New E-Learning module 'Acute kidney injury' released
March 17, 2014
The NICE guideline ‘Acute kidney injury’, released in August 2013 focuses on identifying practice that might improve care and outcomes in the risk assessment, prevention, early recognition and treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) in a non-specialist or primary care setting. There are already learning programmes on this topic available for doctors and pharmacists, but none aimed at nurse and healthcare support workers. This e-learning tool aims to fill that gap.
News from the EU on the Professional Qualification Directive
January 23, 2013
News from Ms Barbara Weiler (SPD), German MEP of the Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats and member of the IMCO committee: due to the many inputs received the committee had a lengthy debate last night. Regarding the number of general education prior the nursing school, the decision was to compromise a two-tier system of 10 and 12 years general education, respectively, in order not to jeopardize the suggested catalogue of competencies.
But all countries have to move: the competency catalogue will describe the requirements that need to be achieved at the end of all health care professions, regardless of whether they have 10 or 12 years of general education. That means, that for instance the German Federal Government (Bundesregierung) is in fact stipulated to question the educational system of nurses. "This reform can challenge a debate that would lead to appreciation of the profession, to improved working conditions, more recognition and a more gratifying professional perspective", is Barbara Weiler confident. "The bottom line is that the occupational profile of nurses has to be adapted to the challenges of the 21. Century" she finally clarifies.
Therefore, there is no reason to be disappointed. Just the opposite, our voices had been heard and we will surely work for the catalogue of competencies.
Heike Strunk, RN CCRN CRNA MNAdvisor to EfCCNa | Fellow of EfCCNaEUROPEAN FEDERATION OF CRITICALCARE NURSING ASSOCIATIONS
Written on .
Modernisation of the EU Professional Qualifications directive
January 22, 2013
The EU Committee Internal Market und Consumer Protection, IMCO are close to adopting a modernisation of the Directive 2005/36/EC, which concerns the recognition of professional qualifications, particularly the general education prior to the nursing school.
The EU Commission's proposal was that the "admission to training for nurses shall be contingent upon completion of general education of 12 years", which is already minimal requirement for all EU Member States except for two countries. Yet, the EU Committee for Environment, Public Health and Food Safety ENVI (ENVI) voted on 6th Nov. 2012 in opposition, stating "a general education of at least 10 years" would be sufficient.
ESNO, the European Specialist Nursing Organisation, has prepared a petition in order to reject all amendments that would propose 10 years instead of 12 years as prerequisites for Nursing education.
(see petition and more information about this topic on the ESNO website, http://www.esno.org)
