August/September 2022 (vol. 19/2)

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Standard practice

Summary:

The latest NMC SCPHN standards are now available. They are designed to reflect contemporary practice in public health nursing, but will they work for OH nurses?

The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has published its post-registration standards for specialist community public health nurses (SCPHNs)1. They apply to OH nurses, health visitors and school nurses. Despite widespread support for the updated standards in the NMC’s recent public consulation2, they fail to address significant concerns previously raised within OH nursing. For example, it has been argued that: courses approved by the NMC for SCPHN registration have insufficient OH content and do not fully prepare nurses for a career in OH nursing; there is a shortage of the required OH work placements and practice teachers; and there are no alternative routes to specialist registration, such as for nurses who gain respected but non-NMC-approved OH qualifications, potentially disadvantaging them in the job market3,4

 John Ballard, editor

Author: Ballard J

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Occupational Health at Work August/September 2022 (vol. 19/2) pp03

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