A collaborative approach to education provision will help save our specialism

The education and training of nurses has changed considerably since the introduction of Project 2000 in the early 1990s. Curriculum redesigns and a move into higher education have resulted in staff with good academic qualifications but a reduced practice base when they qualify. Additional problems relating to recruitment and retention of qualified staff mean that nurses struggle to balance their workload, juggling clinical practice demands with their needs for professional development.