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NurseNet NMC Revalidation

Written Reflective Accounts for NMC Revalidation

NMC revalidation requires five written reflective accounts. This guide explains what those accounts can be based on, how they connect with the Code and how to move from simply describing an experience to meaningful professional reflection.

Free revalidation resources Explore reflection guidance
5 written reflective accounts
The requirement

Five reflections during each three-year registration period

The NMC requires five written reflective accounts explaining what you learned from CPD, practice-related feedback, or an event or experience in your professional practice, and how this relates to the Code.

Choosing your reflections

What can a written reflective account be about?

Your five accounts do not all have to come from the same type of experience. The NMC requirement allows reflection on several areas of professional learning and practice.

1

Continuing professional development

Reflect on learning from a CPD activity and consider how it relates to your practice and professional standards.

2

Practice-related feedback

Use meaningful feedback to explore what you learned about your professional practice and development.

3

An event or experience

Reflect on an event or experience in your professional practice that generated meaningful learning.

Protect confidentiality: reflective accounts should not contain information that could identify an individual, whether that is a patient, service user, colleague or another person. Follow the current NMC guidance when preparing your accounts.
Moving beyond description

Reflection asks what you learned and why it matters

Simply describing what happened does not capture the full value of reflection. Try to identify the learning that arose from the experience and what that learning means for your professional practice.

Description

β€œI attended a training session about recognising patient deterioration.”

Reflection

β€œThe learning made me consider how I recognise subtle changes in a patient's condition and reinforced the importance of structured assessment and timely escalation.”

Experience β†’ Learning β†’ Meaning β†’ Practice

The important question is not simply β€œWhat happened?” but β€œWhat did I learn from this and what does that mean for my professional practice?”

Reflection prompts

Questions that can help structure your thinking

Your reflective account should be personal to your own professional learning. These prompts can help you explore the experience rather than provide wording to copy.

What happened or what learning did I complete? Give enough context to explain the subject of the reflection without including unnecessary identifying information.
What did I learn? Identify the knowledge, insight or professional learning that arose.
What did this make me think differently about? Consider whether the experience reinforced, challenged or developed your previous understanding.
How is this relevant to my practice? Connect the learning with your professional role and scope of practice.
How does this relate to the NMC Code? Identify the professional standards that are relevant to the learning.
What could I do as a result? Consider whether you will reinforce existing practice, make a change or undertake further learning.
The NMC Code

Connect your reflection with professional standards

Your written reflective accounts should explain how the learning relates to the Code. Consider which part of the Code is genuinely relevant rather than adding a connection simply to complete the form.

Prioritise people Consider learning connected with dignity, person-centred care, communication and responding to people's needs.
Practise effectively Consider evidence-informed practice, communication, teamwork, professional knowledge and effective record keeping.
Preserve safety Consider learning relating to risk, deterioration, medicines, safeguarding, competence and escalation.
Promote professionalism and trust Consider professional behaviour, leadership, integrity, honesty and maintaining confidence in the profession.
Worked example

From practice-related feedback to reflective thinking

This example demonstrates a thinking process only. Your reflective accounts must be based on your own learning and professional practice.

Illustrative example
Starting point Feedback from a colleague suggests making the recommendation in a clinical handover clearer.
Learning The feedback made me recognise that structured communication involves not only presenting information clearly but also making the required action explicit.
Relevance to practice Clear recommendations can support effective multidisciplinary communication and timely decision-making.
Connection to the Code The learning relates particularly to practising effectively and preserving safety through clear professional communication.
Future development I will pay greater attention to stating the recommendation clearly during structured handovers and seek further feedback on my communication.
A practical process

Build your reflective accounts throughout the three years

Step 1 Notice Identify CPD, feedback or professional experiences that generated meaningful learning.
Step 2 Reflect Consider what you learned and why it matters to your practice.
Step 3 Connect Identify the relevant professional standards within the Code.
Step 4 Record Complete the appropriate reflective account using current NMC guidance.

Use feedback as a source of reflection

Practice-related feedback can provide useful material for professional reflection and one of your written reflective accounts.

Practice-Related Feedback for NMC Revalidation β†’
Reflective discussion

Your five accounts also support your reflective discussion

Written reflective accounts are not the end of the reflection requirement. You must also discuss your five written reflective accounts with another NMC-registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate as part of revalidation.

Written reflection

Your five accounts capture learning from CPD, feedback or professional experiences and connect that learning with the Code.

Reflective discussion

Your accounts then provide the basis for a professional reflective discussion with another NMC registrant.

The NMC has specific requirements for the reflective discussion and its documentation. Always use the current NMC guidance and required form.
Common pitfalls

Keep your reflections meaningful and professional

Only describing events

Move beyond a chronology of what happened and identify the professional learning.

Forcing a Code connection

Choose the part of the Code that genuinely relates to the experience and your learning.

Including identifiable information

Protect confidentiality and avoid information that could identify patients, service users, colleagues or others.

Leaving all five until the end

Recording meaningful learning throughout the registration period can make your eventual revalidation preparation more manageable.

Frequently asked questions

Written reflective account FAQs

How many written reflective accounts do I need?

NMC revalidation requires five written reflective accounts during each three-year registration period.

What can I reflect on?

Your accounts can relate to CPD, practice-related feedback, or an event or experience in your professional practice.

Do my reflections need to relate to the Code?

Yes. The written reflective account requirement includes explaining how the learning relates to the Code.

Can I use practice-related feedback?

Yes. Practice-related feedback is one of the areas on which a written reflective account may be based.

Can I include patient names or identifiable details?

No. Protect confidentiality and follow current NMC guidance when preparing reflective accounts.

Is the reflective discussion a separate requirement?

Yes. Your five written reflective accounts are then discussed with another NMC-registered nurse, midwife or nursing associate as part of the reflective discussion requirement.

NurseNet Revalidation Support

Turn professional experience into meaningful reflection

Use CPD, feedback and experiences from your professional practice to identify what you have learned, connect that learning with the Code and support your continuing professional development.

Access free revalidation resources Explore reflection guidance
NurseNet provides educational support and does not replace official Nursing and Midwifery Council guidance. Revalidation requirements can change. Always check the current NMC revalidation guidance and use the current NMC reflective account documentation when preparing your evidence.