The future for nursing education: UKCC review has relevance for New Zealand

The strategic review of undergraduate nursing education recently commissioned by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) will provide a focus for nursing education in Aotearoa/New Zealand in the immediate future. Recently the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing, Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) completed its own review of undergraduate nursing education. The published report 'Fitness for Practice', has many areas of relevance for New Zealand educators in outlining possible strategies for nursing education. Issues such as recruitment and access to education; retention; clinical assessment and placements; clinical skill acquisition and partnership are valid concerns for educators here also. Internationally the commonalties in issues of concern are remarkable and lend validity to the concept of the global village and the necessity for a global perspective in health care workforce planning, including educational preparation. Discussion of some of the recommendations informs nursing education of the possibilities for forward progress in these times of continual change in health care delivery systems.