title: Protecting the public.
abstract: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) was established in 2002 by parliament with a clear remit to protect the public. Through its standards, codes, rules and guidance, the council sets out a path to enable practitioners to develop professionally but also to remain safe and effective. Many emergency nurses will have voted in the NMC elections earlier this year, and the first elected council began work on July 31.