The relevance of degree-level preparation for community nurses

The most recent changes in the preparation of specialist community nurses assume that educational improvements automatically increase the skills and knowledge of the participants and thus the subsequent quality of care. The rapidly changing environment of community healthcare delivery has meant that the possession of degree-level qualification is now seen as necessary for flexibility and responsiveness to change. However, the philosophy behind this thinking is flawed--education does not always reflect the reality of care delivery. Specialist community nurses can become further distant allowing them to concentrate on the practical application of their newly acquired knowledge.