Fast track nursing degree

[Wingingthis]

Do you think the government would consider this if the pandemic gets worse or continues for a long time? Is it even possible?

There's no reason why nursing is even a degree subject - it's only very recently that nursing degrees have even been a thing.

There's every reason for nursing to be a degree subject. Nursing these days is a very demanding profession requiring a high level of knowledge. Nurses work alongside doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiologists, dieticians, speech therapists and social workers, all of whom are degree educated. The very idea that nurses do not require a similar education is ridiculous, frankly.

There is actually evidence that the better qualified nurses are the better the outcomes for patients. Nurses are often the only professionals around (Drs come to wards but aren’t there full time) so I think you will find that Nurses very much DO need the knowledge from their degrees. Do you want to be cared for by someone less educated? Or your loved one?
Nurses are often in managerial positions and in leadership roles. They are not the “yes Dr” type any more. And rightly so. @QueenStromba

Fast track would be difficult because of the number of clinical hours needed alongside the theory - currently 2,300 hours I believe.

Every reason why nurses should have degrees, considering they spend more time with the patients than any other professional.

Every tom, dick and harry, from the OT, physio, dietician, play therapist, etc are educated to degree level during training.

Just to be clear I’m not saying nurses don’t need a degree in the slightest, I’m just wondering if they could make an intense course/fast track that would take less time

Of course nurses should have degrees! We shouldn't devalue the profession by insinuating it's a piece of piss and a degree is overkill.

The government devalue nurses enough by paying them little in comparison to the services they provide.

Nursing degrees have been around a long time. I got mine 20 years ago and they certainly weren't new then (I just googled and it says nursing degrees started in 1960).

There is every reason why nurses need a degree level education. I don't think there would be time to fit the clinical hours in w fast track course.

@Sertchgi123

There's every reason for nursing to be a degree subject. Nursing these days is a very demanding profession requiring a high level of knowledge. Nurses work alongside doctors, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, radiologists, dieticians, speech therapists and social workers, all of whom are degree educated. The very idea that nurses do not require a similar education is ridiculous, frankly.

You specify radiologists separately as though they are not doctors...

It’s not just the degree though is it? It’s three years worth of clinical placements. It is not a profession that can be fast tracked and to think otherwise is ludicrous. The fact is this ridiculous government slashed the bursary three years ago which means we are only beginning to see the effect of that. Call it karma.

And those three years worth of placements already are intense.

Siw, it isn't my post that you quoted, but I am ashamed to say I didn't know radiologists are doctors - I thought they were radiographers! Every day is a learning day

It is possible in some unis to do 2 year post grad pre-reg course if you already have a degree, I don't see how you could do it any quicker to be honest

There are already fast track courses. I did one in 2001 which was a 2 year course for degree holders. We had to do our course year-round though, so we didn't have the holidays that normal uni students did.

I did my training in the early 90,s under the diploma system regardless of wether a degree is needed or not it was still three years of placements and academic work ,how fast do you think the training should be?

In my experience the students doing the 2 year programme because they have a degree already do struggle to pack it all into two years

I've been a nurse for 17 years. I don't have a degree. I'm trying to top up
To one. But I really don't want too.

@PrivateD00r

Just curious, did you think the radiographer that facilitates the CT/MRI scan etc also report it?

(There are a few reporting radiographers that report 2d x-ray by the way)

I wonder if they will try to train more assistant practitioners or nursing associates?

That would make more sense @Funkypolar

[quote Siw2020]@PrivateD00r

Just curious, did you think the radiographer that facilitates the CT/MRI scan etc also report it?

(There are a few reporting radiographers that report 2d x-ray by the way)[/quote]
I thought a more senior radiographer did the reporting

Nurses are no longer just the Dr's handmaiden and haven't been for decades now.

However, no, I don't think students should be fast tracked. It's a full-time course (and some!) as it is. If the government brought back bursaries and made the course free again that would be the biggest help.

I was put on the emergency covid register at the start of the first lock down. I left the NMC register about eighteen months ago. No one has ever contacted me regarding needing me to work so I can only assume they don't need me. I have 30 years experience including years of caring for patients on CPAP machines.

I’m currently doing my nurse training through the open uni, as part of my job in community nursing. This will take 4 years as it is classed as part time learning and as a poster said above I will need 2,300 practice hours to allow me to go on the register. This is set by the NMC and I doubt this will change. Also nurses absolutely need to be degree trained, in scotland they have just changed it all again so that nurses will now graduate as prescribers and being able to recognise differing chest sounds, percussion? Can’t remember what it is called but what the doctor does when he taps your chest. This year is also the first year where all 4 fields have been offered through the OU, I have chosen adult nursing as my specialist field but they are expecting you to have knowledge of them all so you can work anywhere. Even The nursing associate role in England is 2 years and another year for registration

Nursing associates can still only do so much though?