The Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (Training) Amendment Rules Approval Order 2000

SCHEDULE THE NURSES, MIDWIVES AND HEALTH VISITORS (TRAINING) AMENDMENT RULES 2000

The United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting, in exercise of the powers conferred on it by sections 2(3) and 19(1) of the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Act 1997(1) (hereinafter referred to as “the Act”) and of all other powers enabling it in that behalf having, in accordance with section 19(3) of the Act, consulted the National Boards and representatives of any group of persons who appear likely to be affected by these rules, hereby makes the following rules:—

Citation and interpretation

1.—(1) These rules may be cited as the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors (Training) Amendment Rules 2000.

(2) In these rules, unless the context otherwise requires, “the principal rules” means the Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors Rules 1983(2).

Amendment of the principal rules

2.—(1) The principal rules shall be amended as follows:

(2) In rule 14A (nursing education leading to a registration in Parts 12, 13, 14 or 15 of the register)—

(a) in paragraph (3) for the reference “18A” there shall be substituted the reference “18A(1) and (2)”; and

(b) in sub-paragraph (7)(c) for the words “Mental Handicap” there shall be substituted the words “Learning Disabilities”.

(3) After rule 14A there shall be added the following—

“Courses of preparation leading to a registration in Part 12, 13, 14 or 15 of the register

14B.— (1) A person intending to apply for admission to any of Parts 12 to 15 of the register shall successfully complete a course of preparation in accordance with the provisions of this rule.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), a course of preparation shall be a course of at least 3 years (or 4,600 hours) and shall, including interruptions, be completed in not more than 5 years where the student attends full-time or 7 years where she attends part-time.

(3) A course of preparation shall consist of—

(a) a Common Foundation Programme; and

(b) a Branch Programme,

and shall include a period of practical experience of nursing of such duration as the Council may from time to time require in relation to any particular approved educational institution.

(4) A course of preparation shall comply with the requirements of rule 18A(1) and (3).

(5) The duration of the Common Foundation Programme component of a course of preparation shall be 12 months or an equivalent part-time period but may be a shorter period if credit is given by an approved educational institution for previous academic or experiential learning.

(6) The duration of the Branch Programme component of a course of preparation shall be 2 years, or an equivalent part-time period, but may, if a student is registered in any Part of the register except Part 10, be a shorter period if credit is given by an approved educational institution for previous academic or experiential learning.

(7) A determination of whether the Common Foundation Programme or Branch Programme components may be shortened pursuant to paragraphs (5) and (6) and, if so, to what extent, shall be made with reference to the provisions of rule 18A(3).

(8) The Branch Programme shall consist of one of the following four branches—

(a) Adult Nursing, where admission is to be sought to Part 12 of the register;

(b) Mental Health Nursing, where admission is to be sought to Part 13 of the register;

(c) Learning Disabilities Nursing, where admission is to be sought to Part 14 of the register;

(d) Children’s Nursing, where admission is to be sought to Part 15 of the register.

(9) A student undertaking a course of preparation to which this rule applies—

(a) shall be directed throughout the course of preparation by the approved educational institution; and

(b) shall have supernumerary status.

(10) A course of preparation leading to a qualification, the successful completion of which shall enable an application to be made for admission to Part 12 of the register, shall meet the requirements of the Nursing Directive.

(11) In this rule—

(a) “Nursing Directive” means Council Directive No. 77/453/EEC as amended by 89/595/EEC(3) concerning the co-ordination of provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in respect of the activities of nurses responsible for general care;

(b) “supernumerary status” means, in relation to a student, that she shall not as part of her course of preparation be employed by any person or body under a contract of service to provide nursing care.”.

(4) In rule 18A (preparation for entry to Parts 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the register)—

(a) in paragraph (2)—

(i) after the words “and the Branch Programme” there shall be added the words “in respect of a course of preparation provided under rule 14A”; and

(ii) in sub-paragraph (a) for the words “physical and mental handicap, disease, disability or ageing” there shall be substituted the words “physical and learning disabilities, disease or ageing”; and

(b) after paragraph (2) there shall be added the following—

“(3) The Common Foundation Programme and the Branch Programme in respect of a course of preparation provided under rule 14B shall be designed to prepare the student to assume the responsibilities and accountability that registration confers, and to prepare the nursing student to apply knowledge and skills to meet the nursing needs of individuals and of groups in health and in sickness in the area of practice of the Branch Programme, and shall, respectively, include enabling the student to achieve the outcomes and competencies set out in the Schedule attached hereto.”.

(5) In rule 19 (examinations)—

(a) for sub-paragraph (1)(b) there shall be substituted the following—

“(b) have completed the relevant training required under—

(i) rules 14 and 17(1);

(ii) rules 14A and 17(1A); or

(iii) rule 14B as the case may be; and”;

(b) in sub-paragraph (1)(c) after the reference “18A(2)” there shall be added the words “or outcomes and competencies specified in rule 18A(3)”; and

(c) paragraph (3) shall be deleted.

(6) In rule 21 (training of health visitors) in paragraph (2) for the words “not less than fifty one weeks during which period she shall have at least six weeks study leave” there shall be substituted the words “not fewer than thirty two weeks full-time, or an equivalent part-time period, over not more than a three year period”.

(7) For rule 22 (conditions of admission to training for registration) there shall be substituted the following—

“Conditions of admission to training for registration

22.   A person entering a course at an approved training institution (other than for an integrated course as set out in rule 24(2)(c) of these rules) must be registered in Part 1, 3, 5, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 or 15 of the register or have such other nursing qualification as the Council may in a particular case approve as being of an equivalent standard.”.

(8) Rule 23 (interruptions in training) shall be deleted.

(9) In rule 25 (student index and examinations) in paragraph (2)(c) the words “, within one calendar year of training,” shall be deleted.

Transitional provision

3.—(1) Rules 14, 14A, 17(1), 17(1A), 18, 18A(2) and 19(1)(b)(i) and (ii) shall cease to have effect on the day immediately following the expiry of the period of 7 years beginning with the date on which these rules come into force.

(2) A student who, after the date on which these rules come into force, begins a course of preparation under rule 14A and who has not completed that course prior to the date specified in paragraph (1), may transfer to a course under rule 14B and shall complete such further training as may be determined by an approved educational institution so as to meet the outcomes and competencies set out in the Schedule attached hereto.

(1)

1997 c. 24.

(2)

Approved by S.I. 1983/873, the relevant amending instruments are S.I. 1987/944, 1989/109, 1989/1456, 1990/1624, 1991/2907, 1993/1901, 1995/967, 1996/3103 and 1997/1723.

(3)

See OJ No. L176, 15.7.77, p.8 and OJ No. L341, 23.11.89, p.30 respectively.