Annex 3
Funding for nursing career pathways in primary
care
3.1 Modernising Nursing Careers is part
of a UK wide programme aimed at modernising health careers. Chris
Beasley, CNO, is leading programmes of work on behalf of the four
countries. The Secretary of State launched the document entitled
"Modernising Nursing Careers: setting the direction"
in September 2006.
3.2 Whilst restating the constants of nursing
and its core values, this document sets the context of healthcare,
what this means for nursing and the achievements of nursing today.
The future direction of nursing careers is set out, identifying
the four priorities and actions needed
3.3 Attached to each priority is a set of
actions that will be progressed through projects and workstreams
led by the UK health departments or other stakeholders. Some actions
like the work on supporting nurses to work in the community have
already begun
3.4 One MNC workstream is reviewing the
career paths and educational preparation needed for nurses working
in the community. This will make recommendations on the training
programmes needed to equip nurses to work in hospital and the
community and to ensure nurses have the right level of skill in
public health, first contact care and long-term care.
3.5 The coalition established to lead the
process of modernising nursing careers are developing proposals
to:
— strengthen the opportunities for
nurses to move between hospital and community as patient pathways
and services change; and
— reviewing options for the future
career pathways for nurses once they qualify that will support
care near home and deliver a flexible highly skilled nursing workforce.
3.6 Nursing in the community is changing
and ensuring that nurses are equipped to deliver that change is
crucial for our reform programme. We will need to embed training
in pre-registration education as well as ensuring that there is
appropriate training for specialist and advanced level nurses
in the community.
3.7 Meanwhile Primary Care Trusts and education
commissioners need to ensure that they have sufficient numbers
of qualified specialist community nurses to support the shift
from hospital to home.
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