Section 18 - National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023

The National Nursing and Midwifery Commission Act, 2023

18. Powers and functions of Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board.-

(1) The Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board shall perform the following functions, namely:-

(a) determine the minimum requirements and standards of nursing and midwifery education and examination at undergraduate level and postgraduate level, in such manner as may be specified by regulations, and oversee all aspects relating thereto;

(b) develop dynamic competency based curriculum at undergraduate level and postgraduate level, in such manner as may be specified by regulations, with a view to develop appropriate skill, knowledge, attitude, values and ethics to provide healthcare, impart nursing and midwifery education and conduct research:

Provided that the competencies shall be aligned with the needs of the national health programme, across continuum of care in varied healthcare settings in order to ensure optimum healthcare delivery system;

(c) prescribe qualifications at the undergraduate level and postgraduate level in nursing and midwifery and such other particulars, as may be specified by regulations;

(d) prescribe standards for setting up of nursing and midwifery institutions for imparting undergraduate and postgraduate courses, having regard to the needs of the country and the global norms, in such manner as may be specified by regulations;

(e) determine the standards and norms for infrastructure, faculty and quality of education in nursing and midwifery institutions providing undergraduate and postgraduate nursing and midwifery education, in such manner as may be specified by regulations;

(f) facilitate development and training of faculty members for teaching, research as well as international student and faculty exchange programmes relating to undergraduate, nursing and midwifery education;

(g) specify norms for compulsory annual disclosures, clinical facilities, faculty, digitally or otherwise, by nursing and midwifery institutions, in respect of their functions that has a bearing on the interest of all stakeholders including students, faculty, State Commissions, the National Commission and the Central Government;

(h) regulate the standards and scope of practice of registered nursing and midwifery professionals, including nurse practitioners, nursing associates and midwifery associates who have obtained the nursing and midwifery qualification as provided by the Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board, in such manner as may be specified by regulations; and

(i) regulate, in consultation with the National Medical Commission, the limited prescribing authority for nurse practitioners in all specialities, who have obtained the requisite nursing and midwifery qualification and qualify such criteria as may be provided by the Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board, in such manner as may be specified by regulations.

(2) The Nursing and Midwifery Undergraduate and Postgraduate Education Board shall, in the discharge of its duties, make such recommendations to, and seek such directions from, the National Commission, as it may deem necessary.