The number of nurses, midwives and nursing associates on the NMC register has grown by 13,144 (nearly 2%) to 771,445.
The latest reported growth (observed April to September 2022) was largely driven by the number of internationally educated joiners (an increase of nearly 5%), the NMC said.
The number of UK-educated professionals had dropped by around 1000 compared to the same period in 2021.
Of the UK joiners, 23.6% were from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds, compared with 18.9% in the six months to September 2018.
Yet prior research by the NMC (reported in the September/October issue of Community Practitioner) found that professionals’ diversity characteristics were playing a part in referrals to the NMC, with an ‘insider/outsider’ culture leaving people feeling unsupported.
NMC chief executive and registrar Andrea Sutcliffe said: ‘At a time of great pressure across health and social care in the UK, we welcome the growth of our register.’
She added: ‘It’s vital for the increasingly diverse professionals joining the nursing and midwifery workforce to be welcomed into an inclusive culture that supports them to thrive’.
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