The education connection: The higher education provision for nursing

The education connection: The higher education provision for nursing

John Sheehan

A postal survey of the institutions of higher education in the UK relating to the provision of nursing courses yielded a return of 74% for the universities, 73:/, for

the polytechnics and over 86% for the colleges/institutions of higher education. It

emerged that there is a wide geographical spread of courses for nurses in all the sectors of higher education. It also emerged that the whole spectrum of educational qualifications is more or less covered ranging from certificate courses at one end to

masters and doctoral degrees at the other.

This article deals with the provision of higher education for nurses in the UK. It is based on a postal survey, carried out in October 1985, of all the universities, polytechnics and colleges/ institutes of higher education in the UK.

METHOD

A 60-item questionnaire was designed to collect data relating to what courses institutes of higher education offered to nurses. Areas included in the questionnaire were certificate courses, diploma courses, first degree courses and higher degrees, whether taught or by research. There was a section about short

courses provided. The areas covered by the questionnaire are set out in Table 1. Closed questions were used but there was space for additional comments and an indication that these would be welcome.

J Sheehan MSc MM DipFE RNT. Principal Lecturer in Nursing, Faculty of Education, Huddersfield Polytechnic

Manuscript accepted April 1986.

The survey was conducted through the post. Included with the questionnaire was a letter explaining the purpose of the survey which stemmed from the English National Board (ENB) and the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) proposals about the future of nurse education. A stamped addressed envelope was also included for the return of the questionnaire.

RESULTS FOR THE UNIVERSITIES

Thirty-four questionnaires were returned out of a possible 46 (74yA return). In cases where questionnaires were not returned prospectuses, where available, were used as sources of data. In addition the British Council Handbook ( 1984) and Alexander (1983) were also used as sources of data.

The provision of nursing courses by universities in the UK is set out in Table 2. It is not the intention to show which individual qualili- cations are offered by each university, rather it is intended to shor the extent to which certificate courses, diploma courses, degree courses

145

146 NURSE EDUCATION TODAY

Table 1 The types of courses included in the questionnaire

CERTIFICATE COURSES

Full-time Certificate in Education for Nurse Tutors Part-time Certificate in Education for Nurse Tutors Clinical teaching District nursing Health education Health visiting JBCNS, now ENB courses Management Occupational health nursing None of these Other - please specify _.,.,,.,..,.,..,.,.,.........................................

DIPLOMA COURSES

Diploma in Education Diploma in Health Education Diploma in Management Studies Diploma in Nursing Diploma in Professional Studies in Nursing None of these Other - please specify _. _. _. _. _. _. _. _. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

FULL-TIME FIRST DEGREES

BA BEd BN BSc None of these Other - please specify

,....,.............

PART-TIME FIRST DEGREES

BA BEd BN BSc None of these Other - please spec.ifY ,..........._....___......................................................

FULL-TIME TAUGHT HIGHER DEGREES

MA MM MSc None of these Other - please specify ,..,.,..,.,..,.,..,.,._...._...._._,,_,.,._.................... . . . . . . .

PART-TIME TAUGHT HIGHER DEGREES

MA MM MSc None of these Other -please speciN . .._.__._._.._................................ __...,.,..,.,..,.,..,.................,,..................................

FULL-TIME HIGHER DEGREES BY RESEARCH

MPhil PhD/DPhil None of these Other - please specify ,,_................_......................................................

PART-TIME HIGHER DEGREES BY RESEARCH

MPhil PhD/DPhil None of these Other - please specih/ ,.............,.,.,.,.....................................................

SHORT COURSES

Counselling skills Curriculum development Experiential learning Research appreciation None of these Other - please specify _. _.

and so on are offered by the universities. The range of qualifications set out in Table 1 were more or less adequate, although in retrospect provision ought to have been made for courses offering the qualifications of a first degree and registration as a nurse.

Discussion

Universities are concerned primarily with pro-

viding first degree courses and with providing education and training in research. This is reflected in these results (Table 2). In fact the provision of first degrees (number 3 in the key) and the provision of part-time degrees by research (8 in the key) were at the top of the list. Full-time higher degrees by research (7 in the key) came close behind. Diploma courses (2 in the key) were ranked third in order of courses most frequently offered. The short courses came

NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 147

Table 2 University courses for nurses in the UK

University courses University courses

Aston Bath Birmingham Bradford Bristol Brunei Cambridge City Cranfield Dundee Durham East Anglia Edinburgh Essex

Exeter Glasgow Heriot-Watt Hull Keele Kent Lancaster Leeds

-

3. 5. 6, 7. 8

3 0 0 2. 5. 6, 7, 8 4 2. 3. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 0

:, 6, 7. 8

2. 3 -

9 0 1,6,8

Leiceeter Liverpool London (Chelsea) Loughborough Manchester Newcastle Nottingham

Open Oxford Queens, Betfest Reading St Andrews Setford Sheffield Southampton Stirling Strathclyde surrey Sussex Ulster Wales Warwick York

0 1, 4. 9 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 0 2. 3. 5. 7, -

1, 8. 9 4. 6, 7, 8 0

0 1 2. 1,3,7,8

0 1,2,3,6,7.8.9 2 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8. 9

6. 8 6

to the in Tables and 5. Nodata

0 courses for 1 Certificate 2 Diploma 3 Full-time degrees 4 Part-time degrees

in equal third with the diploma courses. Occupying equal fourth place were certificate courses (1 in the key). Part-time taught higher degree courses (6 in the key) came next. At the bottom of the league came part-time degree courses (4 in the key).

Any inferences to be made ought to take into account that the data are incomplete, although a 74% response to a postal questionnaire is ac- ceptable. Oppenheim (1966) states that returns of 4&60% are typical and a return of 80% is rarely exceeded.

From the data available it may be said that nursing has connections with universities throughout the UK, although the connections are tenuous in pIaces and patchy in others. It may be said that the provision of nursing courses covers a wide spectrum with certificate courses at one end and doctoral research at the

5 Full-time taught higher degrees 6 Part-time taught higher degrees 7 Full-time higher degrees by research 8 Part-time higher degrees by research 9 Short courses

other. However, the most active areas relate to the full-time degrees and higher degrees by

research. The indications are that university involve-

ment in nursing education may increase. Five of the respondents volunteered information in the space for additional comments on the questionnaires that discussions were in progress with the nursing world about further or greater involvement in nursing education.

RESULTS FOR THE POLYTECHNICS

Twenty-two questionnaires out of a possible 30 were returned (73% response). A higher return of the questionnaires would have been de- sirable but, as mentioned when dealing with the university provision of education for nurses,


the figure is within the limits normally ex- pected of a postal survey. Where questionnaires were not returned, prospectuses, the British Council Handbook ( 1984) and Alexander (1983) were used to supplement the data.

The provision of nursing courses by polytechnics in the UK (which means England and Wales since there are no polytechnics in Scotland or Northern Ireland) is set out in Table 3.

It is intended to provide an overview of the provision of education for nurses, rather than identify who offers what. The courses which appeared on the questionnaire are presented in Table 1. There was space for additional com- ment and inclusion of other courses; not a great deal was added which may be taken to mean that the respondents found the list more or less adequate. As with the universities, provision ought to have been made to take account of first degrees and registration as a nurse. Community psychiatric nursing courses were mentioned in the ‘other’ space.

Discussion

There are arguments about whether polytechnics should be primarily concerned with teaching and secondarily with research or whether teaching and research ought to go hand in

Table 3 Polytechnic provision of courses for nurses

hand. As far as this survey is concerned the emphasis is very much on the teaching aspect of the educational process with research occupying a lesser role.

Certificate courses (see Table l), top the list of courses provided for nurses. Reference to Table 3 shows that 20 out of the 27 for which data were available ofrered a certificate course. Many offered more than one certificate course although this does not show up in Table 3.

Diploma courses, in the form of the Diploma in Nursing or the Diploma in Professional Studies in Nursing, occupied second place as the most frequently offered. Table 3 shows that 16 of the polytechnics offered a diploma course.

Part-time higher degrees by research ranked third on the list of courses provided. It should be explained, however, how this came about. In two cases the respondents pointed out that while they were willing and able to offer research degrees to nurses, they did not in fact have any such students at this time. This was taken to be a provision which existed, though not actually being taken up; if a more rigorous interpretation of students on actual courses were applied then the number of part-time higher degrees by research should be reduced by two.

Reference to Table 3 shows that part-time first degree and short courses tie for fourth

Polytechnic Courses Polytechnic Courses

Birmingham 1,2,4,8,9 Newcastle Brighton 1,2.4 North East London Bristol lT2.3 North London Central London _ North Staffs City of London - Oxford Coventry (Lanchester) 1 Plymouth Hatfield 0 Portsmouth Huddersfield 1. 2. 6. 7, 8, 9 Sheffield Kingston 0 South Bank Lancashire 1, 2 Sunderland Leeds 2. 3, 4, 8, 9 Teesside Leicester 1.2 Thames

‘Is2.4 1,2,4,5,6,7,8,9 1 0 1,8.9 1,X9 1.4 1 r 2, 3, 4, 8 1, 2. 3, 4, 7, 8 _

1.9 2

Liverpool 1, 2. 7. 8 Trent 1. 2. 7. 8. 9 Manchester 1, 2. 4. 7. 8. 9 Wales 2. 8 Middlesex 0 Wolverhampton 1.9

‘For key to numbers see Table 2.

NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 149

place. These are followed by full-time higher degrees by research, part-time higher degrees, full-time taught higher degrees in descending order of popularity.

What emerged from the survey was that four polytechnics did not offer nursing courses, and that there were no data for three. Twenty- three polytechnics (over 85%) for which there were data offer nursing courses. Most courses are offered at the certificate and diploma level, though the whole range of academic qualifications is covered to some extent.

As in the case of the universities, there was some evidence that the polytechnic involvement with nursing education may increase. Four respondents indicated that they would like to increase their involvement with nursing and discussions/negotiations to this end were in progress.

RESULTS FOR ENGLAND FOR COLLEGES/INSTITUTES OF HIGHER EDUCATION

Forty-six out of 53 questionnaires were returned (86% return). The questionnaires appeared to present no difficulties for the respondents and catered adequately for the range of courses provided. As in previous cases, where questionnaires were not returned, prospectuses, the British Council Handbook (1984) and Alexander ( 1983) were consulted as possible

sources of data. The provision of eduation for nurses by

colleges/institutes of higher education in

England is set out in Table 4. As in the previous cases, it is intended to be

an overview of the range of courses rather than

providing a catalogue.

Table 4 The college/institute of higher education courses for nurses in England

College/Institute Courses College/Institute Courses

Bath 2. 9 Bedford 1 Bishop Grosse Teste, Lincoln 1, 9 Bolton 1.3.4,8 Bradford -

Bretton Hall, Wakefield 9 Buckinghamshire, High Wycombe 1, 2, 9 Bulmershe, Reading t,9 Cambridgeshire, Cambridge 0 Cambridge Institute 0 Charlotte Mason, Ambleside 0 Chester 3 Christchurch, Canterbury -

Colchester 2, 9 Crewe and Alsager 1 De La Salle, Manchester 4 Derbyshire, Derby -

Doncaster 1.2.4 Dorset, Poole 1, 2. 8, 9 Ealing 0 Edge Hill, Ormskirk 0 Essex, Chelmsford t,4.9 Garnett, London 1, 2, 4, 9 Harrow I,2 Hertfordshire, Watford -

Homerton, Cambridge 0

Humberside, Hull King Alfred’s, Winchester La Sainte Union, Southampton Liverpool Luton Nene, Northampton New College, Durham Newman, Birmingham Nonnington, Dover North Cheshire, Warrington North Riding, Scarborough Ripon and York St John Roehampton, London Rolle, Exeter St Mark and St John, Plymouth St Martin’s, Lancaster St Mary’s, Twickenham St Paul and St Mary, Cheltenham Slough Southampton Trinin/ and All Saints, Leeds West Hill, Birmingham West London, Isleworth West Midlands, Walsall Westminster, Oxford West Sussex, Bognor Regis Worcester

1,2.9 1, 2. 4, 9 3, 9 4. 9 -

I,2 I,9 0 0 0 0 1,4.9

1, 2, 9 4 0 0 0 9 I,9 0 0 1. 2. 9 I,4 -

1,2,9 0

*For kev to numbers see Table 2


Discussion

It emerged that over 60% of the institutions surveyed have an involvement with some aspect of nursing education. The institutions not involved were colleges of education where the main concern was to provide courses of initial teacher training, although some colleges of education have considerable involvement with

the education of nurses. Certificate courses (see Table 4) headed the

list of courses offered to nurses by this category of educational institution. In fact 30 of the 46 institutions for which there were data, offered a certificate course. Many offered several, such as health visiting, district nursing and so on.

Short courses of various sorts came second in the league of courses most frequently offered. Here the variety offered was, in some cases, greater than the questionnaire allowed for.

The provision of degree courses open to nurses by this group of institutions is fairly modest. BEd courses are the type most frequently offered and tend to be taken up by nurse tutors. Some respondents made the point that in the BEd courses no attempt was, made to include anything relating to nursing though nurses were accepted on them. Since the courses were open to nurses they were included as providers. If the criteria of a nursing content

were introduced, then the number of courses on offer would be reduced considerably.

Any conclusions relating to this matter should take several factors into account. Nurs- ing appears to have shown a preference for involvement with higher education, should uni- versal involvement with the general educational system come about. For this reason this survey was aimed at institutions within what is regarded as higher education. In selecting these institutions two directories were used, Brett ( 1984) and The Education Authorities Directory and Annual (1985). Whilst 53 institutions were surveyed it may be that this list is in some respects incomplete; by confining the survey to institutions of higher education a number of colleges offering a mixture of advanced further education (AFE) and non-

advanced further education (NAFE) have been excluded. Some of these colleges offer courses for nurses but because of the scope of the survey, there are no data for them.

Given these caveats, there is evidence of considerable involvement of the colleges/institutes of higher education with nursing education. The area of involvement concerns the lower end of the spectrum of educational qualifications in the form of certificates, dip- lomas and short courses.

As with the other institutions in the survey, this group of colleges displayed a willingness for greater involvement with nursing education. Nine of the respondents volunteered the information that discussions were in progress

about future developments relating to collaboration.

RESULTS FOR SCOTLAND, WALES, NORTHERN IRELAND

For the sake of convenience, and for no other reason, the results for these three national entities are given in Table 5. Taking the overall provision, it emerged that certificate courses were most frequently offered; these were followed by short courses which were closely followed by diploma courses. The whole spectrum of educational qualifications were offered including first and higher degrees.

The caveats set out when dealing with the results for England equally apply to this section. Some institutions known to offer nursing courses have been excluded on the grounds previously discussed. It therefore seems reason- able to assume that what is presented here is an underestimate of the educational provision for nurses in the institutions under consider- ation rather than an overestimate.

As with the other categories of educational institution included in the survey, evidence emerged that a considerable amount of discussion is taking place concerning the possi- bility of establishing or increasing involvement with nursing education.

NURSE EDUCATION TODAY 15 1

Table 5 Results for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Scotland

Central Institution/ College of Education Courses

Wales

College/Institute Courses

Aberdeen 1, 2 Craigie 0 Dundee College of Education 0 Dundee College of Technology 1, 2, 3. 4. a. 9 Jordanhill I,9 Moray House 0 Paisley I,9 Queen’s College, Glasgow Queen Margaret, Edinburgh 3 Robert Gordon I,9 St Andrews -

*For key to numbers see Table 2.

Gwent 1 I 2. 6. a, 9 Normal, Gwynedd 0 North East Wales O,l, 2 South Glamorgan -

Trinity, Carmarthen I,9 West Glamorgan 1,2,9

Northern Ireland

College/Institute Courses

St Mary’s Strannillis

0 9

References

Alexander L (ed) 1983 The directory of schools of medicine and nursing. Kogan Page, London

Brett M (ed) 1984 Education yearbook 1985. Longman, Hat-low

Openheim A N 1966 Questionnaire design and attitude measurement, p. 34. Heinemann, London

The British Council 1984 Higher education in the United Kingdom 1984-86: a handbook for students and their advisers. Longman, Harlow

The Education Authorities Directory and Annual 1985 School Government Publishing, Redhill

Documents

The education connection: The higher education provision for nursing