Brian O'Shea
Question:195 Mr. O'Shea asked the Minister for Health and Children the annual fall-out rate of student nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14652/01]
Written Answers. - Student Nurses.
My Department does not keep statistics on the number of nursing students who cease their studies each year. The only available information on this subject was published last September in the interim report of the steering committee overseeing the study of the nursing and midwifery resource. I am arranging for a copy of this report to be sent to the Deputy.
The information was compiled by An Bord Altranais at the request of the steering committee and relates to the period 1990 to 1998. It indicates that during that period a total of 595 students discontinued their studies while a further 115 students who passed their exams did not register with the board. It is important to bear in mind that these figures include registered nurses and midwives undertaking post-registration training as well as pre-registration nursing students. The position is further complicated by the fact that the category of pre-registration students includes those trained under the apprenticeship model and those undertaking the nursing diploma programmes. The first diploma programme was introduced in 1994 and the transition to that revised model of training was completed in all schools of nursing in 1998.
Anecdotal evidence suggests that the numbers of students dropping out of the diploma programmes are significantly lower than for other third level courses. I have asked my Department to pursue with An Bord Altranais the need for a structured monitoring system in the light of proposed developments in pre-registration nursing education.