The RCN has entered into a war of words with the government after the college criticised ministers' plans to make prospective nursing students spend a year working as a healthcare assistant before undertaking their training.RCN president Andrea Spyropoulos warned that the proposal, announced by health secretary Jeremy Hunt last month as part of the government's response to the Francis report, would 'take nursing back a hundred years'.Speaking at a press conference in Liverpool to launch this year's RCN congress, she said: 'It clearly demonstrates the lack of understanding the government has regarding the requirements of modern nursing.'It is an unbelievable thing to introduce,' she added. 'It takes nursing back a hundred years. It would be a waste of taxpayers' money and have absolutely no benefit to the patient whatsoever. I do not believe it will happen and it is a really stupid idea.'
展开▼
