Nursing regulator ‘open’ to cut hours of practical training

It goes like this new review of practical training requirements in the UKcommissioned by the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), is due to be published in the coming weeks.

“We are willing to reduce the number of training hours, but at the same time we strive to ensure that it is a quality experience for achieving results.”

Sam Foster

Sam Foster, chief executive of professional nursing practice at the NMC, shared some of the key findings from the review at the Nursing Times Workforce online conference yesterday.

The review, carried out by the Nuffield Trust, is intended to inform the regulator whether any changes need to be made to current clinical placement requirements, such as the number of hours students must complete.

Practical training makes up 50% of nursing and midwifery programs.

Currently, nurses complete 2,300 hours of practical training, of which 600 hours can be covered by simulated practical training.

In recent years, there have been calls to reduce the minimum number of internship hours that students must complete.

The NHS long-term workforce plan published under the previous Conservative government said it wanted explore how nurses can enter the register with fewer hours of practice.

It argues that reducing practice hours from 2,300 to 1,800 during a nursing course could reduce student workload while increasing job opportunities in NHS services.

Ms Foster told the conference that the Nuffield Trust report was expected to conclude that there was “limited published empirical evidence” to determine the optimal number of hours of practical training a student nurse should undertake.

Similarly, limited evidence was found regarding the optimal number of births a student midwife should attend (currently 40).

Ms Foster said: “There are different opinions about what would be ‘optimal’.

“However, the real consensus was that I think we all know that quality is more important than quantity.

“Outcomes-based education is the focus of the NMC.”

Nursing Times editor Steve Ford insisted Ms Foster could reduce her practical training hours.

In response, Ms Foster said: “I think it’s really important to say that the NMC is really open to this.

“So there is no fixed view in the back room.”

Ms. Foster noted that other professions “definitely do not have a 2,300-hour limit.”

“This may give you an idea that we are willing to reduce those hours of training, but still strive to provide a quality experience to achieve results,” she added.

Meanwhile, Ms Foster said a review of practical training had found “sometimes confusion” among providers about how to interpret program delivery requirements, including finding the right balance between the “depth and breadth” of knowledge for students.

Another key area raised in the review was the “opportunities and barriers” in increasing employability for student nurses, Ms Foster said.

The study also found “real differences” in the level of supervision offered to students.

Equality, diversity and inclusion will be key themes in the review, Ms Foster said.

She added: “As you can imagine, several real themes emerged from this initial Nuffield work regarding inequality, racism and discrimination in practical training settings, (and) the ability of colleagues to understand and continue to make reasonable adjustments.

“And, of course, (it highlighted) the financial difficulties and obstacles that students face in pursuing educational programs.”

At NMC latest council documentsIn a statement released this week, the regulator confirmed its review of teaching practices was “progressing well”.

It said it would “actively engage” with its steering and advisory groups in November and December 2024 “to reach consensus on recommendations to the executive.”

Findings and recommendations for next steps will be presented in January 2025, the documents confirm.