Nursing Education-Learning from History

[backman]

  The RCN History of Nursing Society which normally holds a formal conference in November each year,decided to vary the programme with a seminar looking at Nurse Training/Education and how this has and indeed will change over the years.This is particularly timely in that the NMC will meet next month to explore a new pre registration curriculum.
The day explored a number of threads including Spirituality,Oral Histories,Joint training and Supernummary status.I met some very interesting individuals and took the opportunity to promote both this site and the nurses badges pages,so perhaps we may presently welcome more participation to both.
I will attempt to summarise some of the main points of the day in bite size portions.Please bear with and comment as you wish.

[backman]

 Nursing Ethics since 1948-Rev,d Tom Keighley FRCN

This session put nurse training very much into the context of the age. Arising out of the Christian ethic of vocation and service which focussed upon the treatment of sickness rather than the promotion of health.
A Training system based upon hierarchical adherence to rigid task related procedures was fit for its time.
Patients who were accepting of illness as a part of life and who were generally unquestionning as to the care they received and essentially grateful for what they got.
The post WW2 generation however were perhaps far less accepting, leading us to todays generation where the objectives have shifted to a focus on Health not Sickness,From Community objectives to Personal ones,From inevitable ill health to avoidable,from acceptance to resistance.
These changes have influenced Nursing in several ways.
In adopting;
A Knowledge focus rather than formation focus.
Responsibility and accountability ,not service.
Professionalism rather than just work

And so today nurses expect a long career,specialisation and advancement and internationalisation.

Whilst all these changes affect the type of training we require,as to whether they are right or wrong remains to be seen.We cannot turn back the clock and any future form of nursing education system will need to reflect the prospective needs and demands of the community it serves.What form it takes and its effectiveness will be a matter for future historians.

[backman]

The second session was delivered by Reverend Professor Steve Wright FRCN,SRN on Spirituality and Nursing Practice.
An important part,although difficult to quantify,of Nursing Practice, the session  focussed upon the need for some form of Spiritual awareness to be addressed in the training of nurses.Not necessarily the tick box form of dealing with the different Patient's religions per se,but rather the Health benefits of Faith,Family,Fellowship and Giving something to Society.Not an easy session to fit into the context  of the day but gave us food for thought nonetheless.
A recent book I purchase on Leeds hospital featured a picture of the nurses around the main ward table,kneeling in prayer each day.I wonder what the comments might be today if  this were sugested?

[backman]

A couple of Oral Histories were next on the NHS Curriculum 1948-62, A slight misnomer as both speakers trained in the late 50s,early 60s.
David Jones was a male student,from North Wales, in October 1958 in London.As one of 3 men with 40 women,it was still unusual for men to consider a career in nursing,particularly in general nursing.He  recalled his 3 months of PTS,learning A&P,Nutrition & Bed Making.Easing up to a half day per week spent on the wards,until their first placements.David spent a large part of his time on the geriatric wards,where men were popular for their Patient lifting skills( Brute force over science!)
They followed a block system of 2 weeks of school followed by 12 weeks of practice reinforcing the subjects covered in the school,orthopaedic ,surgery,etc.The years were organised so they knew what they doing for the whole time,(June July and August were spent on Night Duty) Examinations.both practical and theoretical came at regular intervals and the success at these allowed for stripes to be issued for each year passed.The practical Procedures books encouraged the collection of autographs to sign off each new procedured observed and then put into practice.At 3 years the theoretical 2 page State Final Paper was sat and hopefully passed resulting in the SRN.

David went on to detail some of his experiences later in his career as an examiner with the GNC in Chester with a number of anecdotes.A charming and informative Gentleman,David was with his wife whom he met in his PTS. I had a chat with him later in the day around badges and our websites and he told me that at the demise of the GNC he was one of the few who argued for the continuation of the states badge with the new UKCC,but unfortunately was outvoted.He also recalled instructions for all unissued hospital badges to be sent to the GNC where they were stored before they could be disposed off.If this is in fact the case they might well be a mythical El Dorado of lost Nursing badges just awaiting discovery in the bowels of the NMC building.I will keep you informed if I find out any more!

[backman]

 For further information on David Jones; http://www.rcn.org.uk/aboutus/gov/fellows/browse/jones

The next speaker was Jenny Bond who trained at Guys Hospital from 1961-1964 giving an insight into her experiences.She identified three positives that she gained from her training
1.Caring,
2.Planning and Organisation
3.Leadership

1.She developed skills in patients care including -Cleanliness,Comfort,food & drink,observation,communications,competence+ small things count
2.Individualised care,Routines( although knowing why),Thinking ahead
3.Setting an example-Hands on Care,Discipline,ward climate.
She also acknowledged however that there was also the possibility of Repression and that some nurses could be dangerous

Amongst negatives she encountered were outdated care procedures such as Cupping,Making up complex nursing caps,packing swabs for sterilisation and sharpening reusable needles.
She felt that her training produced nurses who understood why they did what they did and skills that she was able to carry with her in the whole of her career