Early in 2015, Lord Willis proposed a 2+1+1 model of nursing education consisting of a two-year generic preparation of nurses, followed by a ‘specialist’ year which would address field-specific learning and a year of post-registration preceptorship. Discussion arose across areas of children’s nursing about the potential ramifications of this proposed change.

An electronic a survey of pre-registration children and young people’s nurses was undertaken to generate their perspectives on the potential loss of the opportunity for future nurses to undertake specific pre-registration preparation for children and young people’s nursing.

The e-survey was circulated via professional networks and via Twitter and other social media forums and was open for three weeks and over 800 responses were received. Key findings show that children’s nursing was the first choice of field for 98.3% of responders and of those who responded, 77% had not considered another field of nursing. Of the 33% who had considered a different field, 77% had considered adult nursing. In response to the question: ‘Would you have chosen to train as a nurse if you had not been able to choose children’s nursing?’; 50% said ‘no’. Ninety-eight percent of the student respondents intended working in children and young people’s nursing once they had registered.

We believe that the best care of children and young people is provided by those who are specifically educated and prepared to care for them. Evidence from the survey suggests that there could be a loss of potential children’s nurses if students are not able to select the field of nursing they wish to study. Furthermore, we believe that children’s nursing is a field of practice and not a ‘specialism’ as defined in the report. This presentation will outline the issues that Raising the Bar: Shape of Caring raises for the profession and encourage debate to influence the Nursing and Midwifery Council in their forthcoming deliberations on this matter.