NMC Reflection Guides
Two separate assessment frameworks for registered nurses (revalidation) and student nurses (placement training)
For Registered Nurses
Maintaining your NMC registration every 3 years through revalidation
Your Assessment
- 5 Written Reflective Accounts (over 3 years)
- Official NMC 4-Question Form (not Gibbs)
- Link to The Code (4 pillars)
- Reflective Discussion with another NMC registrant
For Student Nurses
Building your practice portfolio during placement and training
Your Assessment
- Gibbs, Driscoll, or Other Frameworks (your choice)
- Episode of Care Documents (clinical evidence)
- NMC Platform Evidence (across 7 platforms)
- Practice Supervisor Feedback on development
NMC Revalidation: Reflective Account Form
The NMC Provides Everything Free
The NMC publishes completed revalidation forms and templates with real examples from nurses and midwives who have already revalidated successfully.
Download NMC's Free Completed Examples (PDF)Revalidation Requirements
5 Written Reflective Accounts
Over 3 years, using the official form
Must Link to The Code
Select relevant themes from 4 pillars
Cover CPD, Feedback & Events
Mix of all three types recommended
Reflective Discussion
With another NMC registrant (confirmer)
The Official NMC 4-Question Form
Complete this form for each of your 5 reflective accounts:
What was the nature of the CPD activity and/or practice-related feedback and/or event or experience in your practice?
Describe WHAT happened. Include date, setting, and context.
What did you learn from the CPD activity and/or feedback and/or event or experience in your practice?
Explain what new knowledge, skills, or insights you gained.
How did you change or improve your practice as a result?
Describe specific actions you took or will take differently.
How is this relevant to the Code?
Select one or more themes: Prioritise people | Practise effectively | Preserve safety | Promote professionalism and trust
Completed Example: Manual Handling Training (District Nurse)
This example follows the exact NMC form format. Adapted from the NMC's published examples.
NMC Reflective Account Form — Q1-Q4
Q1: What was the nature of the CPD activity and/or practice-related feedback and/or event or experience in your practice?
CPD participatory activity. Attending a Manual Handler Transfer Specialist course. As an experienced community nurse I have had to adapt to various environments to deliver care safely and effectively. Working within the community team we provide care for patients with complex health care needs at home, most presenting with limited ability to mobilise and transfer independently. I participated in the manual handling transfer specialist training course to develop the team's knowledge and skills in patient handling.
Q2: What did you learn?
The statistics highlighting that 24% of NHS staff are injured through poor manual handling practice emphasise the need for raising awareness of the consequences. The cost to the NHS for compensation claims is approximately £150 million a year; money that should go directly to patient care. Staff will complete a structured manual handling passport and will be assessed carrying out practical modules relevant to their workplace.
Q3: How did you change or improve your practice?
We arranged a teaching programme including individual task assessments, control measures, risk assessments, care plans and review dates. We offered to accompany colleagues on home visits to carry out complex assessments, enabling us to initiate safer handling practice immediately. We revised the ordering system for manual handling equipment to ensure the right equipment is provided for individual patients.
Q4: How is this relevant to the Code?
Code themes selected:
This activity is relevant to "Preserve safety" as it directly addresses the prevention of harm to both staff and patients through proper manual handling techniques. It also relates to "Practise effectively" by ensuring evidence-based, up-to-date practice is disseminated across the team.
The Four Code Themes
Every reflective account must link to at least one of these themes from The Code (NMC 2018):
Prioritise people
Treat people as individuals, respect dignity, ensure needs are met
Practise effectively
Evidence-based care, communication, teamwork, delegation
Preserve safety
Work within competence, raise concerns, emergencies, infection control
Promote professionalism and trust
Uphold reputation, act with integrity, cooperate with investigations
Revalidation Resources
Build Your Revalidation Portfolio
Generate professional portfolio documents from your clinical notes. Structure reflections using the NMC's 4-question format, map learning to The Code, and build your revalidation evidence systematically.
Start Building Your Portfolio →Student Nursing: Reflective Practice During Training
Your Reflection Framework
During your placement and training, you CAN use Gibbs Reflective Cycle, Driscoll's model, or other reflective frameworks. The NMC explicitly supports these frameworks in their practice learning case studies. Choose what works best for your learning style and clinical environment.
Your Assessment Requirements
Reflective Accounts
Using Gibbs, Driscoll, or frameworks of your choice
Episode of Care Documents
Clinical evidence mapped to NMC Platforms
NMC Platform Evidence
Across all 7 domains of practice
Practice Supervisor Feedback
On your development and competence
Gibbs Reflective Cycle (For Student Placements)
The NMC case studies explicitly feature Gibbs. Here are the 6 steps:
Description
What happened? When? Where? Who was involved? What did you do?
Feelings
What were you thinking and feeling during and after the event?
Evaluation
What was good about the experience? What was difficult? What would you do differently?
Analysis
Why did things happen this way? What does the evidence or theory tell you about this?
Conclusion
What have you learned? How has your thinking changed?
Action Plan
What will you do next time? How will you apply this learning?
Student Nursing Resources
Quick Tips for Student Reflections
Use Gibbs or other frameworks — the NMC explicitly supports them for student learning
Be specific — include dates, settings, and concrete clinical details
Show learning — explain what you learned and how your thinking changed
Map to NMC Platforms — link your reflections to the 7 domains of practice
Preserve anonymity — never include patient or colleague names
Now you know the difference. Ready to get started?