The Nursing and Midwifery Council (Education, Registration and Registration Appeals) Rules Order of Council 2004

Rules 3(1) and 3(2)

SCHEDULE 1 U.K. Extract from the second Nursing Directive

Articles 1, 2 and Annex U.K.

1.  The formal qualification of nurses responsible for general care is subject to the person concerned passing an examination which guarantees that during her training period she has acquired:

(a) adequate knowledge of the sciences on which general nursing is based, including sufficient understanding of the structure, physiological functions and behaviour of healthy and sick persons, and of the relationship between the state of health and the physical and social environment of the human being;

(b) sufficient knowledge of nature and ethics of the profession and of the general principles of health and nursing;

(c) adequate clinical experience; such experience, which should be selected for its training value, should be gained under the supervision of qualified nursing staff and in places where the number of qualified staff and equipment are appropriate for the nursing care of the patients;

(d) the ability to participate in the practical training of health personnel and experience of working with such personnel;

(e) experience of working with members of other professions in the health sector.

2.  The training referred to in paragraph 1 shall include at least: U.K.

(a) a general school education of 10 years' duration attested by a diploma, certificate or other formal qualification awarded by the competent authorities or bodies in a Member State, or a certificate resulting from a qualifying examination of an equivalent standard for entrance to a nurses' training school;

(b) full time training, of a specifically vocational nature, which must cover the subjects of the programme set out [below] and comprise a three-year course or 4600 hours of theoretical and clinical instruction.

3.  Member States shall ensure that the institution training nurses is responsible for the co-ordination of theoretical and clinical instruction throughout the training. U.K.

(a) “Theoretical instruction” shall be defined as: that part of nursing training whereby student nurses acquire the knowledge, understanding and professional skills needed to plan, provide and assess total nursing care. This teaching is provided in nursing schools and other teaching environments chosen by the training institution, and is given by a staff of nursing teachers and other competent persons.

(b) “Clinical instruction” shall be defined as: that part of nursing training whereby student nurses as part of a team and in direct contact with a healthy or sick individual and/or a community learn to plan, provide and assess the required total nursing care on the basis of their acquired knowledge and skills. The student nurse learns not only to be a member of the team, but to be a team leader organising total nursing care, including health education, for individuals and small groups in the health institutions or in the community.

This instruction takes place in hospitals and other health institutions and in the community, under the responsibility of teachers who are nurses and with the co-operation and assistance of other qualified nurses. Other qualified personnel may be involved in this teaching process.

Student nurses shall participate in the activities of the departments concerned in so far as those activities contribute to their training, enabling them to learn to undertake the responsibilities inherent in nursing care.

4.  The theoretical instruction should be balanced and co-ordinated with the clinical instruction in such a way that the knowledge and experience listed in paragraph 1 may be acquired in an adequate manner. The length of the theoretical instruction shall amount to no less than one-third and that of the clinical instruction to no less than one-half of the minimum length of training referred to in paragraph 2(b). U.K.

Member States may grant partial exemption to persons who have undergone part of the training referred to in paragraph 2(b) in the form of other training which is of at least equivalent standard.

Member States may permit part-time training under conditions approved by the competent national authorities.

The total period of part-time training may not be shorter than that of full-time training. The standard of this training may not be impaired by its part-time nature.

Training Programme for Nurses Responsible for General Care U.K.

The training programme leading to the award of a diploma, certificate or evidence of other formal qualifications as nurse responsible for general care shall consist of the two parts and at least the subjects listed below. Instruction in one or more of these subjects may be given as part of, or in association with, other courses.

A.Theoretical instruction: U.K.

 

(a) Nursing:

nature and ethics of the profession,

general principles of health and nursing,

nursing principles in relation to:

— general and specialist medicine,

— general and specialist surgery,

— child care and paediatrics,

— maternity care,

— mental health and psychiatry,

— care of the old and geriatrics.

(b) Basic sciences:

anatomy and physiology,

pathology,

bacteriology, virology and parasitology,

biophysics, biochemistry and radiology,

dietetics,

hygiene:

— preventive medicine,

— health education,

pharmacology.

(c) Social sciences:

sociology,

psychology,

principles of administration,

principles of teaching,

social and health legislation,

legal aspects of nursing.

B. Clinical Instruction: U.K.

• Nursing in relation to:

  • — general and specialist medicine,

  • — general and specialist surgery,

  • — child care and paediatrics,

  • — maternity care,

  • — mental health and psychiatry,

  • — care of the old and geriatrics,

  • — home nursing.