In February 1995, the Continuing Education Committee of An Bord Altranais, set out to report on:
- the current provision of post-registration courses of education and training
- the suitability of courses currently provided
- the future post-registration needs of nurses and the health services as perceived by nurses, nurse managers, other service managers and employers, and
- to make recommendations on the establishment of a national framework for the provision of post-registration nurse education and training.
(An Bord Altranais, 1997, p xii).
The Continuing Education Committee used the following definition of continuing education:
'Continuing education is a life-long professional development process, which takes place after the completion of the pre-registration nurse education programme. It consists of planned learning experiences which are designed to augment the knowledge, skills and attitudes of registered nurses for the enhancement of nursing practice, patient/client care, education, administration and research.' (An Bord Altranais, 1994, p xi).
In 1998, the Commission on Nursing, in reviewing a framework for post-registration/continuing nurse and midwifery education, adopted the above quoted An Bord Altranais definition of continuing education. The Commission identified the need to develop and strengthen the availability of professional development for nurses and midwives. It suggested that professional development be considered under three general headings:
- in-service training - which might, for example, consist of education on occupational health issues and work orientation programmes;
- continuing education - which might consist of education on developments in nursing and the treatment of patient groups; and
- specialist training - which would consist of dedicated educational programmes and experience, supporting a nurse seeking to practice at an advanced level.
(Government of Ireland, 1998, p 100).
In October 1998, An Bord Altranais commenced a project on the review of the scope of practice for nurses and midwives. The final report stated that:
Continuing professional development following registration is essential for nurses and midwives in order that they can acquire new knowledge and competence that will enable them to practise effectively in an ever-changing health care system...(An Bord Altranais, 2000, p 24).
The report recognised the need for a number of supports in order that nurses and midwives might practice competently and safely. The Scope of Practice Framework emerged as one such support. In this publication, the scope of practice in Ireland is defined as:
'the range of roles, functions, responsibilities and activities which a registered nurse [midwife] is educated, competent, and has authority to perform' (An Bord Altranais, April 2000-a, pp 5 & 7).
The Framework document states that:
'Continuing professional development is required in order to maintain and enhance professional standards and to provide the highest quality of health care; it should also contribute to the nurse's and midwife's personal development. The individual nurse and midwife have a responsibility to develop himself/herself as a professional.
Health care organisations have a responsibility to assess the professional development needs of their staff and to provide appropriate support for their staff to enable them to practice to high standards in the interests of quality patient/client care' (An Bord Altranais, April 2000-a, p 8).
The Code of Professional Conduct for each Nurse and Midwife (An Bord Altranais, April 2000) states:
'In determining his/her scope of practice the nurse or midwife must make a judgement as to whether he/she is competent to carry out a particular role or function. The nurse or midwife must take measures to develop and maintain the competence necessary for professional practice.'