This work analyzes the contribution made by the UKCC to the development of the nursing profession in this country since the 1970s. It details the key issues the council grappled with during this time and provides in-depth analyses of the complexity of these issues. There is a general consensus that the current view of nursing's regulatory body will culminate in a major shake up of the way the nursing profession is governed and in which the UKCC will be radically transformed. This publication of the history of the UKCC marks the close of a very significant period in nursing's history and the opening of wider debates about ensuring the safety of the public through regulation of health professionals. This is a significant text for all those who teach on professional and policy issues in nursing.