The dynamic effect on nursing of a changing health service

This paper discusses the dynamic effects on nursing of a changing health service. Scotland's demography presents the profession with unique challenges around securing future services. The Government in Scotland's response has focused on increasing workforce numbers. Workforce dynamics will, however, impact on nursing workforce numbers as all public sector employers compete for a contracting pool of resource. Reserved UK powers for professional regulation and devolved Scottish powers for health and education, matched with specific Scottish laws, can facilitate the development of new roles and new ways of working. Many examples of role development exist and some are provided here.

"I won't be staying here for long": a qualitative study on the retention of migrant nurses in Ireland

BACKGROUND

Although international nurse recruitment campaigns have succeeded in attracting large numbers of migrant nurses to countries such as Ireland, where domestic supply has not kept pace with demand, the long-term success of such initiatives from a workforce planning perspective will depend on the extent to which these nurses can be retained in destination countries.

METHODS

This paper draws on qualitative, in-depth interviews undertaken with 21 migrant nurses in Ireland, focusing specifically on their future migration intentions.

RESULTS

Our findings indicate that more than half of the respondents are considering migration onwards, for the most part because the destination country has failed to provide them with sufficient stability, particularly in terms of citizenship and family reunification. In considering onward migration, factors outside the health system were of most concern to those interviewed.

CONCLUSION

This demonstrates the need for destination countries to take a broader and more long-term approach to international nurse recruitment, rather than regarding it as an inexpensive way to fill gaps within the health care system.

Developing the children's nursing workforce: profile, first jobs and future plans of newly qualified diplomates

Concerns regarding the number of children's nurses persist despite initiatives designed to reverse this trend. Recruiting and retaining a diverse nursing workforce is high on the policy agenda, particularly since the publication of the National Service Framework for Children, Young People and Maternity Services. This article reports findings from the first phase of a longitudinal study investigating the careers of child branch diplomates, focusing on the cohort's profile, first jobs and future plans. Findings suggest there is considerable scope to increase diversity in the children's nursing workforce. Child health diplomates indicate little sign of early attrition from nursing at qualification. Continuing professional development is a high priority for many child health nurses at the outset of their careers. These findings provide an important benchmark for later stages of child branch nurses' careers.