Competency versus hours: an examination of a current dilemma in nurse education.

Full Abstract

In Europe student nurses have to work within a framework of curriculum hours, the regulations governing which were determined almost three decades ago. European Higher Education institutions involved in the delivery of nurse education are constrained by this European Union legislation that harks back to an era of apprenticeship rather than modern day educational approaches. This article describes the background to current educational practices and discusses the conflict between legal requirements, enshrined in professional regulations and the realities of competency driven educational philosophy.

Author information

Author/s: Mallaber, Colin (C); Turner, Paul (P);

Affiliation: Faculty of Health and Community Care, University of Central England, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Review

Journal: Nurse education today (Nurse Educ Today), published in Scotland. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2006-Feb; vol 26 (issue 2) : pp 110-4

Dates: Created 2006/01/17; Completed 2006/03/17; Revised 2007/11/15;

PMID: 16188349, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 2/18/2009, IMS Date: )

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

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