www.derby.ac.uk/health-and-social-care

Student Nurse Involvement in Recruitment and

Selection of the Next Generation of NursesHelen Croft1, Emilie Hindle 2 & Ben Stanesby3 : Pre-registration nursing students, (1Mental Health Field, 2&3Adult Field)

College of Health and Social Care, University of Derby, UK 1h.croft@derby.ac.uk, 2e.hindle@derby.ac.uk 3b.stanesby@derby.ac.uk

Inter professional participation in the values based selection process

Student nurses of all disciplines should be aware of the responsibilities and roles of all people who provide social and healthcare (NMC, 2011, p.13). In practice environments this is achieved by working inter-professionally with all staff involved in the delivery of care. In an academic setting, at the University of Derby, students have been able to both work and learn inter-professionally through engagement and participation in all aspects the values based selection process for nursing.

Mental health and adult nursing students have participated in all aspects of the selection process. This has included welcoming students, marking numeracy, literacy and values based test papers, marking group participation and asking questions related to the 6C’s (DoH, 2012) during individual interviews. Through engagement in this process nursing students have achieved inter- professional learning and working not only with their peers but also senior lecturers, professionals from the local NHS trust and expert service users.

Professional values

Through participation in the values based selection process, student nurses have also been able to participate in an activity where they can demonstrate their professional conduct in line with the NMC Code (2008) by ensuring they treated prospective students fairly without discrimination, worked within the limits of their competence and through consulting and sharing information with colleagues.

The values based selection process has also provided the opportunity for students to develop their understanding and application of professional values expected for all staff in healthcare environments by realising the links between the NHS Constitution (DoH, 2013), the 6C’s (DoH,2012) and the University of Derby’s own values. This has been achieved through working in a context of values based practice with prospective students but also in developing an understanding of professional values in the context of the wider healthcare workforce.

Developing skills: Continuing professional development

Participation within the values based selection process has allowed students to take responsibility for their own learning, (NMC, 2011, p13) whilst also providing an opportunity to take part in an activity which develops both performance and competence (NMC, 2008).

For pre-registration students participation and engagement in this process has allowed for continuing professional development through reflection (NMC, 2008). Reflection has encouraged focus on development of competences and has highlighted deficits in knowledge, within a values based framework.

Participation in this process has provided an opportunity to develop communication, interpersonal and decision-making skills. These developing skills will not only serve students well as pre-registration nursing students but also within a leadership and management roles as future practitioners.

ReferencesDepartment of Health, (2012) Compassion in Practice. Nursing, Midwifery and Care Staff our Vison and Strategy. Department of Health, (2013) The NHS Constitution, the NHS belongs to us all. The Nursing and Midwifery Council, (NMC) (2008) The Code Standards of conduct, performance and ethics for nurses and midwives. The Nursing and Midwifery Council, (NMC) (2011) Guidance on professional conduct for nursing and midwifery students. 3rd Edition.

Student nurse recruitment

Interviewing panel

Group activity

observation

Numeracy, literacy and

SJ testing

Professional Values

Communication and

Interpersonal skills

Nursing practice and

decision making

Teamwork, leadership and management