All Ireland Society for Higher Education
| Name: | Malone , Anne-Marie |
|---|---|
| Email: | anmalone@tcd.ie |
| Institution: | The University of Dublin, Trinity College |
Byrne, Gobnait A. Murphy, Fiona M., fiona.murphy@tcd.ie
Nurse education in Ireland within the third level educational sector has undergone unprecedented change in the last decade, necessitated by developments in a rapidly evolving and highly complex health service care system. A strategic approach to the further development of nurse education that takes cognisance of the needs of all nursing disciplines and broader issues such as interdisciplinary education and research must be developed, within the context of the changing needs of health care and society as a whole. This paper will discuss the future challenges facing nursing education. Firstly, the changes in funding from the Department of Health and Children to the Department of Education and Science and the complexities inherent in this process which will require extensive collaboration between the third level institutes and health service providers will be discussed. Further issues that will emerge will include the ability of the third level sector to provide dynamic programmes, which prepare health care professionals to practice within a health service that is facing rapid and unprecedented change, within the context of contemporary national and international developments. Other issues that will impact on this will be addressed including the impact of workforce planning factors and the emergence of expanding roles for nurses, which will require specialist education. The imperative for third level institutes to develop programmes that facilitate students to achieve their potential professionally whilst developing their skills of critical thinking and reflection to become life-long learners will also be considered. Central to the development of academic excellence is research at national, institutional and professional levels. In comparison to other professions, few nurses in Ireland are equipped with the skills to develop nursing and midwifery research, participate in interdisciplinary research initiates, secure international funding or engage in collaborative international research. The future development of nursing research will also be addressed.
(Abstract ref: #40.)