25 Those who can do!
Resolution submitted by the RCN Association of Nursing Students
That this meeting of RCN Congress asks if there should be a requirement for nursing lecturers to maintain practice competence to support their relevant academic knowledge
Work led by the RCN Nursing Development Committee.
Debate centred around those students who felt that some lecturers were not currently clinically competent and yet were teaching clinical skills. Discussion followed on the difficulties of lecturers remaining competent with no contracts within the trusts and whether or not this was an appropriate requirement.
This issue has been of concern to nurse lecturers, clinical nurses and students since the move of schools of nursing into universities (completed in 1996), especially where there is no NHS-based university centre.
The RCN Practice Education Forum is pressing for greater recognition of the NMC's recommended 1:12 staff/student ratio by universities and quality reviewers, and to ensure registered nurses who are lecturers can receive honorary contracts so they can work clinically. The forum, in collaboration with the University and Colleges Union, is also pursuing the introduction of clinical leads, similar to those enjoyed by medical clinical lecturers, for those clinical lecturers who carry a patient case load. Work on this issue has revealed there are a number of experienced nurses who would enter teaching if they could maintain some degree of practice. In addition, there is evidence that many lecturers are now involved in practice teaching through simulation.
Work continues with the RCN Research Society to increase the number of joint appointments, especially amongst those working in patient-focused evidence-based practice research and who have a clinical teaching component to their role. Furthermore, active links with the Council of Deans has enabled the RCN to press forward with a shared agenda.
We are currently awaiting further work on the clinical/academic careers pathway work instigated by the review of Modernising nursing careers. The RCN Association of Nursing Students (ANS) is in active consultation with the RCN education adviser on the NMC committee reviewing the Next stage curriculum for nursing and is contributing to the debate on learning and teaching in practice and the closure of the theory/practice gap. The International Education Forums' conference in June 2009 contains themes and keynotes on these issues.
All parties continue to be involved in the Future nurse project. The RCN document Principles of nursing education has been revised and is currently with RCN Association of Nursing Students and forum members for comment on issues relating to this debate.
A roundtable discussion of lecturers, research society, members who contributed to Congress 2008 debate, students, a representative from the, Council of Deans, RCN Council members and staff will be held in June 2009 to continue this debate.