Nursing to become degree-only profession

Readers' comments (18)

• Nelson Rajesh Kumar Selvaraj | 5-Sep-2008 11:08 am

  I welcome this proposal. But, I query how this is going to influence the future prospect of nursing? Will this influence the care that the patients receive? or Will it affect the way that the nursing is perceived by the public? or Will it cause better pay for nurses? Neither will result. It might only improve the prospect of nurses being prepared for taking more advanced role.
  The future candidates may be proud of being a degree holders but, not as nurses. It also results in more people get into degree nursing ,as it is easier to grab a degree in nursing compared with its counterpart. It is also another less work for curriculam planners and universities.

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• Anonymous | 5-Sep-2008 8:01 pm

  I have been qualified for 37years and feel this just another split within the profession once again we are creating two tier profession and playing all parties against one another. Is this really required. I must be fortunate as I will be retiring in 2016.

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• Anonymous | 6-Sep-2008 8:24 pm

  O GOODY NOW WE ARE A PROPER PROFESSION CAN WE HAVE PROPER PAY? THOUGHT NOT.
  AS USUAL MORE FOR LESS'
  WHEN DO THE POLICE REQUIRE DEGREE ENTRY THEN? TO BE A RECOGNISED PROFESSION.

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• Anonymous | 7-Sep-2008 8:52 am

  The big question, is a nurse a professional because she has earned a degree? I think 'profession' needs to be defined and taught in nursing schools before anyone becomes a nurse because its the attitude of the nurse that makes a difference in the profession. If nurses could just do the work rather than getting involved with who is the most popular on the ward( high school stuff) or gossip or 'eating their young'.. which happens, then we might have a chance to be a profession. The attitude needs to change, we need to think like professionals not just say we want to be professionals.

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• Deborah O'Byrne | 7-Sep-2008 1:43 pm

  Great, why has it taken the NMC so long to make this decision. Many of my fellow colleagues (3rd year adult nursing students) undertaking a diploma are more than capable of passing a degree and it is finances that have restricted them from doing so. Some students benefiting from a bursary that exceeds more that their nurses starting salary will be.
  Until nursing students have a structured pathway of interview, not a system that allows outlandishly unsuitable students to begin the course, be dissruptive, inattentive and unattend and to withdraw when the going gets tough or they are asked to submit work by a specified date. a vocational approach to nursing is needed rather than the economics and an assured resource driven diploma or degree, only then will nursing students who have no heart filled passion for the role will not be drawn towards the course. How many historians, scientists, bilinguists have been paid to take their degree. Teachers overcome great hardship to accomplish their dream. Our accomplishment can take us to the rest of the world and be rewarding, challenging and successful, so lets not be weak at the first hurdle of having to step up to degree level, lets grasp it and be thankful for the oppurtunity.

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• Anonymous | 7-Sep-2008 4:42 pm

  I'm a 34 woman with two young children and have wanted to do nursing for years. I have now managed to get onto a "DIPLOMA" course at my local University. There is no way in this world I would have been able to enter such a wonderful and professional profession as nursing without the Diploma being on offer. The bursery is a very important factor in my decision to take this course and I definately would not be able to afford it if I had to do it at the Degree.
  
  Luckily I have not started yet and would have liked to have done the Degree so we will see what happens in two years time when I enter my third year to see if I can change. Many of us older applicants are only able to get in via the Diploma so I feel that to remove it completely without having the financial support available will definately result in less applicants for the profession in future years. Its got to be a case of better financial assistance either a bigger Bursary or a proper wage.

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• Anonymous | 8-Sep-2008 7:45 am

  Having a degree does not make you a better nurse!!
  What about those of us who have been nursing for years without one - many of us have a wealth of experience, specialist courses / qualifications etc. Ask the patients what they think - most won't care as long as the nurse is caring, compassionate and knows what they are doing!!! You cannot learn how to run a busy ward in a university!
  Ps
  a degree profession is usually paid MUCH more than an average nurse!!!!!

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• samantha yianni | 8-Sep-2008 9:00 pm

  I am34 years old with 3 children aged 12, 7and 5, i left school no knowing what i wanted to do and only having 5 GCSE's above grade c and no A levels,
  
  I am now studying a nursing Diploma at the University of Central Lancashire and am about to enter my 3rd year. with the support of my tutors i am gaining good results.
  
  I would not have been able to achieve this without the diploma as i dont have the qualifications to study at degree level yet. Thank you UCLAN

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• Paul Gray | 9-Sep-2008 9:53 am

  I started my nursing career as an enrolled nurse in the 80's, did a conversion course in the early 90's and now work as an OH nurse in industry. If this route wasn't available I wouldn't be where I am today.
  I meet lots of young people who would love to follow a career in nursing but are essentially barred because of the culture of 'academia' we are all exposed to. How / why does making everyone have degrees make us better nurses?

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• Mario Tabone | 9-Sep-2008 4:29 pm

  Jarvis states that individuals need to learn new knowledge to prevent the onset of alienation, or anomie, and lifelong learning – even lifelong education – may help them to adjust to cultural changes prelevant in their society.
  
  Nurses, practice in an environment, which is constantly changing. It has become vital that one develops own professional knowledge and competence to cope with these demands and the complexities of modern professional practice.
  
  The decision to make nursing in the UK a complete graduate profession is something which I would like to see happening world wide. I finished the SEN course back in 1989. I am now in my last year degree in nursing and must say that YES knowledge does make a nurse better in running a ward, to the contrary of what one correspondent has stated. We must continue to build on our previous knowledge.I cannot see why the nurse has to be the 'servant' of other health care professions. We are there to work in collaboration with other professionals. This is the way forward and we must be unite and make our profession as strong as ever.
  
  I have years of experience, however to be able to boost my experience I felt the need to upgrade my academic background. To be frank, I cannot see myself at a halt. Nursing is a most beautiful career. Should I be born again......I would repeat to my parents that , "I want to be a nurse!".

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• Anonymous | 9-Sep-2008 5:10 pm

  Yes I agree, the level we know work at warrents the proffesion becoming a degree only program, but how about paying us as a degree level profession!

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• Paul Gray | 9-Sep-2008 6:06 pm

  None of the comments in favour of the profession becoming an (even more) elitist quasi academic outpost of sociological (going by the Jarvis quote) thought has convinced me in any way that patient care will improve by forcing everyone into having a degree.
  

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• Anonymous | 9-Sep-2008 8:46 pm

  I do partly agree with the comments that you do not necessarily need a degree to be a good nurse, however I think the acquisition of knowledge makes you an even better nurse and surely we must all strive to improve our profession year on year. The only way to move our profession forward is to learn and progress, and I think it is vital that nurse education moves forward too. I am all for nurses gaining degrees, at least it will prevent some of the highly unsuitable candidates who pass the current selection process and then prove so difficult to fail when they are on the wards. Prospective nurses will need to be dedicated to the profession and we may see a greater degree of professionalism and self discipline among nursing students, which I feel is sadly lacking in many of todays students.

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  David Genese | 9-Sep-2008 9:58 pm

  I realise that passing at degree level is a goal that all those with academic ability should aim for. However I estimate that up to 50% of excellent nurses currently practicing may have been deterred from entering the profession if the degree pathway was the only option. Furthermore I would not like to see the degree pathway watered down to accomodate people who have limited academic ability.

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• Anonymous | 11-Sep-2008 12:57 pm

  I qualified back in 1993 so am an ' old RGN ' ( so what is going to come of us??). I have often thought about obtaining my degree but being part time with children I have put it off. Now it looks as though will have to complete one. But like already said we are not exactly paid well. Morale is very low and I know lots of young nurses with diplomas and degrees who want to leave nursing and / or the country! I don't blame them!

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• paul henry | 23-Sep-2008 1:21 pm

  T tell you the truth, I qualifed in 2000. I am the main wage earnr in my family and I have 2 kids to support. I CANNOT afford to do a degree. Its hard enough to survive the ost of living. think it is so unfair that the only people that seem to get on in nursing, ie any kind of promotion or specilaisation are the ones that have got the money to do a degree.
  
  Poorer, hard working and experenced nursing are being turned down for promotion in faour of better of people who have the wealt to do a degree.
  
  Bring back the days when you could work your way up in nursing with experience, not your bank balance.

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• Tricia Freake | 15-Oct-2008 12:33 pm

  I have always believed that a degree does not make you a better nurse. The academic work is a barrier to some that would make excellent nurses. I will be the first to say that I am not an academic, but I'm an extremely competent nurse which comes down to years of experience. I did the old style training, qualifying in 1991 and probably would not have entered the profession had it been a degree course then. A degree cannot make up for experience.
  We should be careful what we wish for!

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• Anonymous | 18-Feb-2009 1:45 pm

  I think that the term 'nursing' will have to be changed. Perhaps call it ? (any suggestions)!!?

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