Innovation paper
Despite successive increases in the number of commissioned places for pre-registration nursing programmes across Wales the number of nurses remains static at best (RCN 2016). In some areas there are severe nursing shortages and health boards struggle to recruit qualified nurses. The RCN estimates that every week across Wales nurses work extra hours to the value of 815 full time nursing staff. Nursing shortages lead to reduced standards of patient care safety concerns significant agency costs and difficulties delivering key services. By offering flexibility in funding a part-time programme and creative delivery methods it is expected that we can enable HCSWs to access a degree programme leading to NMC registration and that this will boost the local nursing workforce.
