Resources — The Clinical Hub

Figures verified against the NMC's own registration statistics page on 28/08/2026. The NMC publishes a fuller breakdown by field of practice and nation in its linked reports — worth a look if you want the detail behind these headlines.

For registered nurses

Working for yourself

Self-employed or independent practice — two compliance traps worth knowing before you start.

Indemnity covers your actual practice · NMC→

The Code requires an indemnity arrangement that provides appropriate cover for whatever practice you take on. It's self-declared at registration and renewal, and it's each registrant's own responsibility to check the cover fits the work — an employer's policy won't automatically extend to work done outside that employment.

Free

Ear wax removal needs CQC registration · RCN→

The RCN's own self-employment guide names this as the example that catches people out: it's a regulated activity requiring CQC registration when carried out by a listed healthcare professional, including registered nurses. Doing it unregistered is a criminal offence.

Free

The full self-employment guide · RCN→

Tax, insurance, contracts and what counts as a "regulated activity" for other independent nursing work.

Free

Verified against the RCN and NMC's own pages, 28/08/2026. This isn't a substitute for checking your own specific scope of practice against the CQC's regulated activities list before you start.

For registered nurses

Research nursing

The best-documented non-hospital route, and NIHR publishes its own map of it.

NIHR's research roles for nurses & midwives · NIHR→

Sets out the whole ladder: research nurse/midwife, clinician researcher, hybrid or joint roles, Research Advanced Clinical Practitioner, and clinical academic — each explained, with what each involves.

Free

NIHR Research Delivery Network · NIHR→

Regional research posts and training — where the actual vacancies and local research teams sit.

Free

Clinical research nurses · RCN→

The RCN's own section for the specialty, with training and career pathway detail.

Free

Confirmed against the NIHR's own page, 28/08/2026.

For registered nurses

Private sector nursing

Independent providers run to different rules and a different employer body than the NHS.

Independent Healthcare Provider Network · IHPN→

The membership network for independent healthcare providers — acute, primary, community, home healthcare and diagnostics. 120+ members across all four nations. The employer-side voice for the private sector, equivalent to what NHS Employers is on the NHS side.

Free

Confirmed against IHPN's own page, 28/08/2026.

For registered nurses

What you can claim

Tax relief most nurses are owed and don't claim — figures checked against HMRC's own pages, not a rebate company.

NMC fee & RCN membership are deductible · HMRC→

Both the NMC and RCN are on HMRC's own approved list, so their fees qualify for tax relief when you pay them yourself. You can claim for the current tax year and the 4 previous tax years.

Free

£125 a year for uniform & laundering · HMRC→

HMRC's flat-rate expense for nurses, midwives, healthcare assistants and other therapists — covers laundering your own uniform and includes the shoes/tights allowance where a specific colour or style is required. Ambulance staff on active service have a separate, higher rate (£185).

Free

How to claim · HMRC→

Send copies of receipts or other evidence of what you paid. If you complete Self Assessment, claim through your tax return instead of the online service.

Free

Checked against gov.uk's own pages on 28/08/2026 — not a tax-rebate company's figures. HMRC's published flat rate for this group is £125, not the higher ambulance-staff rate of £185 that's sometimes quoted for nurses in error.

For everyone

Learning & CPD

Mostly free — build your hours.

RCN Learn · RCN→

Hundreds of quality-assured e-learning resources.

Free account

Caring with Confidence · NMC→

Free bite-sized animations on delegation, speaking up & professional judgement.

Free

Support worker learning · RCN→

Curated learning for the carer / HCA role.

Free

RCNi free courses · RCNi→

A set of free CPD modules (bulk needs RCNi Plus).

Free account

For everyone

Careers, CVs & interviews

Get the job, then go further.

CV writing advice · RCN→

How to build a strong nursing/care CV.

Free

Sample interview questions · RCN→

Practise the questions you'll be asked.

Free

Applications & supporting statements · RCN→

Write a statement that gets you shortlisted.

Free

Careers & job profiles · RCN→

Explore roles, pay and progression.

Free

For everyone

Grow & connect

Beyond the basics — what's possible next.

What's Next Real career routes — clinical, leadership, teaching & beyond. Free Career Wins Real nurses & carers, celebrated properly — plus award programmes you can enter. Free Courses Free & paid learning, verified and current. Free Conferences Real UK events with real, checked dates. Free Podcasts Real voices, real careers — for your commute. Free Webinars Free professional development, online. Free Clinical Currency NICE guidance and specialty-specific updates, verified live. Free

Moving into commercial healthcare?

Interview prep that lands the role

If you're a clinician moving into medical devices, pharma or commercial healthcare, Lou's Clinical to Commercial Playbook prepares you for those specific interviews.

Explore the Clinical to Commercial Playbook →

For carers, HCAs & support workers