Nursing & Midwifery · NMC Professional Guidance
NMC Complaint Against a Nurse: What Happens and What to Do
Few moments unsettle a nurse more than learning that a patient or colleague has complained to the regulator. An NMC complaint against a nurse is a concern raised with the Nursing and Midwifery Council about whether a registrant's fitness to practise may be impaired, and it can follow a nurse into work long before any outcome is known.
This guide explains how an NMC complaint against a nurse is handled, what happens when a nurse is reported, whether an employer can dismiss, and how to respond, updated for 2026.
Key Takeaways
- An NMC complaint against a nurse starts with screening, and most concerns are closed or resolved without reaching a hearing.
- Two case examiners decide whether there is a case to answer, meaning a realistic possibility that a panel would find fitness to practise currently impaired.
- During an NMC complaint against a nurse, the NMC can impose an interim order, either conditions or suspension, but an investigation alone does not stop a nurse working.
- An employer can act separately from the NMC, so an NMC complaint against a nurse and a disciplinary process can run side by side.
- Honest reflection, early advice and evidence of insight shape the outcome of any NMC complaint against a nurse.
What Happens When a Nurse Is Reported to the NMC?
When a nurse is reported, the NMC first screens the concern to decide whether an NMC complaint against a nurse raises a fitness to practise issue. The NMC says it approaches cases on the basis that most people referred to it are normally safe, so many concerns are closed at this early stage. You can read how the NMC explains what happens when a concern is raised about your practice.
| Stage | Who decides | Possible result |
|---|---|---|
| Screening | NMC screening team | Concern closed, or taken forward |
| Investigation | NMC investigations team | Evidence gathered from all sides |
| Case examiners | Two case examiners | No case to answer, undertakings, or referral |
| Fitness to Practise Committee | Independent panel | Findings, impairment decision and any sanction |
If an NMC complaint against a nurse reaches case examiners, they can close the case with advice or a warning where there is no case to answer. Where there is a case to answer, they can recommend undertakings or refer the case to the Fitness to Practise Committee. The NMC can also use an interim order during an investigation, either interim conditions or an interim suspension, to protect the public.
Even without an interim order, an employer may carry out its own local risk assessment during an NMC complaint against a nurse, and can decide to move a nurse to a non-clinical role or provide additional supervision while matters are resolved. This is a decision for the employer, separate from anything the NMC itself has ordered. Nurses who want to demonstrate insight while continuing to work can explore our nursing-specific remediation courses, built around the NMC Code, to strengthen their position early rather than waiting for the case to conclude.
What Can a Nurse Be Fired For?
Dismissal is an employment matter, not part of an NMC complaint against a nurse. Under the Employment Rights Act 1996, potential fair reasons include misconduct and capability, and ACAS explains that gross misconduct covers very serious acts, including serious lack of care to duties or other people. Each employer has its own policy listing examples, and ACAS says a fair and reasonable procedure must still be followed. You can read ACAS's guidance on types of dismissal.
The key point is that the two processes are separate. A nurse can be dismissed without any NMC action, and an NMC complaint against a nurse can continue even if the employer takes no action. Either process may rely on the same facts, so a consistent, honest account matters in both.
How Should a Nurse Respond to an NMC Complaint?
Preparation and honesty from the outset shape how any NMC complaint against a nurse develops, and early advice often changes the outcome.
- Contact your union, professional body or a regulatory solicitor as soon as you are notified.
- Do not alter records or contact the person who complained.
- Respond to the NMC complaint against a nurse factually and on time, with a clear timeline.
- Reflect honestly in your reflective accounts on what happened and what you now do differently.
- Complete targeted professional standards training to build evidence of insight.
Nurses and nurse managers who want consistent, profession-focused support with reflective accounts, professional boundaries and NMC Code compliance can explore our nursing-specific insight and reflection courses. Designed around nursing practice and NMC standards, they can also support teams that need the same remediation approach across several nurses.
For wider reading on fitness to practise, browse our regulatory guides for healthcare professionals.
Conclusion
An NMC complaint against a nurse is a structured process with several points where a case can close, and what a nurse does early can change what happens next. Understanding the stages, the difference between the regulator and an employer, and what insight looks like helps you respond calmly and with confidence. If you are facing an NMC complaint against a nurse now, our CPD-certified courses for regulatory investigations can help you build evidence of insight, and organisations supporting several nursing staff through the same process can review our bulk-buy offer for group access.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Some Examples of Unprofessional Behavior in Nursing?
The NMC treats concerns such as dishonesty, breaches of patient confidentiality, crossing professional boundaries (including inappropriate social media contact), discrimination, bullying or harassment, and sexual misconduct as serious. Any of these can lead to an NMC complaint against a nurse, and the NMC Code sets the professional standards against which they are judged.
Can a Nurse Keep Working During an NMC Investigation?
Usually yes. An NMC complaint against a nurse does not on its own stop a nurse working, but the NMC can impose an interim conditions order or an interim suspension order where it considers it necessary to protect the public, and an employer can take its own steps.
Can an NMC Complaint Against a Nurse Be Closed Without a Hearing?
Yes. A concern can be closed at screening, and case examiners can decide there is no case to answer and close it, give advice or issue a warning. Only cases with a case to answer and no agreed outcome go to the Fitness to Practise Committee.
What Sanctions Can the NMC Impose?
If a panel finds fitness to practise impaired, it can impose a caution order, a conditions of practice order, a suspension order or a striking-off order, depending on the seriousness of the case.
Is an Employer's Disciplinary Process the Same as an NMC Complaint?
No. An employer applies its own policies and employment law, while an NMC complaint against a nurse is decided by the regulator on fitness to practise. The two can run at the same time, and the outcome of one does not automatically decide the other.
This guide is for general information and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact a specialist regulatory solicitor, your union or your professional body.
