Difference in RN education

[azalight90]

Hello

What I have wondered for a while but been unable to get a proper answer is this:

What is the difference in RN Education between the UK and the USA

The only difference I can think of is this

1-Length of time

2- Hours of placement(clinicals)

3- Branch training in the uk- ie Learning disability, Children and young people, Mental health and Adult

So what are the educational differences?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

I trained many years ago in the UK both as a Enrolled nurse (LPN) and bridged to RN. I think it was a shame when the UK did away with the generalist training as in Adult you can still come across mental health issues outside of the mental health area ie someone with bipolar could be admitted for surgery and may have issues that need handling and having someone nurse with little or no knowledge can do more harm than good. I also did some obstetric training and several people I knew went on a did 18 month bridge to become dual registered as both RN(g) and Midwife.

From posts in the other forums I gather the UK does more clinical work and compared to other countries or even states is full time all year opposed to getting summer and winter off, have seen this in Canada where nursing students get the summer and a few weeks over Christmas and New Year off.

[azalight90]

I agree with everything you said Silverdragon102. However I wonder what you make of this:

Some Mental health nursing students have said to me that they would possibly not have gone into nursing if they could not have gone straight into mental health because they really do not want to be doing general nursing. Same with one Learning Disability Student I know.

What do you make of this?

[Silverdragon102, BSN]

Personally I think it is a shame as they miss out on gaining some experience and a lot of the time it isn't what you think. As a student you generally are only immersed in the area for a short period which covers training requirements. As years go by experiences change us and what we think we would like/dislike changes to dislike/like.