New student? What's that? You're worried about your finals!

For a new student nurse, mention of your finals, as in, exams - seems a world-away. After a paroxysmal attack of fear (and motivation!), time resolves. "It's fine. I can relax. We're good!"

Especially so in the pre-Project 2000 days (Swaby, 2021), when nurse education was conducted in more local schools of nursing. You could be forgiven for feeling reassured that there's plenty of time; if your first step was to work as a nursing assistant (or cadet) prior to starting as a student.

Then all of a sudden, you can point to many wornout shoes. You've been busy; helped run a ward, a caseload, a team, and raised a family. And, while the NHS, nursing, society, and much else besides have continued their relentless pace of change, change and more change.

You blink,* look again and you're starting what will be your final 3-year period of nurse registration. What this will bring: who knows?

Kelly Swaby (2021) Did Project 2000 fulfil the intention set out by nursing’s leadership to create
a profession of highly educated practitioners. Thesis.
https://pure.hud.ac.uk/ws/portalfiles/portal/70492399/Swaby_THESIS.pdf

*'Blink' https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4f0p5KqdU9U

ii On Sociology & Becoming a Nurse

Two final observations re.

Maclean, Una. (1974) Nursing in contemporary society. London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
https://wellcomecollection.org/works/qhqc24fv

Firstly, there is a question for new student nurses:

'In the case of nursing, the Royal College of Nursing laid down the course of training and the final tests whilst the General Nursing Council held the solemn register to which aspiring professionals were ultimately to be admitted, and  the aim of these two powerful proponents of the nurse's unique role was to limit he epithet 'nurse' to those who had successfully navigated the straight and narrow path to registration.' p.67.

Q. Above, Maclean refers to a solemn register. What do you believe may have shaped the author's writing at that time in 1974? Is the nurse register, towards which you now aspire still 'solemn'? 2000 words.

There has been much debate of late regards the title 'Nurse'. 'Doctor' also.

Secondly, Maclean was prescient in acknowledging the 'Patient's right to information'. pp.119-120.

'International Nurse's Day' 2025 - c/o The RCN

'Today is International Nurses’ Day – a day to highlight and celebrate the incredible skill, dedication and impact of nursing.

Nursing staff like you bring so much to those you care for each day. You are there for people during their best and worst moments. You change lives every day, despite our profession facing considerable challenges.

Nursing is highly skilled and rooted in excellence. That’s why patients place their trust in you when they’re at their most vulnerable.

We see the resilience and strength it takes to do this complex, safety-critical work. So today – and every day – we say thank you.'

Text c/o The RCN and video:

Also with RCN Congress starting today ...