Taking a degree after qualifying as a registered general nurse: constraints and effects

In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on nurses obtaining degrees with many arguing for an all graduate profession. Traditionally trained nurses may feel increased pressure to obtain degrees to compete with their diploma and degree trained successors. This paper presents findings from the sixth questionnaire in a Department of Health-funded, longitudinal study into the careers of traditionally trained nurses who qualified in 1990/91. It discusses the experiences of a cohort of 620 nurses eight years after qualification, in terms of the proportion who had taken/were taking a degree, the support offered by employers and the perceived effects of a nursing/healthcare degree on their work. The findings showed that almost half did not plan to take a degree and that a main constraint was the difficulty of combining paid work with studying, especially for women with childcare responsibilities. However, for the minority who had taken/were taking a degree, the perceived effects included increased self-confidence, with the majority reporting enhancement of clinical skills and better career prospects. The findings point to a need for employers to address issues of flexible working, study leave and funding in order that nurses are given every opportunity for career development.