The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) have today announced they will reintroduce emergency education standards to enable final year nursing students to opt-in to support the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, via extended clinical placement. Responding to the news, Professor Debra Humphris, University of Brighton Vice Chancellor and Chair of University Alliance said:
“Alliance universities have played a vital role in supporting the local and national response to the pandemic; including through supporting the voluntary deployment of tens of thousands staff and students to support the frontline .
Where local capacity is once again stretched, it is understandable that some students may want to be released to enter the workforce early, but it is important this does not come at the expense of their necessary training requirements and is responsive to the regional variance in local capacity and demand for placements.
It is therefore welcome that the NMC have today re-introduced emergency standards allowing 3rd year nursing students to enter paid placements, whilst retaining flexibility for higher education institutions to make decisions in partnership with service partners.
Alliance universities will continue to work incredibly closely with local healthcare providers and public health bodies to respond appropriately; making decisions about student deployment in response to local context and need.”
