21. Nurse education - is it fit for purpose?
RCN Students
(MFD) That this meeting of RCN Congress considers whether pre-registration nurse education is fit for purpose
Debate report
Jayne Parker, on behalf of the RCN Students Committee, presented this matter for discussion calling on Congress to provide solutions to challenges facing nurse education. “We’ve had enough of getting slated,” she said, citing damning reports that have questioned the compassion and quality of care provided by students and newly qualified nurses.
“We’re tired of going on placement and hearing phrases such as ‘nurse education was better in my day’ and ‘students are too posh to wash’. As a current nursing student, I have been taught to reach conclusions based on evidence. Do tell me, what evidence is there for this? Why does nursing seem to have a passion for eating its own young?”
The item attracted diverse and passionate responses from the floor with some delegates valuing the move to an all-degree training programme while others questioned the amount of hands-on care students get the opportunity to deliver.
“Essays and dissertations do not a good nurse make,” said Vanessa Broom from the Salisbury branch. “Training institutions must be held more accountable for their procedures and the education they provide. I hope we can learn from this discussion to ensure our nurses are fit for purpose.”
Other speakers raised the issue of mentorship and whether those overseeing the work of students are adequately equipped to do so. Linda Henderson from the North Central Outer London branch called for greater investment in the training of mentors. “I want to be a good mentor,” she said. “Help us to help students.”
Summing up, Jayne expressed thanks to those who spoke, saying the issues raised in the debate would be fed into evidence given to the Willis Commission on Nursing Education, hosted by the RCN.
Background
Prior to the introduction of Project 2000 in the early 1990s, nursing and midwifery training was carried out within a school of nursing which was based at a hospital where nurses carried out their studies and practical ward work.
However, the push to establish nursing in a more professional light has resulted in nurses studying to diploma or degree level within the higher education sector. As a result, schools of nursing are no longer hospital based.
Following the 2010 Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) review of the nurse education curriculum, all nursing and midwifery education in the four UK countries is to be undertaken at degree level (at point of entry to the register) from September 2013. Students will continue to undertake courses averaging 45 weeks duration per year, with 50 per cent of their time spent in theory and 50 per cent in practice (2,300 hours in each).
Following the adverse reports about nursing care made by the Patients Association and the NHS Ombudsman in recent months, the education of pre-registration students has been in the media spotlight and much of the comment made has been negative.
The chief nursing officer (CNO) in Scotland is currently undertaking an education review of pre and post registration nursing and midwifery education to identify the characteristics of an education system that will “deliver our vision of high quality education and research over the next ten years” and prepare practitioners to provide safe, effective and person-centred care. The RCN in Scotland is represented on the Steering Group and has input from an RCN student information officer; the Steering Group aims to have developed a report and clear recommendations for the CNO by the end of August 2012.
In Northern Ireland, the RCN is represented on a Gateway to Nursing Steering Group, commissioned by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) Central Nursing Advisory Committee (CNAC) to consider the process for admission to pre-registration programmes.
In Wales, there has been much praise for the All Wales components of the pre-registration programme, not least from the current CNO Wales who described the benefits in the NMC Review and points out that inter higher education institute (HEI) collaboration, rather than competition between HEIs, results in a better and more universal system of nurse education.
Under the remit of its Future Nurse, Future Workforce work stream, the RCN is hosting a commission into pre-registration education. The commission will be calling for evidence to determine what excellent nurse preparation looks like, and to suggest areas that may require attention and further research. Its final report, due Autumn 2012, will provide recommendations for education providers, commissioners and policy makers.
References and further reading
Nursing and Midwifery Council (2010) Standards for pre-registration nursing London: NMC Available at: http://standards.nmc-uk.org/Pages/Welcome.aspx (Accessed 02/03/12) (Web)
