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Complete piece of idealist, public pandering nonsense. It is the huge number of nurses already in practice with poor values and practice that should be the focus of concern. I doubt any of the 40 nurses being explored by the NMC re Mid Staffs were newly qualified.

That said, Social workers are often required to demonstrate some practical experience in social or health care before undertaking their degree.

Registered Nurses operate across sectors - the independent sector could provide any number of opportunities for supervision for 3 months by an RN. This isnt just about NHS hospitals.

The education of nurses is a University function - not an NHS function. Not all RN's who qualify go on to work in the NHS and plurality of provision and AQP will mean that is increasingly true going forward.

It is the regulation of healthcare assistants which is most crucial.

With regard to Enrolled Nurse history - if we learn from the history of nursing, a type of enrolled nurse role has a role to play. Not everybody wants to run a ward or a community team, there are perople who are happy to deliver bedside care. The role has come and gone several times and is still alive and active as Licenced Practical Nurses in the USA. What will be important is providing a career pathway for registered HCA's who wish to, and are able, progress.

The true tragedy here is that, already, Francis recomendations are being diluted or ignored. The more things change, themore they stay the same.