Nursing and Midwifery Council Register linked to Census 2021 - England and Wales

This dataset brings together the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)’s UK-wide register with the Census 2021 for England and Wales. The dataset enables cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis from the register of nurses, associate nurses, and midwives. This data comprises information provided by nurses, nursing associates, and midwives when they first join the register, and then every three years when they revalidate to maintain their registration.

A further dataset provides indication as to the date at which professionals left the register between 2018 and 2021. These datasets have been linked to the Census 2021 for England and Wales, which enables analysis of demographic, geographic and social dimensions of these professions, and implications for entry and retention.

The de-identified dataset is the result of a collaboration between Edinburgh Napier University and the Scottish Centre for Administrative Data Research, the NMC and the Office for National Statistics (ONS). It is being made available through the Integrated Data Service (IDS) which may enable linkages to other IDS data.

Component datasets and linkage

NMC registration data provides de-identified, mandatory information from initial registration. This includes age, length of time on the register, and whether the individual is registered as a nurse, nursing associate, or midwife (and if they are dual qualified). For those who are nurses, the information includes whether they are registered as adult, mental health, children’s or learning disability nurses. Optional information for all registrants includes country of initial training, place of residence, post registration qualifications, and protected characteristics, such as ethnicity and gender. Additional optional information is sought at revalidation relating to where the registrant has been working (geographically and employment type).

Examples of research questions

The following questions might be considered for nurses, associate nurses or midwives, or for groups within the nursing register such as branch:

• How do retention rates differ by personal characteristics such as length of time practicing or full-time versus part-time working?
• What are the career trajectories of nurses who have trained outside of the UK?
• What are the drivers associated with nurses gaining additional qualifications after registration?

This list is illustrative only and intended to demonstrate the research potential of the dataset. For research priorities, see the areas of research interest or the ADR UK funding opportunity.

Accessing the data

• Accredited researchers with approved projects can access the Nursing and Midwifery Council Register linked to Census 2021 – England and Wales data through the Integrated Data Service.
• Applications are handled through the Integrated Data Service
• Find out more about about researcher accreditation and how to access the data here.

Data can be accessed at the researcher’s host institution with an Assured Organisational Connectivity agreement. You should check with your organisation to ascertain if one of these is already in place. If not then an application can be taken forward. More information can be found here.