Indian Nursing Council (Continuing Nursing Education) Regulations, 2019

Indian Nursing Council (Continuing Nursing Education) Regulations, 2019[1]

[6th November, 2020]

In exercise of the powers conferred by Sub-section (1) of Section 16 of the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 (XLVIII of 1947), as amended from time to time, the Indian Nursing Council hereby makes the following regulations, namely:—

Regulation - 1. Short Title and Commencement

(i)           These regulations may be called the Indian Nursing Council (Continuing Nursing Education) Regulations, 2019.

(ii)         These regulations shall come into force on the date of notification of the same.

Regulation - 2. Definitions

In these regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,

(i)           ‘the Act’ means the Indian Nursing Council Act, 1947 (XLVIII of 1947) as amended from time to time.

(ii)         ‘the Council’ means the Indian Nursing Council constituted under the Act.

(iii)       ‘SNRC’ means the State Nurse and Midwives Registration Council, by whichever name constituted, by the respective State Governments.

(iv)       ‘RN & RM’ means a Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife (RN & RM) and denotes a nurse who has completed successfully, recognised Bachelor of Nursing (B.Sc. Nursing) or Diploma in General Nursing and Midwifery (GNM) course as prescribed by the Council and is registered in a SNRC as Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife.

(v)        ‘RANM’ means a Registered Auxiliary Nurse Midwife and denotes an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife who has completed successfully, recognised Auxiliary Nurse Midwifery (ANM) course as prescribed by the Council and is registered in a SNRC as Registered Auxiliary Nurse Midwife.

(vi)       ‘RLHV’ means a Registered Lady Health Visitor and denotes a Lady Health Visitor who has completed successfully, recognised Lady Health Visitor (LHV) course as prescribed by the Council and is registered in a SNRC as Registered Lady Health Visitor.

(vii)     Nurses Registration & Tracking System (NRTS) means a system developed by Indian Nursing Council and software developed in association with National Informatics Centre (NIC), Government of India, and hosted by NIC for the purpose of maintenance and operation of the Indian Nurses Register. It has standardised forms for collection of the data of Registered Nurse and Registered Midwife (RN&RM)/Registered Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (RANM)/Registered Lady Health Visitor (RLHV) upon Aadhar based biometric authentication.

(viii)   ‘CNE’ means Continuing Nursing Education to be compulsorily undergone by the RN & RM/RANM/RLHV for renewal of registration after every 5 (five) years.

(ix)       ‘NUID’ is the Nurses Unique Identification Number given to the registrants in the NRTS system.

(x)        ‘INI’ means Institute of National Importance.

(xi)       ‘INE’ means Institute of Nursing Excellence.

Indian Nursing Council (Continuing Nursing Education) Regulations, 2019

(1)     Preamble

Nurses form two thirds of the health workforce in India and they play a significant role in the healthcare system. Nursing is a scientific discipline and is influenced by the scientific and technological advances in healthcare. The changing disease patterns and demographics, increasing national healthcare priorities, its demands and expenditure, growing information explosion, and rampant growth of nursing educational institutions are major changes that create healthcare challenges today. In this healthcare scenario, to enhance the delivery of high quality, cost effective and safe care, professional nurses are mandated to update their knowledge and competence through (CNE). This is possible only by having a standard uniform system of CNE implementation guidelines across the country.

Recognizing this need, Council in the code of ethics for nurses in India, has emphasized the significance of CNE in promoting professional and personal development of nurses. Reiterating its importance, Council has formulated guidelines for implementation of CNE across the country during the year 2005. This did not come into effect at that time but some SNRCs implemented CNE guidelines. With the forthcoming introduction of NUID for every nurse in India by Council, the guidelines should be uniformly implemented in all states. These guidelines will provide direction and encouragement to professional nurses to value, respect, create and utilize CNE opportunities, thus enhance their personal and professional development alongside professional competencies.

(2)     CNE Requirement

All RN & RM personnel must participate in a professional CNE program and earn 30 CNE credits or 150 CNE hours for every 5 years (minimum of 30 hours per year and a maximum of 60 hours per year). All CNE programs shall be approved by Council. This is a mandatory requirement for renewal of registration and license of nurses and midwives every five years.

All RANM/RLHV (promotional training of ANM's), Public Health Nurses and Nurses who are holding the positions of MLHP/Community Health Officers must participate in government mandated training programs and earn 30 CNE credits or 150 CNE hours for every 5 years (minimum of 30 hours per year and a maximum of 60 hours per year). This is a mandatory requirement for renewal of registration and license of RANM/RLHV every five years.

(3)     Organizations/Institutions/Agencies competent or authorized to conduct CNE programs

Following is the list of organizations/institutions which are authorized to conduct CNEs.

(i)           Registered professional associations/Society-State/National (e.g. Trained Nurses Association of India, Psychiatric Nurses' Association, Critical Care Nurses' Association etc.).

(ii)         Central/State Government nursing educational institutions (colleges/schools).

(iii)       Autonomous institutions/INIs & INEs.

(iv)       Nursing educational institutions found suitable by the Council.

(v)        Central/State government hospitals/training centers under Ministry of Health & Family Welfare/Armed Forces Medical Services hospitals.

(vi)       Multispecialty hospitals that run medical college or DNB program.

(vii)     Government (State/Central)/UGC recognized university included in Schedule 2 of the Act.

(viii)   All nursing examination boards included in Schedule 1 of the Act.

(ix)       Any other private/corporate hospital/organization/association/agency associated with healthcare not mentioned in the above list, will seek prior approval from the Council.

(4)     Academic activities to be accredited for CNE

(i)           Participation at conference/workshop/seminar/symposium etc.

(ii)         Participation at clinical skill update workshops (Individual hands on experience e.g. BCLS/ACLS).

(iii)       Speaker/oral or poster presenter at conference, workshop, seminar, symposium etc.

(iv)       Participation at CNE/scientific session as part of official meetings of professional association/organization.

(v)        Chairperson/Moderator of a scientific session/plenary session at a State/National/International conference/workshop/seminar/symposium.

(vi)       Organizing Secretary/Chairperson of State/National/International conference/workshop/seminar/symposium/scientific committee.

(vii)     Publication in indexed State/National/International journal as author or co-author (Original article, case report, book review).

(viii)   Authorship of a text book (author/co-author).

(ix)       Authorship in a chapter of a book.

(x)        Authorship in revising a book written by professional organizations/associations (author/co-author).

(xi)       Chief-editor of an indexed journal (excluding ex-officio).

(xii)     Executive/Contributory editor of an indexed journal.

(xiii)   Taking Videoconferencing lectures (scientific and research related e.g. Ph.D. consortium)/Teleconferencing lectures.

(xiv)   Online CNE modules/courses (Developing and undergoing).

(xv)     Pursuing higher studies — Ph.D./Postgraduate/Post Basic B.Sc./Post Basic Diploma/NP Programs recognized by Council (One year and above).

(xvi)   Short term training courses (3-6 months)

(5)     (I) Guidelines for awarding credits and hours (Are awarded on the basis of the quality of scientific content and speaker/resource people)

(i)           Academic activity:

One credit = 5 hours

30 credits = 150 hours/5 years

(ii)         Higher studies:

30 credits = 150 hours

(iii)       Academic activity (Short term courses):

30 credits is the requirement (Hours/credit may be different for each course)

5 (II)

Note: CNE programs organized by M.Sc. (Nursing) students as an educational requirement shall not be considered for CNE credit hours.

(6)     Other guidelines for CNE accreditation

• All Online CNE courses shall be approved by the Council.

• SNRCs will allot the credits as per Council guidelines and monitor the implementation of CNE.

• Certificate of attendance/participation with the grant of credits is provided by the CNE organizers.

• CNE providers not listed under authorized CNE providers will have to inform the Council and provide the details of the CNE to get approval and awarding of credits.

• Certificate of attendance can be forwarded to the SNRC via online.

• Credit hours will have to be mentioned in the certificate.

• The individual nurse shall upload the CNE details (supporting documents) in the NRTS. Upon verification by SNRC as per Council guidelines renewal of licence can be issued.

(7)     PASS BOOK