Am I alone in thinking the NMC has just gone completely mad with bureaucracy and political correctness? My story goes a little like this...
I'm an Aussie, and I love the UK with a passion. I can't wait to get over there (in January 06)! In fact, I was so happy at the idea of going that I didn't even care about having to apply over the phone for the application forms that you fill out to request a second set of (proper) application forms for registration. But then the trouble started...
You see, as of the 1st of September this year, the NMC brought in a new rule that anyone wishing to register from overseas has to undertake (at least) a 20 day period of "protected learning" (Buddha only knows what that involves, since none of the approved education institutions offering the program seem to know ANYTHING about it - nor for that matter do any of the wonderful, cheerful staff at the NMC), as well as sitting the IELTS english exam (at great personal expense, regardless of the fact I may have obtained my degree from a course conducted entirely in English in an English speaking country). And I'm just so frustrated! All I want to do is register, but I can't because the NMC is making policies which would be perfectly reasonable if only anyone knew what they were all about.
Is anyone else out there running up against a brick wall with this? I've contacted most of the providers listed on the NMC website, but I've either had no response, or been referred back to the NMC or NHS (!!)... And really, if I want to be patronised and insulted by snotty telephonists, I'll call Dominos (at least their people don't need to understand a library of obscure legislation to justify their employment).
What a nasty rant this has turned out to be... I'm actually a really nice guy! I just hate dealing with bureaucratic BS...
As someone who facilitates Supervised Practice (Adaptation) programmes for my Trust, I was under the impression that the 20 days protected learning was enforced in an attempt to limit the abuse landed on overseas nurses (OSNs) by, amongst others, nursing homes when they commenced 'Adaptation' programmes. The protection means there is some scope for academic content in an Adaptation programme, or God forbid, OSNs are actually getting some rights!!
The NMC should be commended for changing a previously flawed Adaptation system which is/was open for dubious interpretation. Any back street nursing employer wishing to charge their recruited OSN for the priviledge of working in their sweat shop without a great deal of actual theoretical or practical training could and does do so. Refreshingly, the OSN will now be required to undertake a formalised University facilitated programme (post 1st Sept) and get some academic protection and theoretical input whilst being charged for the priviledge etc etc (see above).
Also good to see them making sure that overseas Midwives requiring Adaptation are required to have an IELTS of 7.0 as "they [Midwives] have greater communication requirements with their clients than RNs". That was a quote from this years Employers Summit that I attended. I kid you not. FFS.
God Bless the NMC. Double the Registration fees I say.
I sent most of my papers for application to the NMC about a month ago and I'm just waiting for my school to do their part. I'm worried because at some point they said that they would send me a letter each month to tell me what is still outstanding. I received one of those letters but none in a few months. Do you think its possible my file has been closed? has anyone tried sending a letter to extend their application period beyond the six months?
As someone who facilitates Supervised Practice (Adaptation) programmes for my Trust, I was under the impression that the 20 days protected learning was enforced in an attempt to limit the abuse landed on overseas nurses (OSNs) by, amongst others, nursing homes when they commenced 'Adaptation' programmes. The protection means there is some scope for academic content in an Adaptation programme, or God forbid, OSNs are actually getting some rights!!
The NMC should be commended for changing a previously flawed Adaptation system which is/was open for dubious interpretation. Any back street nursing employer wishing to charge their recruited OSN for the priviledge of working in their sweat shop without a great deal of actual theoretical or practical training could and does do so. Refreshingly, the OSN will now be required to undertake a formalised University facilitated programme (post 1st Sept) and get some academic protection and theoretical input whilst being charged for the priviledge etc etc (see above).
Also good to see them making sure that overseas Midwives requiring Adaptation are required to have an IELTS of 7.0 as "they [Midwives] have greater communication requirements with their clients than RNs". That was a quote from this years Employers Summit that I attended. I kid you not. FFS.
God Bless the NMC. Double the Registration fees I say.
Cheers
OG
Oh yes. Double the registration fees! Lord knows they earn every cent! The overseas registrations department alone brings in at least £8046000 for the NMC each year (their own statistics - £149 x ~54000 applicants - thats not including fees and charges for actually registering and all the other rot you have to pay for). And I'll tell you something else - they need God's blessing, because everyone else I talk to is wishing them straight to hell...
You raise a very valid point - the ONP has great potential to clean up the abuse you mentioned. However, that abuse was mainly levelled towards citizens of certain nations, whose qualifications (or other criteria, as determined by the NMC) were not satisfactory to allow immediate full registration. My perspective is that of a nurse from a country whose nationals were previously admitted direct to the register and whose education/qualifications are comparable to those required of British nurses. My grievance is that the NMC is making an already complicated process more difficult in the name of being politically correct. Why not subject adaptation programs to greater scrutiny (please also note, that there is a big difference between the supervised adaptation programs and the 20 day ONP).
Lastly, the thing that sent me the loopiest, was the fact that they introduced this program in such a careless way, resulting in potentially tens of thousands of potential registrants being left without places in a mandatory program. Madness. I've arrived in the UK now, still haven't been able to enrol in an ONP, and considering the state of the NHS, am rather happy about how it's all worked out. I've abandoned nursing altogether and am working as a legal assistant (I'm a law student) instead - better money, better conditions, and no bloody NMC to contend with!!!
Owain Glyndwr
189 Posts
As someone who facilitates Supervised Practice (Adaptation) programmes for my Trust, I was under the impression that the 20 days protected learning was enforced in an attempt to limit the abuse landed on overseas nurses (OSNs) by, amongst others, nursing homes when they commenced 'Adaptation' programmes. The protection means there is some scope for academic content in an Adaptation programme, or God forbid, OSNs are actually getting some rights!!
The NMC should be commended for changing a previously flawed Adaptation system which is/was open for dubious interpretation. Any back street nursing employer wishing to charge their recruited OSN for the priviledge of working in their sweat shop without a great deal of actual theoretical or practical training could and does do so. Refreshingly, the OSN will now be required to undertake a formalised University facilitated programme (post 1st Sept) and get some academic protection and theoretical input whilst being charged for the priviledge etc etc (see above).
Also good to see them making sure that overseas Midwives requiring Adaptation are required to have an IELTS of 7.0 as "they [Midwives] have greater communication requirements with their clients than RNs". That was a quote from this years Employers Summit that I attended. I kid you not. FFS.
God Bless the NMC. Double the Registration fees I say.
Cheers
OG