The process of integration of schools of nursing into higher education

SummaryBefore 1989, with the exception of a small number of nursing degree courses, most of nursing education within England was located within the NHS. Yet by 1995, all schools of nursing had been integrated into higher education institutions. Despite the significance of this change, there has been little discussion or empirical research within the nursing press about the way it happened or the experiences of the individuals involved.The aims of this paper are:•To explore the process of integration of schools of nursing into higher education in England from the perspectives of the of key individuals involved.•To assess the lessons that can be learned for change management in nurse education in 2004.The design was qualitative and the methods used were policy analysis and interviews. Interviews were conducted with a national, purposive sample of 30 senior individuals involved in healthcare education in the late 1990s selected from higher education institutions, national and regional offices of the Department of Health and professional bodies.A number of key lessons can be learned for contemporary nurse education. Notably: the need for clarity of policy aims; the value of sensitivity to the culture in which change is taking place; the importance of ensuring that the key individuals involved have the skills to make effective change and the need to share good practice in change management.