Nurse training focus group
In December 2007, I attended a Focus Group meeting at the Nursing and Midwifery Council NMC on behalf of the Society. The subject of this meeting was “The future of pre-registration nursing education”. This consultation is about the future shape of pre-registration nursing education in the UK and relates to the possibility of introducing new arrangements. The future reference point is “Nursing: towards 2015”. There are going to be several of these focus group meetings around the country.
I found out in the meeting that most countries in Europe and throughout the world prepare nurses through a generalist programme, leaving any major specialisation to be undertaken after initial registration. This is similar to our doctors’ training and different from what we have in the UK. Currently, nurses in the UK need to choose their speciality during their training. Under the Common Foundation Programme introduced in 1989, there are four branches that nurses can choose from:
• Adult nursing
• Children’s nursing
• Mental health nursing
• Learning disability nursing.
Student nurses register with the NMC, with a mark on the register denoting their field of practice – for example, registered nurse – mental health.
During the meeting, participants were divided into five working groups. We were given a number of questions to discuss and report back on. The reports from each working group were recorded. These questions were:
1.With 2015 in mind, should all nurses when they first qualify have:
The skill to work in a major specialist field (branch)
Broader skills to work with any client groups
Both of these.
2.If branches are desirable, what branches should there be?
3.Sub-specialisation:
Should there also be opportunities to develop a limited number of more specialist skills during any programme?
Can you suggest what these may be?
4.With 2015 in mind, do you think there should be a Common Foundation Programme, a common core programme (to learn with others, such as other health and social care student throughout the programme) or both?
5.With 2015 in mind, how much of a student’s time should be spent learning in practice? How much of this time should be spent in the community?
6.With 2015 in mind, if students can demonstrate that some theory andpractice requirements have already been met, then what should be the maximum amount by which a 3-year programme should be shortened?
7.With 2015 in mind, if a student leaves the programme early should they be considered eligible for a national skills base qualification?
8.With 2015 in mind, should the minimum academic level for a pre-registration nursing programme in the UK be at diploma in higher education level or at degree level?
It was one of the more enjoyable meetings I have attended, with many constructive discussions on all the questions. A number of interesting points were raised during the discussion:
1. Health care for long term illness/disability should be a branch or speciality on its own
2. The question of quantity versus quality – do we just need more nurses or do we need more highly qualified nurses?
3. Technology – what will it be like in health care in 2015?
There are no absolute answers to all these questions. I am really pleased to see that the NMC is taking the initiative well in advance in the preparation of any changes that may happen in 2015 for our nurses’ training. If you want to find out more about this consultation, you can visit their website at www.nmc-uk.org.
Kai Li, Treasurer
