 |
 |
on 13/5/04 9:27 am, Sam Davies at [log in to unmask] wrote: > Christine, > Having started an ENB N61 course at Lincoln University (but as the ENB had > folded by the end been awarded a diploma from the University) > I was very disappointed to find that at the end of all my hard work that > the qualification was essentially worthless in the eyes of recruitment > consultants and employers as it is not a registerable qualification. > I find this particularly frustrating when I was looking for a new job > through. I was informed by a recruitment consultant that I would not be > considered for roles where a qualification was required, but someone who > had done an Occupational Health Certificate 20yrs ago would be. > My friend who has an MSc in Occupational Health is also in the same > situation. > However the good news is that most employers do not discriminate against > those with a registerable qualification and those with a qualification that > demonstrates professional development particularly if you have some > experience. > I can't help feeling that the goal posts keep moving in nurse education, > its no wonder so many choose to leave the profession. > (Yes it is a sore point for me !!) > > Regards > > Samantha Davies > Occupational Health Adviser > > > > > > Christine Hamlet > <[log in to unmask] To: [log in to unmask] > NET.CO.UK> cc: > Subject: ENB N61 > 12/05/2004 21:58 > Please respond to > Occupational > Health mailing > list > > > > > > > Can anybody clarify what recognition this course gets on job applications > as regards qualifications? When I completed the course in 2002 the ENB had > ceased to exist and I was awarded a University Diploma (72 credits at Level > 2) in Occupational Health Nursing. I am confused when completing > application forms as to exactly what it stands for and how much does the > prospective employer know about the course content? > Any views or advice would be most welcome. > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Please remove this footer before replying. > Visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html for list archives > > > > > > > ______________________________________________________________________ > This email has been scanned by the MessageLabs Email Security System. > For more information please visit http://www.messagelabs.com/email > ______________________________________________________________________ > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ > Please remove this footer before replying. > Visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html for list archives > Hello Samantha I can understand your frustration and disappointment that your ENB N61 does not give you specialist practitioner status, neither does an MSc in Occupational Health if it has not been validated by the NMC or equivalent. The reason being that the statutory bodies have very strict validation rules which institutions have to follow and these can pose real difficulties for the course leaders. If a university chooses not to follow those rules then they cannot award a specialist practitioner qualification. An example of such a course is the MSc offered at Birmingham. That programme is an excellent course but is focussed on occupational health and not occupational health nursing and is therefore not NMC validated - you pay your money and take your choice. The MSc offered at Surrey Uni has a number of pathways through it. Those that wish to get the specialist practitioner status have to take a number of OH nursing units. A number of us who took that degree already held the OHNC/D and chose to take the non-nursing units and therefore our degree was not an ENB validated course. I was the course director at the RCN and we offered the N61 as part of the BSc OH Nursing programme. However, we made it clear to those that enrolled on that course that they would not get specialist practitioner status without completion of the degree. My rationale for offering it was that it formed the compulsory level 2 study for the degree programme but it also allowed a recognized exit point for those who either decided against a career in OH, had family commitments which made study difficult or impossible (eg a move overseas) or found study at level 3 difficult. Very few people decided to exit with the N61. The goal posts aren't really moving, each time they do move measures are put in place so as not to disadvantage people who have other specialist qualifications eg DOHN, OHNC but it emphasizes the need to check exactly what a course gives you when you enroll on it. I would suggest that people with the N61 consider registering on a degree programme as part of their continuing professional development. Anne Harriss ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Please remove this footer before replying. Visit http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/occ-health.html for list archives