Quality assurance for nursing and midwifery education: an analysis of the approach in England

The main purpose of this paper is to discuss conceptual and policy developm ents for external quality assurance for nurse and midwifery education in En gland. The current framework was implemented in the academic year 1998/99, and is the subject of a three year evaluation commissioned by the English N ational Board for Nursing. Midwifery & Health Visiting (ENB). The methods w hich are being used to evaluate the quality assurance arrangements will be discussed within the context of nursing and midwifery education and practic e. The ultimate aim of body for nursing, midwifery and health visiting educ ation. The paper concludes with a discussion of the changes proposed by the government for nursing and midwifery education, and considers the potentia l impact for quality assurance of health care education. professionally acc redited nursing and midwifery education is to ensure the development of pra ctitioners who are fit for purpose, practice and award. It follows that the quality assurance processes should have the capacity to demonstrate the ex tent to which professional education meets this aim. This paper will discus s this issue, with particular emphasis on the collaborative review process which is being undertaken by the Quality Assurance Agency and the statutory body for nursing, midwifery and health visiting education. The paper concl udes with a (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.