflection for every CPD activity?
The NMC CPD record requirements focus on recording your learning activity and the required information. The separate revalidation requirements include five written reflective accounts. Always follow current NMC guidance when preparing your evidence.
What should I reflect on after CPD?
Useful questions include what you learned, why it is relevant to your practice, what it made you think about and whether it identifies any further learning or change.
Should reflection link to the NMC Code?
The Code provides an important professional context for your learning. Your CPD record should identify the part of the Code relevant to the activity, while the formal written reflective accounts also require consideration of how the experience relates to the Code.
Can CPD be used for a written reflective account?
The NMC states that written reflective accounts may relate to CPD, practice-related feedback, or an event or experience in your professional practice. Follow the NMC's current reflective account guidance and required form.
Move from completing CPD to learning from it
Record your professional development, consider what you learned and use reflection to connect new knowledge with your nursing practice and future development.
