New Recruitment Rules For NHS Nurses
The government has clarified new recruitment rules for NHS nurses to remove redundancies and ensure the training of far more nurses are up to date. This is a promising change, with many believing that this will ultimately result in better care for patients.
We're going to break down these new changes and explore the reasoning behind them in depth, as well as what it means for you. We'll also discuss what measures are being made to address problems like staff retention rates within NHS hospitals. So let's get started!....
The changes make it much clearer what a nurse needs to know and demonstrate in order to become a nurse. Though many people will be pleased with the new changes, there is still a feeling that their experience with nursing is still too backward-thinking and outdated, even after the introduction of new training requirements.
New Health Workers Need To Be Highly Trained
As of last month, the government has introduced new legislation which means that all newly qualified nurses must pass an expanded set of clinical exams on entry-level training before being able to practise in any NHS setting.
They will also have to undergo a period of foundational training to ensure that they're aware of all the health and safety issues that could arise, as well as the essentials for their role. This will see them learn about airway management, cardiac and respiratory care as well as learning about patient assessment and recording.
This means that employers are no longer able to just offer newly-qualified nurses an entry level reception role with no prior knowledge of how a hospital works. They must be trained in order to achieve the necessary standards before they can perform any work.
Ensuring that there is far more emphasis on clinical skills, rather than just the Medical Foundation courses and GCE's that are typically studied by nurses who enter the industry. The government has clearly set their sights on ensuring that these new nurses will be of a high quality and not simply trained to fill in for existing staff members.
This is a very positive step forward for nurses everywhere, but it's hard to tell how effective this will be in the long run. Many believe that this is just a quick fix to make sure that any new workforce is up to date with requirements and regulations, but it might not have the desired effect with such short notice.
Will This Improve The Current Issues In Nursing?
That's a very good question. There is still a feeling that the current issues in nursing are incredibly much due to newer staff members simply not having the right training, or even the time to complete their training, before being thrown into their role at work.
There's also been a big issue surrounding staff retention rates, as many have felt that NHS nursing has become lower paid and less respected than it used to be, which has resulted in many talented professionals leaving the industry.
The government has addressed this problem by promising to increase pay for most nurses, as well as introducing bursaries for student nurses who successfully complete their studies. This might help to keep new and experienced staff members in the workforce, as well as make it easier for them to spend more time training and getting the necessary qualifications.
It looks like there's plenty of good news for health workers from this change, but it will really only be known if this new measure will make a large difference in nursing's overall situation.
What Are The Rules?
The new rules introduce a legal requirement for all nurses who wish to pratice in the NHS. This means that they must pass a variety of exams on entry-level work before being able to accept shifts or work shifts on their own.
It also means that they must complete a period of foundational training before being able to use their clinical skills and perform any work. It's important to note that there are some exceptions when it comes to nurses who already have a long-standing position.
It remains unclear how the government will be implementing this new requirement, or even how long it will take for the majority of nurses in the country to be up to date with these new policies. It could take years, or even decades for this update to really make a difference for NHS employers and staff.
Will This Help With Staff Retention?
For many years now, there has been an issue with staff retention rates within nursing. Many have found that working hours and conditions in the NHS have become less favourable than it used to be, and as such many workers who held a position at one time have since left the industry.
The government has passed legislation which requires employers to provide all newly-qualified nurses with a period of foundational training before they are able to start working. This is in an attempt to improve current staff retention rates which, it must be said, are still very much at an all-time low.
But there's still a feeling that this might not be enough to catch up with what's currently happening in nursing. There is always a chance that this will not be enough to really improve retentions at all, but there are also some people who believe that this will help with staff retention negatively.
Why Is This Necessary?
In order to ensure that all nurses have the required skills for their role, employers must provide them with essential training and education. This ensures that every nurse has the knowledge of how to perform their work duties, as well as how to deal with various situations which could arise in patient care.
This could include things like how to care for a patient in an emergency situation, or even learn how to diagnose a condition or illness when they first begin their career. These courses will also teach them how to deal with various medical equipment and resources in the workplace, so that they are able to use them properly.
In an attempt to make sure that there is never a nurse who is not working up to standards, the government has created this new requirement for all newly-qualified nurses who wish to be employed by the NHS. This rule is likely going to have a way of improving the working conditions at hospitals and other health institutions in general.
What Does This Mean For Employers?
This new legislation requires all newly-qualified nurses working in the NHS to pass an expanded set of clinical exams before being able to work on their own. This is in an attempt to ensure that all nursing care is delivered by staff members who are up to date with current standards, as well as highly skilled.
There is also a general requirement for employers in the UK to provide foundational training for new nurses before they're allowed to begin work. This has been put forward by the government in response to the fact that many new workers aren't able to perform their duties before anyone can notice. This will help ensure that everyone who works within the NHS within the UK will be of a high quality and not simply trained in order to fill gaps in existing staff members.
This next change comes with a lot of regulation around it, including certain requirements that all nurses must follow when working at their job.
Conclusion
This new rule has been set in an attempt to improve the standards of nursing care in the UK. It's obviously a good thing for staff members and employers within the country, as well as those who need their services. This is also going to improve how well every healthcare worker performs their duties, so it's going to help with ensuring that all staff are put through rigorous training and education so that they can be able to give high-quality care.
This new requirement for newly-qualified nurses is likely going to help with improving current levels of retention rates, which remain at very low levels across the board.