Willis Commission: Quality with compassion: the future of nurse education

Published: 24 April 2013

Launched on 5 November this report, Quality with Compassion: The Future of Nursing Education, was based on more than six months’ work and contains evidence from patients, academics, students and other experts.

Dr Peter Carter, RCN Chief Executive & General Secretary, said: “We welcome the report, which has been the culmination of some rigorous and truly dedicated work on the part of Lord Willis and all of the commissioners. They have heard evidence from all quarters, paying particular attention to the patient experience to understand how nursing education needs to evolve to meet the needs of the future.

"Above all, we are reassured that Lord Willis’s commission has put beyond doubt the fact that the nursing profession of the present and the future requires a workforce which is educated to degree level.”

In his report, Lord Willis praised nursing students, and said their ability to articulate their ambitions and their desire to nurse was “awe-inspiring”.

RCN Education Forum response to the Willis Report:

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Education Forum would like to thank Lord Willis and the Commission for conducting this extensive piece of work, which has made many pertinent recommendations.  It is particularly pleasing  that the report recognises the contribution of the graduate nurse to high quality health care delivery. The forum supports the commission’s recommendation regarding close and effective partnership working between education and placement providers. This is critical in order to strengthen the clinical placement experience of students and in particular mentorship. We welcome this opportunity provided by the Willis Commission to work together for the enhancement of nursing, nurse education and patient care.

We would welcome your comments on this report to gill.robertson@rcn.org.uk

For more information and to read the full report visit the Willis Commission website.