Setting The Direction For Nursing & Midwifery Education in Scotland

Introduction by the Chief Nursing Officer, the Chair of the Scottish Executive Nurse Directors, and the Chair of the Scottish Heads of Academic Nursing and Allied Health Professions

The Chief Nursing Officer's Education Review gave us a valuable opportunity to reflect on the achievements of nursing and midwifery education and research in Scotland, recognise the challenges that lie ahead and identify a focus for future action. Set within the context of significant change in health and social care, the Review has shown us a way forward which will be driven by educational innovation and excellence. We firmly believe that with everyone's commitment, collaboration and confidence the six strategic aims presented in Setting the Direction will be achieved and will prepare a nursing and midwifery workforce for 2020 and beyond. This will strengthen the contribution of nurses and midwives to meet the vision and values set out in Everyone Matters: 2020 Workforce Vision.^[3]

Nursing and Midwifery staff account for over 42% of the NHSScotland workforce; leading or working within multidisciplinary multiagency teams, they provide services for people throughout their lives and play a key role in Scotland's health and care services. Consequently, service users and the wider public often view the quality of nursing and midwifery as the touchstone against which the rest of the service is judged. Education is at the heart of quality and must be seen as an investment not a cost.

The Review process and outcomes support the Scottish Government's Quality Ambitions^[4] and 2020 Vision for Health and Social Care in Scotland,^[5] and set out an agenda to place nurses and midwives in control of their own future professional potential, and assert key roles within modern Scottish health and care delivery as part of the 2020 Workforce Vision.

Nursing and midwifery roles have developed and expanded considerably over the years. Already, advanced and specialist practitioners, work in ways that extend far beyond the expectations of a nurse or midwife ten or even five years ago. Supporting practitioners to rise to new challenges are responsibilities of both education and service providers. From the design and delivery of pre-registration programmes that prepare practitioners with the skills, knowledge and values that are required at the point of registration to providing post qualifying education and continuing professional development that is flexible, responsive, evidence-based, and financially sustainable.

Education at all levels should inspire a passion for continually striving to improve knowledge and practice, always learning, questioning, solving and never losing sight of the essential components of care, compassion and professionalism. A central theme of Setting the Direction gives focus to how education can instil the values, attitudes and behaviours that translate into compassionate and person-centred care.

We began the Chief Nursing Officer's Education Review with a 'future focus', but quickly became aware that there were some areas for which we would need to establish a consensus position now, before we could move forward to set out a possible future. Keen to articulate a 'bold' future vision of how nursing and midwifery should be in 2020 and beyond, the Review also heard and acknowledged those voices which have articulated an equally challenging 'present' and have sought to ensure that our future is built on solid foundations and a real engagement with our staff, our patients and our wider community.

It is in that spirit that we commend Setting the Direction to you and the goals and actions upon which we can collectively act to shape our professional future. We now encourage you to join us in moving these forward together. Taking this forward, in partnership, will be a privilege and is a professional imperative for all of us.

Ros Moore
Chief Nursing Officer for Scotland

Professor Fiona McQueen
Chair, Scottish Executive Nurse Directors

Professor Brian J Webster
Chair, Scottish Heads of Academic
Nursing and Allied Health Professions