A new law modernising the way nurses are regulated in Bermuda was approved by MPs on Friday.

Health Minister Walter Roban told the House of Assembly that the Nursing Amendment Act 2010 was drafted with the help of the industry and would bring the Island into line with nursing standards in other countries.

One new requirement will be that foreign nurses have sufficient knowledge of English to be able to function as a nurse or nursing associate on the Island.

"There are nearly 800 nurses working in Bermuda and they comprise our Island's largest health care profession," said the Minister. "The depth and breadth of the nursing profession is designed to meet the different and emerging health care needs of the population in a wide range of settings.

"We are talking about a profession that at some point plays an extremely important role in each of our lives."

He said that since 2003, international governing bodies for nursing had recommended changes to allow greater scrutiny of the profession.

Bermuda agreed in 2006, along with other countries, to develop an action plan to address issues critical to the provision of safe, quality nursing and midwifery care.

The Minister said Bermuda Nursing Council reviewed the local legislation for the first time since 2003 and decided changes were needed. "The major issues addressed in this legislation include definitions, scope and standard of nursing practice; registration; nursing education and disciplinary proceedings.

"Amendments are also proposed that bring the legislation in line with other health care professionals in Bermuda.

"These include making continuing education mandatory for re-registration, establishing an investigation committee and requiring annual reports to be submitted to the Minister of Health."

Mr. Roban said the amended legislation was a collaborative effort with the nursing profession and that he was very proud of the work nurses did in Bermuda.

Shadow Health Minister Louise Jackson said she too was proud of the Island's nurses, adding: "The thing I'm most impressed about with this legislation is that they, as stakeholders, helped draft this.

"Their ideas, their advice, their experience with this made it a piece of legislation that the United Bermuda Party certainly endorses fully."

Premier Ewart Brown, a physician by profession, spoke about the value of nurses and the thankless tasks they perform. Dr. Brown said he had worked in at least four jurisdictions and the nurses in Bermuda are second to none.

"We all know that nurses and doctors are not gods, but hopefully we are God-driven to do what's right to make the patients' life better," he said.

Shawn Crockwell, of the Bermuda Democratic Alliance, said his party supported the bill 100 percent and UBP leader Kim Swan congratulated nurses on the important role they play without the Hollywood-style glamour of doctors. Independent Darius Tucker also spoke briefly to say he backed the bill.