Nursing ideology and the 'generic career'

A review of the concept of ideology in a nursing context is presented. The meaning of a nursing ideology is explored and that meaning compared to the proposals for the future of nursing contained in the 1996 report on The Future Healthcare Workforce published by the University of Manchester, England. The paper suggests a number of core beliefs and values that are generally supported in nursing and their implications for the future development of the profession. These include a commitment to the role of science in nursing, the concept of caring in nursing practice and the continued pursuit of the professional project. The paper will demonstrate the extent to which the proposals contained within the report for a 'generic career' compliment or conflict with the suggested ideology of nursing. It concludes with a reference to the policy-making process at local and national levels and the opportunities available to nurses to influence the direction of change. The paper reflects the volatility of the current political climate in health care and the extent to which nurses operating in that climate feel empowered or disenfranchised.