Chief Nursing Officer

On 4th September 2006, the Modernising Nursing Careers: Setting the Direction document was published, which includes a number of action points (Modernising Nursing Careers  (PDF 278 KB)).

A UK Coalition Group, chaired by Christine Beasley (Chief Nursing Officer England), consisting of the four UK Chief Nursing Officers and representatives from key stakeholder organisations was established in November 2006. The Coalition Group meets on a quarterly basis.

The purpose of the Coalition Group is to oversee the work streams developed from the action points identified in the Setting the Direction (2006) document. The work streams have been clustered under the following four heading:

               Ai    Explore whether changes to the content and level of pre-registration education are needed

              Aii   Map nursing and roles and competences to the NHS Careers Framework

              Aiii  Develop proposals for a competency passport scheme

              Aiv  Review careers paths and educational preparation for specialist and advanced roles  

               Bi    Review career pathways and preparation for nursing in the community focusing on public health long

               term conditions, and acute care and services in the community

              Bii   Review educator roles and encourage career paths between service and education

              Biii  Provide tools to support career choices and navigation

              Biv  UK Chief Nursing Officers to work with new and existing independent sector providers to support modern

              nursing careers

               Ci    Health Departments will work with stakeholders to provide information for the profession on nursing

               responsibilities for leading and coordinating care

              Cii   Health departments will work with stakeholders to nurture ability and develop fast track schemes for    

              nurse leaders

              Di    Agree & communicate key messages about nursing & nursing careers includinginformation on ‘what

              nurses can do these days’.