OPENING UP THE OPTIONS - MAKING THE INFLEXIBLE INTO A FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK

The post-registration framework for registered nurses and midwives was set up to provide flexible continuing education programmes for regist ered nurses, For those students who already have the basic professiona l qualification specific to their area of practice, professional devel opment programmes are intended as a vehicle for improving their own pe rsonal professional competence, However, for those individuals who wis h to gain further qualification or to change from one practice context to another, it is argued that the framework does not adequately addre ss their needs, At present, preregistration diplomates emerge from the Project 2000 programme with a qualification which enables them to wor k in one specific area of practice only, This early specialization is not in line with current and projected USA and European thinking (Cast ledine 1995) and may lead to a reduction in the-broad base of nursing knowledge, It is further argued that pre-registration programmes shoul d provide a generic base of nursing theory and practice, whereas speci alist knowledge and practice should be the main thrust of post-registr ation work, The authors argue that initial development of nurses in sp ecialist areas at pre-registration level restricts their ability to re spond to rapidly changing health care needs later in their careers, Th e post-registration framework should be a flexible vehicle by which in dividuals can gain expanded knowledge in a particular field of practic e or can change professional direction if they wish, Thus, nurses woul d have the freedom to develop in a way that is most appropriate to the ir changing individual needs.