NNCAUK
8 May 2023
Response to NMC statement regarding computer based test (CBT)
Response to NMC statement regarding computer based test (CBT) The Nursing Midwifery Council (NMC) in the United Kingdom (UK) have released a statement today regarding the Computer Based Testing which is part of the International Educated Nurse overseas registration process for practice in the United Kingdom.
The concerns are as follows;
Pearson VUE, an organisation that manage the CBT centres on behalf of the NMC alerted the NMC to discrepancies in the CBT process in Ibadan, Oyo state, Nigeria for 512 individuals. There are 20 centres based in Nigeria and 700 worldwide.
The NMC have confirmed the centre has been closed down and there are no other concerns related to the remaining CBT centres. We are extremely concerned about this information and how this may affect practising registrants. We welcome the steps initially taken by the NMC as part of their governance and investigatory process. We urge the individuals that have been contacted and written to by the NMC to respond and fully cooperate. We are unaware of any other concerns and would like to stress that the majority of registrants trained in Nigeria practice with integrity in line with the NMC code of Professional standards of practice and behaviour for nurses, midwives and nursing associates here in the UK.
Next steps:
We are in communication with the NMC, Chief Nursing and Chief Midwifery Officer for NHS England and will liaise as necessary with other health care sectors as required.
We will set up additional support services and engage with our members and individuals.
We have set some provisional dates for engagement sessions especially for vulnerable and worried registrants/individuals.
We will work closely with the identified unions.
In addition, the association has contacted and spoken with the registrar of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the Nigerian ambassador in the UK to discuss the concerns and the NMC investigation.