Confirmed principles to support a new framework for pre-registration nursing education

1: Academic level

Principle:

The minimum award for pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK was approved by Council in September 2008 as nursing registration with degree.  Following scoping, the academic credit requirement has been confirmed and was approved by the Review of Pre-Registration Nursing Education Project Board on 11 February 2009.

  • A.  The minimum outcome award for pre-registration nursing programmes in the UK is nursing registration with degree, which meets the programme hours in Directive 2005/36/EC, is at least equal to a first cycle (end of cycle) qualification of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and requires a minimum of:
    Scottish Bachelor Degree at least 360 SCOTCAT points, 60 of which must be at level 9 in the Framework for qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland (SQA 2001).
    Bachelors Degree 300 academic credits, 60 of which must be at level 6 in the Framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland (QAA 2008) and addresses principles within the HE credit framework for England (QAA 2008).
  • B.  There is no option to register if a degree cannot be achieved.

[References]

2: Professional recognition

Principle: 

  • A. Registration on the nursing part of the Register with a mark denoting one field of practice in: adult, children’s, mental health, or learning disability nursing.
  • B. Modernised pathways leading to registration as a nurse in each of these four fields of practice.

3: Nature of programme 

Principle: 

  • A. Preparation characterised by a blend of generic* and field specific learning extending throughout the programme with the field specific component increasing over time.
  • B. Flexible boundaries between the generic and field specific components with wide opportunities for shared learning.
  • C. Specified NMC competencies for:
    a. generic and field specific practice.
    b. community and public health practice
    c. EU requirements for general care (adult field)
  • D. NMC outcome measures linked to progression points.

* (Generic’ (as in the glossary supporting the consultation) ‘refers to a whole class or group, as opposed to specific individuals or sub groups, i.e. for the whole of nursing rather than a nursing branch’.The term ‘generalist’ was used in the consultation to differentiate between those with ‘a wide array of knowledge as opposed to a specialist’ but the term ‘generic’ is used here instead.)

4: Length of programme

Principle: 

  • A. Minimum of 3 years, or 4600 hours, full-time or part-time equivalent (to be completed in five years full-time, or seven years part-time).
  • B. 50% theory to practice ratio
  • C. Mix of both community and other practice learning sufficient to achieve required outcomes.

5: Integrated care pathways and themes

Principle:

  • A. The ways in which care pathways and themes used to organise healthcare in respective countries are incorporated into the curriculum is for local determination.

6: Stepping on

Principle:

  • A. Maximum of 50% AP(E)L linked to progression points subject to requirements of Directive 2005/36/EC.

7: Recognition when stepping off a programme early

Principle proposed: 

  • A. Transcript to quantify theory and practice achievement.

8: Period after registration

Principle: 

  • A. Mandatory preceptorship to follow initial registration. (Agreed in principle but subject to further exploration.)  Issues relating to objectives, period required, protected learning time, nature of assessed outcome and potential links to first renewal of registration to be explored.

References

Quality Assurance Agency (2008) The framework for higher education qualifications in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (FHEQ)
(second edition revised August 2008, web versions updated October 2008), QAA.

Scottish Qualifications Authority (2001) The framework for qualifications of higher education institutions in Scotland, QAA Scotland.

Quality Assurance Agency (2008) Higher education credit framework for England: guidance on academic credit arrangements in higher education in England. QAA.

Created date :
20/04/2010
Modified date :
20/04/2010