Madam, - I read with some alarm the letter of Ann Young (July 22nd) re the nursing shortage. Her references to Australian nursing are completely erroneous.
Ms Young asserts that Australian nurses "made the mistake of making nursing a degree course". Three months ago I moved to Ireland from Australia, where all nurses recognise that because of the complexity of the knowledge and skills needed to give effective care in modern, technologically advanced health systems, third-level education is required.
Her next mistake involves importing of nurses. Australia is under the same pressure induced by the international shortage of nurses as every other country in the world, and while it has rigorous recruitment campaigns in many developed countries, it has not had to go against the International Council of Nurses' injunction opposing importing nurses from developing countries to provide a nursing workforce.
Ms Young's statement regarding reversing the decision to educate nurses at university is completely wrong.
This is not a consideration anywhere in Australia; in fact, a recent inquiry into nursing education by the Parliament of Australia declared that academic nursing education was the cornerstone of nursing in Australia's extensive health services.
Education leading to registration for Australian nurses will remain firmly in universities as the only viable place to teach the complicated knowledge now required for effective patient care. - Yours, etc.,
Prof LINDA SHIELDS, Department of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Limerick.