Must NMC revalidation feedback be formal and written?

An ordinary conversation can offer useful learning. A formal letter is not the only starting point.

Introduction

Does NMC revalidation feedback only count when someone writes it down for you? If you have been saving emails while dismissing helpful conversations, you may be making the task harder than it needs to be.

A colleague might explain what worked well in a teaching session. A manager might suggest a clearer way to organise a team update. These exchanges can feel too ordinary to belong in a professional portfolio.

This article focuses on the NMC requirements for nurses, midwives and nursing associates. Other healthcare colleagues can use the learning ideas, but should check the requirements that apply to their own role.

Myth vs reality

Myth: Feedback only counts for revalidation if it arrives as a formal written statement.

Reality: The NMC accepts practice-related feedback in spoken or written form, including informal exchanges. A letter is one possible source, rather than the definition of valid feedback.

What counts as NMC revalidation feedback?

The NMC practice-related feedback guidance requires five pieces during the three years since you joined the register or last renewed your registration. It allows sources such as colleagues, managers, people using services, appraisals and team performance reports.

The practical question is whether the feedback relates to your work. A beautifully formatted message can still tell you little. A brief conversation can give you a specific point to consider.

Think about what the person actually noticed. Did your explanation help them understand a process? Was an update difficult to follow? What does that observation tell you about how you work? These are prompts for thinking, rather than an official checklist for deciding whether an individual item meets the requirement.

Why the paperwork myth sticks

Healthcare work involves plenty of forms, signatures and certificates. It is understandable to assume that professional learning needs the same visible stamp of approval.

Written material is also easier to find later. An email stays in a folder; an encouraging conversation can disappear into the rest of the shift. That difference is about how we remember feedback, rather than whether the exchange was useful.

Waiting for a formal appraisal can mean overlooking learning that is already happening. A practical habit is to pause after a useful exchange and consider what you want to remember.

Turn a conversation into a useful note

The NMC recommends noting the feedback and how you used it to improve your practice. Its feedback log template is recommended, and the guidance warns against recording information that could identify another person.

Here is an invented workplace example: after a teaching session, a colleague says your explanation was clear, but a pause for questions would have helped. Your note could summarise the comment and describe your plan to build in those pauses next time.

Keep the distinction between a plan and a result. If you have not tried the change yet, say so. If you later find that it helps, add what you observed. Avoid making the note sound more complete than the learning actually is.

Use a faithful summary rather than presenting words from memory as an exact quotation. Keep the focus on the learning point, without names or a detailed account that could reveal who was involved.

Feedback and reflective accounts are different requirements

This is where the word written can cause confusion. The NMC separately requires five written reflective accounts during the registration period. These must use its reflective accounts form.

According to the NMC guidance on written reflective accounts, an account can draw on CPD, practice-related feedback, an event or experience, or a combination. It should connect the learning to your practice and the Code.

You do not therefore need to turn each piece of feedback into a matching reflective account. Nor does collecting five feedback items complete all the other revalidation requirements. Keep the two tasks distinct when you organise your portfolio.

What you can say at work

A useful way to invite specific feedback is: ‘Was there anything about that session that helped, or anything I could make clearer next time?’

That gives the other person room to offer their own view. Try to hear the point before explaining what you intended. If the comment is unclear, ask for clarification without putting words in their mouth.

You do not need to turn every conversation into a portfolio exercise. The aim is to notice feedback that helps you understand your practice and decide what deserves further thought.

Key takeaways

• Practice-related feedback does not have to begin as a formal written document.
• A short, accurate note can help you retain the learning from a conversation.
• Keep identifying information out of your feedback notes.
• Written reflective accounts are a separate NMC requirement.

Conclusion

NMC revalidation feedback can start with an ordinary conversation. Look for the useful observation, record it honestly and consider what it means for your work. A formal letter can be helpful, but everyday professional exchanges deserve attention too.

Community question

What helps you remember useful feedback after a busy working day? Share your approach without naming colleagues, workplaces or people receiving care.