The Impairment Committee is a standing committee of Council empowered in terms of section 51 of the Nursing Act, 2005 (Act No 33 of 2005) to conduct an inquiry to determine whether practitioners registered in terms of the Act are fit to practise nursing. This is when it appears that a practitioner registered in terms of the Act is or may be incapacitated as a result of physical or mental health disability or otherwise and is incapable of practising nursing with reasonable skill and safety.

The purpose of the Impairment Committee is to assist such practitioners, to ensure that after undergoing the impairment programme successfully, they are able to return to nursing practice and provide safe nursing care.