It is vital nurse education and training keep pace with advances in practice and technology as well as changing patient needs and expectations, therefore, the Australian College of Nursing (ACN) welcomes the Commonwealth Government’s announcement that the first independent review of Australian nursing preparation since 2002 will begin later this year.
“The ‘Educating the Nurse of the Future’ Review will support the next generation of nurses by ensuring their education matches the reality of practice in 2020 and beyond,” said Australian College of Nursing CEO Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN.
“We must invest in nurses at all stages of their careers to ensure Australia has a sustainable, skilled nursing workforce. Education is an integral factor in giving Australians the health care workforce necessary for accessible, high quality care. Investing in our health workforce is investing in the health of our community.
“Clear career paths in the health sector and salaries that reflect the complexity of care provided in all health settings will help attract and keep nurses in the workforce.
“It is heartening to see barriers which deter men from entering the profession will be examined in order to diversify our workforce and introduce more Australians to this rewarding career. ACN has created a working group on Men in Nursing so we look forward to seeing how we can contribute moving forward.”
Australian universities are globally recognised for their nursing degrees. In 2018 Australia had been identified as having nine of the world’s top 50 institutions that teach nursing.
“Access to quality clinical placements continues to be a challenge for education providers across the country. Clinical placements are compulsory for the completion of a nursing course. If adequate funding is not allotted for hospitals and health centres to provide these placements and dedicated staff to maximise our students’ experience, then we will continue to find nurses gaining a qualification but facing difficulty in securing employment,” said Adjunct Professor Ward.
“By investing in and supporting our nursing workforce, the Australian community can feel confident that nurses will be available to provide care now and into the future.”
A well needed review. Thank you, Professor Ward, and the ACN team. As a student, I find adequate education in pharmacology to be the most lacking, of all necessary subjects.
“The ‘Educating the Nurse of the Future’ Review key question is … educating for what? What changes have occurred for nurses since 2002 in the profession and in society? High quality education and professional development are needed throughout our professional life-cycle. What education is required at the key stages in our careers? What education is required in relation to equality, diversity and inclusion, especially for our First Nations people, LGBQITA+ population, people living with a disability or mental disorder , and of course organisational culture?
And, is the “elephant in the room” still, is three (3) years undergraduate program adequate to prepare a Registered Nurse for 2020 and beyond? Nursing profession and many employers would suggest not. Do we need a formal 12 month intern program?
What is your question/s?