'Collecting... Certificates - paper evidence!' was our June 2010 issue collecting theme. From the subsequent, admittedly small number, of somewhat impassioned pleas, and at least one expression of frustration (which sounded like 'very' to me) - I could perhaps lay some claim to psychic activity!
But not really. I can't speak for everyone, but in my own experience as both a student and as a nurse teacher, the golden rules emphasized at the start of nurse training was 'Do not lose your index number; do not lose your syllabus and do not lose your practical training record - under any circumstances'. Likewise at the end - do not lose your records, your certificates of training, and evidence of State Registration. You don't have to be a psychic to know that someone, somewhere, will end up needing the paper evidence of their training and will not be able to produce it... And at the very time that they find that it is essential to have it.
Take the test! Can you, hand on heart, produce your records and certificates - now?!
Or are you one of the majority who 'know' where they are - and that even if they turn out not to be (!) - you know where you can get copies? I mean, you know where you trained; you know when you trained; you know the people who trained you; the people who kept your records; and you know that the statutory body (right now the NMC) will have your records and be able to confirm your training. Don't you?
Herein lies the problem. You know who you are, but I probably don't and need to ask you for evidence that, personally and professionally, you are who and what you say you are. With the training and experience you claim to possess. Which is especially true if you want to work overseas (or already do), where you might want to take further training, or to seek promotion or other advancement in your career. Your knowing all about you just isn't enough - you have to be able to prove it to everybody's satisfaction.
The situation is complicated in the UK by the several changes in nurse education in the working lifetime of many current nurses. The GNC's (General Nursing Councils) were taken over by new statutory bodies. Firstly the UKCC and then by the present NMC. They were and are responsible for state registration issues. But, regardless of the complexities associated with transferring records, they did and do not keep detailed training records of an individual nurse's training. It appears that potential employers, especially overseas employers, and the providers of further training are increasingly demanding this information.
Then take-over of individual (pre-university) schools of nursing also seems to have led to difficulties for nurses trained at them - knowing which universities took over their schools. Some universities took over schools which were later taken over by yet other universities! What happened to the training records of thousands of nurses at the time of the take-over's seems to be an open question. The chance of a nurse from a pre-university school obtaining her records of training seems remote.
Member Photograph Galleries.
Are still accumulating at a very reasonable pace. The 'National'
galleries now contain 2744 nursing/hospital badge photographs encompassing
all areas of the UK; 324 photographs (buildings/people/ephemera); and 48
photographs of nurse uniforms, both civilian and military; and 2316 badge
photographs. Have a quick
glimpse of the two latest badges:-
(Logged-in members can click images to enlarge).
|
West Hertfordshire School of Midwifery | National
Galleries - Latest Member Uploads All photographic rights 'nursesue' |
Royal Berkshire Hospital |
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The galleries are becoming a
small on-line museum and are adding to our knowledge of nursing history quite
nicely, thanks to our contributors. It is available to anyone who cares to
register as a member - a very simple process. All is free...
Welcome to the Forum and Member Galleries -
Register Here.
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The site forum - Membership and Visitors.
In January 2007 we opened the forum for business. I new topic; 4
replies; 2 new members; and 5 unique visitors!!
The current situation is
just a
little different. At September 2010 we now have 175 topics'; and 876 posts from
212
members. Not too bad for a history site, but since this one deals with
nurses, nursing and hospitals we still have some way to go. We have that
in hand. So far we have still not sought to openly promote the site. Our
preference has always been to ensure quality and more importantly, 24/7
availability. We seem to have achieved that...
Our August visitors. 7217 (unique) visits. 20193 pages served up.
A year on year increase in visits of over 55.32% compared with the same period
last year (2009). Still nice.
Worldwide.. Certainly our visitors are wide ranging - from 44
countries worldwide... Australia & New Zealand and Canada are well represented
in addition to the UK and USA. There are also some more esoteric sounding
countries - China; Russia; Cayman Islands; Japan; Malaysia; plus Romania and
Spain.
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