Nursing and Midwifery Profession Complaints Committee (NMPCC)
Is a Statutory Committee as set out in the Nursing and Midwifery Act 1997
Terms of Reference:
This Panel is made up of two (2) nurses who are not members of Nursing and Midwifery Council, recommended to the Minister of Health by the Nursing and midwifery Council, and Bermuda Nurses Association and (one) 1 Lawyer appointed by the Minister of Health.
Purpose:
- To receive and investigate, or cause to be investigated, complaints against any registered person including any allegation that-
- The person’s registration was improperly obtained,
- The person is guilty of professional misconduct,
- The person is unfit to practice by reason of conviction of an indictable offense or adverse physical or mental health, or
- The person is otherwise unfit to practice or to be registered.
- May investigate any complaints based on matters alleged to have occurred- Inside or outside Bermuda or at any time, whether or not at a time when the person was a registered person.
- Receive complaints made on behalf of a child or anyone who is physically or mentally unable to make the complaint.
- If the conduct complained of relates to a person who is dead, then the committee will receive complaints by the person’s executor or personal representative.
- To perform such other functions as may be prescribed.
- All complaints shall be in writing, and addressed to the Committee giving as much details and including contact information for all mentioned including complainant. The Committee may require that the complaint be in a form approved by the Committee.
- If the complaint is not proved, Committee shall dismiss the complaint and notify Council, and complainant.
- If the Committee decides that a complaint is proved, it shall record its findings and give reasons to council, for council’s further action.
Committees within Nursing and Midwifery Council
Council may appoint from among its own members or from among other persons, such numbers of persons as it sees fit for purposes, which in the opinion of council, would be more expediently carried out and managed by such committee. The chairman of such a committee shall be a member of the council. When handling matters relating to the practice of midwifery or Advanced Practice Nurse the respective council member must be in attendance. Meetings are conducted as often as necessary. Minutes of meetings shall be recorded. Recommendations of meetings will be forwarded to Council. Currently there are two such committees (a) Practice Regulation and Education and (b) Credentials.
Practice Regulation and Education (PRE)
Terms of Reference:
- To make recommendations to Nursing and Midwifery Council on matters relating to nursing practice, regulation and education
- To participates in legislative matters relating to nursing /midwifery
- To recommend minimum standards to be met by persons seeking registration as nurse /midwife or nursing associate
- To recommend number of specific continuing education hours required for nurse and nursing associate renewal of registration
- To set standards and scope of practice for nurse / midwife and nursing associate
- To participate in curriculum review for nursing education at Bermuda College
- To recommend to BNMC the approval/disapproval of local nursing education program
- To monitor pass rates of nursing students at Bermuda College
- To monitor length of time between nursing student’s graduation and writing NCLEX
- To support efforts to enhance and improve preparation of Nursing and Midwifery Graduates
- To review application for BNMC’s nursing student financial award and approves or deny is same
- To make recommendations governing the function and procedures of Council
- To receive and acts on requests from BNMC on matters that need to be addressed
- To monitor studies and trends in the profession and make recommendations for amendments to the Nursing and Midwifery Act 2010 and Rules when indicated.
Credentials
Terms of Reference:
- To ensure that the provisions of the Nursing and Midwifery Act 1997, as amended and Nursing and Midwifery Rules 2010 relating to conditions for registration and renewal of registration of Nurse, Midwife and Nursing Associate are properly interpreted in the interest of maintaining qualifications and standards.
- To review application for registration of nurses and midwives and approve or deny licensure.
- To recommend policies concerning the registration of nurse, midwives and nursing associate.
- Review and approve or deny initial application for registration and or re-registration of Nursing Associate withheld by Registrar
- To rule on applications referred by registrar.
- To review and adjudicate appeals relating to registration and or renewal of registration.
- To recommend policy and process regarding awarding of CEUs. Set criteria for CEU provider application process.
- To make recommendations governing the function and procedures of Council
- To receive and review application from provider for awarding continuing education (CE) contact hours and ensure that provider meets qualifying requirements.
*Nursing Council has delegated 2 duties to the Registrar namely:
- Approve application and re-registration of Nursing Associate. Where an application is questionable it must be deferred to the Credentials committee.
- Approve re-registration of Nurse and or midwife. Where an application is questionable it must be deferred to the Credentials committee.