Nurses' leaders have come into conflict with the government over proposals to 'force' would-be student nurses to serve a year as healthcare assistants (HCAs) prior to nurse training. But they agree a greater focus needs to placed on nursing mentorship and practice training in community settings.
Last month, health secretary Jeremy Hunt stated student nurses would be expected to spend 'up to a year' working as HCAs, helping patients eat, wash and get dressed,prior to embarking on nurse training.
His pledge followed a recommendation in the Francis report into care failings in Mid-Staffordshire that there should be a national entry-level requirement for student nurses to spend a 'minimum period of time, at least three months, working on the direct care of patients, under the supervision of a registered nurse.'
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