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Press release: Employers support change to nursing training and careers

19 Feb 2008

Employers believe that nursing should be a degree level qualification, that all nurses should have generalist skills and that a third of their practical experience should be obtained in the community, says NHS Employers today.

Publishing its evidence to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's consultation on pre-registration nursing education and the Department of Health's consultation on post-registration nursing careers, NHS Employers says that NHS organisations were of a consensus on many of the difficult issues raised by the reviews.

Foluke Ajayi, head of NHS Careers and workforce supply at NHS Employers said:

'Employers were very clear about how pre and post-registration nursing should develop in the future and we had a consensus on many of the big issues such as degree vs diploma, the importance of all nurses having generalist skills and on the contribution of community training.

'Employers did indicate on these issues though that consideration needed to be given to the finances of student nurses to avoid the current situation where diploma education attracts more financial support than degree education.  Also, in order to ensure that there are an adequate number of placement opportunities, particularly in the community, we need to ensure that we provide placements for nurses in GP surgeries, the independent sector and in charities.'

Employers were of a general consensus on many of the questions including on pre registration:

* that minimum academic level should be a degree qualification
* that 60 per cent of pre registration programmes should be spent on practical learning
* that a third of the learning in practice component should be spent in the community.  For this to be increased to 50% within 5 years, there is a need to establish increased placement capacity
* that nursing students would benefit from a comprehensive generalist training programme which would give them a broad base skill set upon which they can build specialist skills
* that a mandatory consolidation period should be set by the NMC.

And on post-registration:
* employers are supportive of the proposals for change which will offer greater potential for nurses to develop flexible and transferable skills which can be applied in any setting
* that the proposals offer a broader range of options for nursing careers in a community setting.

Employers provided their views on the consultations via an on-line questionnaire, through NHS Employers networks and forums and via a session at a Nursing Times summit.   NHS Employers' evidence to the Nursing and Midwifery Council and Department of Health consultations is available Notes for editors

• Georgina Vincent
  020 7074 3308 or georgina.vincent@nhsemployers.org
• Emma Robinson
  020 7074 3307 or emma.robinson@nhsemployers.org

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