City leads revolution in training of nurses (From Daily Echo)
When news happens, text SDE and your photos or videos to 80360. Or contact us by email and phone.
City leads revolution in training of nurses
7:30am Friday 27th August 2010 in
-
- By Melanie Adams » Health Reporter
Nurses being trained at the University of Southampton are at the forefront of one of the biggest shake-ups in medical education.
The university’s School of Health Sciences has become the first in the country to introduce a degree-only course for budding nurses.
The move comes a year earlier than the Government requirement, following Whitehall’s announcement that they wanted anyone training to be a nurse to have a degree qualification by 2013. It is hoped that the change will improve patient care and produce a new generation of highly educated nurses.
The three-year course will give nurses a high level of technical competence, medical knowledge and decision-making skills, in addition to their more traditional caring role.
It was feared that the new degree standard would scare off potential nursing candidates but the university has seen more applicants than ever signing up.
Stephanie Meakin, head of pre-registration at the School of Health Sciences, said: “The new rule will also improve the status of nurses and dispel the myth that they are a handmaiden to doctors.
“By offering a degree we are giving our students a head start. Graduates leave with excellent problem-solving, management and communications skills, along with an excellent knowledge of patient care in their chosen specialism.”
Comments(8)
freemantlegirl2
says...
10:24am Fri 27 Aug 10
Rickyrocket wrote:One of our care workers, has been doing a nursing degree in Soton and has just qualified. She's been absolutely amazing and her confidence and abilities have grown as the course has gone on. Will be sorry to loose her to her full time job in children's nursing but she will be a great asset to the NHS. Congratulations to all those nurses who have just qualified and good luck for the future. Let's hope the NHS sees fit to treat these staff properly!
Nursing is already a highly-skilled profession, it's right that a degree should be offered. I hope it doesn't further the managerial or - less kindly - too-posh-to-wash mentality that has crept into parts of the NHS in the last decade.
Linesman
says...
10:43am Fri 27 Aug 10
Where once it was the patient and patient care that was uppermost, now 'operating machines' is the be-all and end-all!
Offering a bed-pan, or dealing with it afterwards appears to be no longer part of their remit.
It is the nursing assistants that now appear to be the hospital's caring angels!
southy
says...
10:52am Fri 27 Aug 10
shabbycaddy
says...
2:40pm Fri 27 Aug 10
southy wrote:You had a choice before, you didn't have to take the degree course to become a nurse.
Nurses degrees have been around for a while now, so i am wondering what so different about southampton degree to make them the first.
freemantlegirl2
says...
3:10pm Fri 27 Aug 10
Linesman wrote:Actually LM that's not true the whole 3 years they spend a LOT of time on placement. They often have to do academic work alongside working, and have chunks of placements. They do have to have some lectures and pass exams, there will always have to be theory as well as practice, one cannot exist without the other.
To much 'in the classroom' and not enough 'on the ward' in today's nursing training.
Where once it was the patient and patient care that was uppermost, now 'operating machines' is the be-all and end-all!
Offering a bed-pan, or dealing with it afterwards appears to be no longer part of their remit.
It is the nursing assistants that now appear to be the hospital's caring angels!
Linesman
says...
8:11pm Fri 27 Aug 10
freemantlegirl2 wrote:It used to be that nurses did their training at 'Training Hospitals' and invariably lived in the 'nurse's home'. They worked on the wards, doing shifts, with periods away for classroom work. The practical was taught as well as the theory on a three year course.
Linesman wrote: To much 'in the classroom' and not enough 'on the ward' in today's nursing training. Where once it was the patient and patient care that was uppermost, now 'operating machines' is the be-all and end-all! Offering a bed-pan, or dealing with it afterwards appears to be no longer part of their remit. It is the nursing assistants that now appear to be the hospital's caring angels!Actually LM that's not true the whole 3 years they spend a LOT of time on placement. They often have to do academic work alongside working, and have chunks of placements. They do have to have some lectures and pass exams, there will always have to be theory as well as practice, one cannot exist without the other.
There were no degrees on offer at the end of training, just the qualification State Registered Nurse.
Lord Ikea
says...
7:38am Sat 28 Aug 10
More Southampton stories
- Glimmer of hope for future of pub
- Women warned not to walk alone after teen is raped
- Final curtain for man who saved theatre
- Health secretary backs controversial implants for school girls
- British Gas call centre goes face-to-face
- Mum demands answers from health chiefs over 13-year-old's contraceptive implant
- Taxi trade survey 'flawed'
- Poignant re-enactment of Titanic's departure
- Shop could lose alcohol licence
- Serial burglar wins sentence appeal
CARE: City’s at forefront of nurse training.
Most popular
Local Information
Enter your postcode, town or place name
Rickyrocket says...
9:06am Fri 27 Aug 10