Is a CCN degree the only way to develop children's nursing in the community?

Semi-structured interviews were carried out with convenience samples 10 CCN students completing a community children's nursing (CCN) degree programme and with five practice educators. In addition, focus group interviews were held with 28 child branch students who had undertaken community experience. The objective was to find out the perceived value of undertaking a community children's nursing degree. The overall aim of the study was to address practical questions of teachers who ran the CCN pathway within the community degree programme and inform programme development. The data confirmed ENB and UKCC views of the CCN role and supported the need for more flexible approaches to CCN education. Recommendations are made for changes, particularly in relation to the core community content of the programme which did not meet students' expectations for developing their child specialist role within a multi-agency team.