This discussion is really relevant to Nurse Practitioners. We have battled
for years to get protection of the title so that if you are titled Nurse
Practitioner the public and other health care professionals can be assured
that you have been trained to a recognised level, that you can match the
competencies set out by regulating authority and you are on a register that
is open to scrutiny.
Well, we have battled and battled and battled. The NMC has agreed to a
register of "Advanced Nurse Practitioners". The training institutions have
got together to match their courses to the competencies that the NMC and the
RCN (Nurse Pracititioner Association) have worked long and hard on, But it
is "pending" awaiting the outcome of various consultations about the
regulation of health care professionals. I understand the Privy Council are
"sitting on it" waiting for those consultations.
Shipman is much quoted as the reason for the delay. Well I would have
thought that would expedite things. Where is the public protection for
people being cared for by Nurse Practitioners if any nurse can style herself
a Nurse Practitioner.
So if anyone has clout please please please push for the regulation of
nurses working in advanced practice.
Cherry
ps I have said I wont retire until this register is in place so for the sake
of my poor patients, condemned to being cared for by a toothless old crone -
get this register into place.
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