Some controversies in the education of nurses in New Zealand, Great Britain and the United States, with reference to the impact of economic and social factors

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This paper aims to show how debates on the appropriate education of nurses are strongly affected by economic, social and interest group considerations in addition to the overt educational arguments. Concentrating on the New Zealand situation, but making some comparisons with the U.S. and U.K., it discusses the following two issues: On both points it is argued that historical, economic and social factors and the personal and professional interests of participants affect their stance in a predictable manner. Further, educational issues are closely related to the development of nursing as the female-dominated, comparatively low-paid, caring profession in parallel with the male-dominated, higher-paid medical profession. Hence the paper concludes by discussing the impact of educational, economic and social change on supply, demand and wastage in the nursing market and on nurses' expectations and argues that pressure for greater nurse autonomy and responsibility within the health team are irresistible.

This publication has 7 references indexed in Scilit: