NMC Revalidation Reflective Accounts: Examples and Template

A good NMC reflective account is short, specific and honest. It describes one piece of CPD, practice-related feedback or an event in your practice, says what you learnt, explains what you changed, and links the whole thing to the Code. According to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), 2026, you need five of these across each three-year revalidation cycle. This guide gives you a plain template and three illustrative examples to show what "good" looks like.

If you want the wider picture first, our overview of NMC revalidation requirements for nurses and midwives covers the full cycle. This post focuses on the writing.

What the NMC says reflective accounts must include

The NMC's written reflective accounts guidance sets out the rules. These are the points that matter when you sit down to write:

• Five accounts: according to the NMC, 2026, you need five written reflective accounts covering the three years since your registration was last renewed or since you joined the register.
• A trigger: each account must refer to at least one of an instance of your CPD, a piece of practice-related feedback, or an event or experience in your own practice. You can combine these in a single account.
• The Code: each account must explain how it relates to the Code, and you should consider the role the Code plays in your practice and development.
• The approved form: the NMC states that you must record your accounts on its reflective accounts form. You can keep it electronically or on paper.
• Length: the NMC says accounts do not need to be long or academic. You can simply note what you learnt, how it improved your practice and how it relates to the Code.

The NMC's guidance for revalidation (the "How to revalidate" booklet) also says you do not need to submit your reflective accounts to the NMC as part of your application. However, it advises keeping them, because they may be requested if your application is selected for verification.

The four questions on the NMC form

The NMC's own form, as shown in its completed examples, asks you to respond to four prompts. Every strong account is simply a clear answer to each of them.

A simple template to draft from

The NMC form is mandatory, so treat this as a drafting aid. Write your thoughts here first, then transfer the final version to the approved form.

• Setting and role: for example, "Adult inpatient care, registered nurse". Keep it general.
• What happened (2 to 3 sentences): the CPD, feedback or event, described without names, dates, wards or places.
• What I learnt (2 to 4 sentences): one or two clear learning points, ideally with a reference to guidance, evidence or the feedback you received.
• What I changed (2 to 4 sentences): what you now do differently and who benefits.
• Code link (1 to 3 sentences): the theme or themes, and the part of your practice they relate to.

The NMC's supporting information on reflection says models are not required for written accounts, though they can help you capture reflections, learning points and actions. It also notes that reflection can cover practice that went well as well as difficult events, so you do not need a problem to write about.

Three illustrative NMC reflective account examples

The examples below are invented for illustration only. They are not real patient cases, and they contain no identifiable detail. Use them to see the structure and level of detail, then write about your own experience in your own words.

Example 1: reflecting on CPD (hospital nursing)

What happened: I completed an online CPD module on recognising early signs of deterioration in adult patients. I chose it because I wanted to feel more confident when escalating concerns that were hard to put into numbers.

What I learnt: I realised I sometimes relied too heavily on a single observation rather than the overall trend. The module reinforced the value of structured communication when escalating concerns, and of recording my reasoning clearly.

What I changed: I now review the trend across a set of observations before deciding on my next step, and I use a structured format when I hand over concerns to a colleague. I shared the approach at a team meeting.

Code relevance: Preserve safety, because I am acting earlier on signs of risk, and Practise effectively, because I communicate clearly and keep accurate records.

Example 2: reflecting on practice-related feedback (community nursing)

What happened: A person receiving care told me, through a routine feedback form, that they sometimes felt rushed when I explained their medication changes.

What I learnt: I had assumed that giving written information was enough. The feedback showed me that I was not always checking understanding, and that time pressure was affecting how I communicated.

What I changed: I now ask people to explain back to me what they understand, I build a few extra minutes into visits where medicines change, and I review my communication in supervision.

Code relevance: Prioritise people, because I am listening to what people tell me and responding to their needs, and Practise effectively, because I am checking understanding.

Example 3: reflecting on an event (midwifery or any setting)

What happened: A colleague asked me to cover a task that was outside my current competence during a busy shift. I felt pressure to agree.

What I learnt: I recognised that I found it difficult to say no, even though I knew I should work within my competence. Afterwards I discussed it with a senior colleague and reviewed the Code.

What I changed: I now say clearly what I can and cannot do and offer an alternative, such as finding a suitably competent colleague. I have also asked for a supervised opportunity to develop the skill.

Code relevance: Preserve safety, because I am recognising the limits of my competence, and Promote professionalism and trust, because I am being open and acting with integrity.

Keeping your accounts anonymous

Confidentiality is where many nurses and midwives trip up. According to the NMC's "How to revalidate" guidance, your evidence must not record anything that could identify an individual, whether living or deceased. The guidance advises avoiding names, dates of incidents, specific wards or places, and unique circumstances.

In practice, this means:

• Write "a person in my care" or "a colleague" rather than using names or initials.
• Describe the setting in general terms, not the specific ward, clinic or town.
• Leave out exact dates and any detail that would make an event recognisable to someone who was there.
• Focus on your own thinking and actions rather than a detailed account of the incident.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Describing without reflecting: a long narrative of what happened, with little on what you learnt.
• A generic Code link: saying "this relates to all four themes" without explaining how. Pick the themes that genuinely fit.
• No change in practice: the form asks how you changed or improved your practice, so include a concrete action.
• Leaving it until the end: writing all five in the final weeks makes them thinner. Draft each one soon after the event or CPD activity.
• Writing for a reader who needs to be impressed: the NMC says accounts do not need to be long or academic.

How the accounts feed into your reflective discussion

Your five accounts are the basis for your reflective discussion. According to the NMC, 2026, you must discuss them with another NMC registrant, and the discussion should take place face to face. The NMC's "How to revalidate" guidance adds that you should not discuss patients, service users or colleagues in a way that could identify them unless they expressly agree. If you keep your accounts concise and anonymous from the start, the discussion becomes much easier.

Keep a note of your CPD alongside your accounts too. Our guide to preparing CPD records for audit explains how to organise evidence so it is easy to find if you are ever asked for it.

Keep an eye on NMC updates

The NMC's revalidation pages list no change to the requirements covered here. However, according to the NMC (news item dated 27 April 2026), it has said it intends to launch a public consultation on proposed revalidation changes from September 2026. Those early ideas include strengthening the roles of confirmers and reflective discussion partners. Always check the NMC website for the latest guidance and forms before you finalise your submission.

Frequently asked questions

How long should an NMC reflective account be?

The NMC does not set a word count. It says accounts do not need to be long or academic. The form is designed for one page per account, so concise and specific is better than lengthy.

Do I have to use the NMC reflective accounts form?

Yes. The NMC states that the approved form is mandatory for recording your five written reflective accounts. You can complete it electronically or on paper.

Do I send my reflective accounts to the NMC?

No. According to the NMC's "How to revalidate" guidance, you do not need to submit them as part of your application, but you should keep them in case your application is selected for verification.

Can one account cover CPD, feedback and an event?

Yes. The NMC says each account must refer to at least one of these, and you can combine them in a single account.

Can I reflect on something that went well?

Yes. The NMC's guidance says reflection can cover positive experiences as well as difficult ones, so you do not need to wait for something to go wrong.

Final thoughts

Good reflective accounts come from regular, honest thinking about your practice, not from polished writing. Draft each one while the experience is fresh, answer the four form prompts clearly, keep everything anonymous and link it to the Code. If you are looking for ways to build up your CPD evidence across the cycle, browse the Learnsignal CPD hub.