Action research: a suitable method for promoting change in nurse education.

This paper arose from a research study and its follow-up in four schools of nursing and midwifery. The study was concerned with evaluating the extent to which a philosophy of health had been integrated into the educational curricula of nurses, midwives and health visitors. The purpose of the follow-up was to disseminate and implement the study findings in the four centres. The findings showed that the interpretation and implementation of a philosophy of health in nursing had been variable. Health was operationalized as both health education and health promotion ranging from individualized information giving and disease prevention. Action research was chosen as the appropriate methodology for the follow-up because of its emphasis on participation and partnership. As the follow-up study progressed a number of issues emerged which were indicative of the changes taking place in nurse education as its institutional base shifted into higher education. Other issues were associated with the gap between the rhetoric and reality of action research and the expectations and needs of the key partners. The authors conclude that the follow-up study presented both challenges and opportunities to nurse educators in their endeavour to undertaken research and implement educational change.

Celebrating the present, challenging the future of nurse prescribing.

As universities gear up to deliver the next wave of nurse prescriber training, this article -- based in part on the experiences of the University of Derby and its partner trusts and the recent consultation document (Department of Health, 2001) -- considers the issues underpinning the education and training of nurse prescribers. The collaborative, cooperative and coordinated approach seen in the training of the first wave facilitated the preparation of large numbers of practitioners to prescribe while maintaining service provision to patients in the community. The success of the programme should be celebrated, but also raises topics for debate as nurse prescribing expands to include a much wider range of nurses. The consultation document identifies the range of medicine from which it is proposed nurses will be able to prescribe and outlines the education and training parameters that will underpin the new prescribing requirements. It is clear that some challenges similar to those experienced during the first wave of nurse prescribing will arise, but there are also some significant differences that have raised pertinent questions and require answers.