A ‘radical review’ of nursing education is underway, with both healthcare staff and the general public being asked for their advice on way can be improved.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) is currently undertaking a ‘once in a generation opportunity’ review of the standards that all nursing students trained in the UK must meet before they can practice as a nurse.
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Now halfway through the process, the NMC hopes to hear from all corners of the UK population in its consultation on proposals for what the future of nursing education will look like.
‘What is required of a nurse now is very different to what was required ten years ago and will be very different again in ten years’ time,’ an NMC spokesperson said. ‘Advancing technology, care in the community and a changing population all mean that care is being delivered differently.
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‘Over the last six months we’ve travelled the length and breadth of the country talking to nurses, their employers, trade unions, students and educators to get their views on what tomorrow’s nurse looks like.
‘We are now at the stage where we want to hear from patients and the public about the things that really matter to them and what they will want to see from the nurse of 2030.’
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The consultation on the future nurse standards opened on 13 June and will run for at total 13 weeks.
On the NMC website are details of the consultation on their proposed standards of proficiency for the future registered nurse and our draft education framework. They are also proposing to make changes to prescribing standards and to withdraw standards for medicines management.