This paper examines the influences surrounding formal education provision for specialised neonatal
nurses in the UK and presents a standardised clinical competency framework in response.
National drivers for quality neonatal care define links to the numbers and ratios of specialised neonatal
nurses in practice. Historical changes to professional nursing governance have led to diversity in supporting
education programmes, making achievement of a standard level of clinical competence for this
element of the nursing workforce difficult. In addition responsibility for funding specialised education
and training has moved from central to local hospital level.
Evaluating these key influences on education provision rationalised the development, by a UK professional
consensus group, of a criteria based framework to be utilised by both formal education and
service providers. The process identified clinical competency (in terms of unique knowledge and skills),
evidence of achievement, and quality education principles.
Access to specialised education relies on the availability of programmes of study and clear funding
strategies. Creating a core syllabus for education provides a tool to standardise course content, commission
education and audit clinical competency. In addition partnerships between healthcare and education
providers become successful in achieving standard specialised education for neonatal nurses.