Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England – 2010

Earlier in March The Prime Minister’s Commission on the Future of Nursing and Midwifery in England published its final report.

You can download the report in full.

Box 3.1.2 (on page 43) features key statistics on nursing and midwifery:

• In 2009 there were nearly 595,000 RNs on the register residing in England, 77% of them registered in the adult nursing branch.
• In 2009 there were over 31,000 RMs on the register residing in England.
• Nine out of 10 of RNs in England are female.
• There are disproportionate numbers of men in more senior nursing positions and certain specialties: a third of mental health nurses, for example, are male.
• Nearly all RMs in England are female. There are 131 male midwives.
• Well over half the RNs and RMs working in the NHS in England (57%) are aged between 35 and 54, with less than 3% under 25. Almost 70% of RNs and RMs on the NMC register in England are aged 40 and over.

Reporting on the Commission's report the RCN Bulletin (10 March) notes the need to encourage more men into the profession and people from black and ethnic minority groups. As the list above highlights, however - There are disproportionate numbers of men in more senior nursing positions and certain specialties: a third of mental health nurses, for example, are male.

From my early nurse education days (especially from mental health to general nursing) you had no choice, but be aware of gender and just w(h)ere you had landed. Upon my first encounter with Hodges' model, the model stood out in the list of theories and models of nursing.

It was not listed on the original nursing theory website.
(Hence, the initial website project)
The majority of models and theories were created by women and outside England.#

The future of nursing depends on successfully addressing* the numbers: totals, proportions, recruits, retirees*. ... We can use the numbers, quality, safety and I have to say - Hodges' model to help craft the creative and innovative messages needed. We really are in for a fascinating and exciting 20-30 years in nursing; here in the UK, EU and Internationally.

* Note the use of 'addressing' not balancing - that's why this is also challenging.
# This is not a complaint, just an observation.