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Nursing to become graduate entry | Nursing to become graduate entry |
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All new nurses in England from 2013 will have to spend at least three years being trained to degree level, the Department of Health has announced. | |
The move will help nurses meet the increasingly complex needs of patients more safely and effectively, it said. | The move will help nurses meet the increasingly complex needs of patients more safely and effectively, it said. |
The extra one or two years of training needed for nurses to obtain a degree will include a focus on them gaining experience in community health teams. | The extra one or two years of training needed for nurses to obtain a degree will include a focus on them gaining experience in community health teams. |
The move follows a recommendation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. | The move follows a recommendation from the Nursing and Midwifery Council. |
The NMC, the regulatory body for nurses, is developing new standards for nurse education, which it plans to announce next autumn. | The NMC, the regulatory body for nurses, is developing new standards for nurse education, which it plans to announce next autumn. |
This is an important and historic development Dr Peter CarterRoyal College of Nursing | This is an important and historic development Dr Peter CarterRoyal College of Nursing |
Current training involves a combination of theoretical and practical work as nurses work towards a diploma, but the new standards, which are open to consultation, will include a focus on giving students community health experience. | Current training involves a combination of theoretical and practical work as nurses work towards a diploma, but the new standards, which are open to consultation, will include a focus on giving students community health experience. |
Trainees will also shadow school health nurses and district nurses who work with people in their own homes. | Trainees will also shadow school health nurses and district nurses who work with people in their own homes. |
Health Minister for England Ann Keen said: "Nurses are the largest single profession within the health service, and are critical to the delivery of high quality healthcare. | Health Minister for England Ann Keen said: "Nurses are the largest single profession within the health service, and are critical to the delivery of high quality healthcare. |
"By bringing in degree-level registration we can ensure new nurses have the best possible start to meet the challenges of tomorrow. | "By bringing in degree-level registration we can ensure new nurses have the best possible start to meet the challenges of tomorrow. |
"Degree-level education will provide new nurses with the decision-making skills they need to make high-level judgements in the transformed NHS." | "Degree-level education will provide new nurses with the decision-making skills they need to make high-level judgements in the transformed NHS." |
Clinical knowledge | Clinical knowledge |
Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), called the move "an important and historic development". | Dr Peter Carter, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), called the move "an important and historic development". |
He said: "All nurses need to put quality care at the centre of what they do, and they also need extensive knowledge, analytical skills and experience to work in a range of settings. | He said: "All nurses need to put quality care at the centre of what they do, and they also need extensive knowledge, analytical skills and experience to work in a range of settings. |
"Many nursing roles are demanding and involve increasingly advanced levels of practice and clinical knowledge." | "Many nursing roles are demanding and involve increasingly advanced levels of practice and clinical knowledge." |
Dr Carter said the move was not designed to restrict entry to the nursing profession. | Dr Carter said the move was not designed to restrict entry to the nursing profession. |
"We must ensure that the door to nursing continues to be as wide as possible. | "We must ensure that the door to nursing continues to be as wide as possible. |
"Students must also be properly supported to continue in their studies." | "Students must also be properly supported to continue in their studies." |
Michael Summers, vice-chairman of the Patients Association, also welcomed the move. | Michael Summers, vice-chairman of the Patients Association, also welcomed the move. |
"I don't think anybody could really complain about nursing being taught to a high level," he said. | "I don't think anybody could really complain about nursing being taught to a high level," he said. |
Undue pressure | Undue pressure |
But the RCN is concerned that nurses are being pushed into practices which mean that patient care is being compromised. | But the RCN is concerned that nurses are being pushed into practices which mean that patient care is being compromised. |
The organisation is to investigate the extent to which they are coming under undue pressure to meet key targets in the NHS. | The organisation is to investigate the extent to which they are coming under undue pressure to meet key targets in the NHS. |
It is also concerned that nurses are being pressurised into manipulating data and falsifying information around key targets. | It is also concerned that nurses are being pressurised into manipulating data and falsifying information around key targets. |
Dr Carter acknowledged that targets had helped to improve patient care and drive down waiting times. | Dr Carter acknowledged that targets had helped to improve patient care and drive down waiting times. |
But he said: "It is, however, completely unacceptable when meeting a target comes before the delivery of patient care, or when hitting a statistic takes priority over clinical need." | But he said: "It is, however, completely unacceptable when meeting a target comes before the delivery of patient care, or when hitting a statistic takes priority over clinical need." |
Are you a health professional? Are you considering nursing as a career? What do you think about these plans? | Are you a health professional? Are you considering nursing as a career? What do you think about these plans? |
Send your comments using the post form below. | Send your comments using the post form below. |
A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |