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Not surprisingly,
nursing and health care are becoming more complex
in response to current changes in society. Similarly,
as patients' expectations of health and the provision
of care increase, nursing is becoming more research-oriented.
Thus, the concept of androgogy, or life-long learning,
becomes crucial if care is to be appropriate as
well as effective. Although the care provided
by nurses invariably depends on the individuals
involved as well as the social and cultural context,
that care is only likely to be made more relevant
by the wider-ranging post-graduate education of
the provider.
 Investment
in nursing education is immense in both organisational
as well as personal terms. The decision about
the educational experience and its setting is
crucially important to the person who is being
educated, as well as to the colleagues and population
with whom that nurse is working. The information
about post-graduate opportunities is easily available
through the Internet, as well as through more
traditional channels. There are, however, a number
of questions that the intending nurse should have
in mind when considering which country and which
course would be the most beneficial.
If a student is taking a course in a country
other than their own, that student is most likely
to seek study on a full-time basis. The issue
of whether the course is also undertaken by part-time
students, however, is still of interest to this
person. If a course is available to part-time
students, there is likely to be a greater heterogeneity
among the nurses who are on the course. Such a
mix of students not only improves the likelihood
of social interaction, it also means that students'
nursing backgrounds will be more varied and the
learning opportunities will be enhanced.
In a more academic sense, the institution offering
the course should be scrutinised. The research
activity of the teaching staff or faculty members
indicates the extent to which they are leaders
in their field of nursing knowledge. This research
activity is easily accessible through publications
in authoritative nursing journals, which may be
viewed directly or accessed through suitable nursing
databases such as CINAHL, BIDS, or Medline.
While a student is likely to take a course at
one institution, that student may benefit from
the presence of other educational institutions
in the vicinity, as local people will be accustomed
to, aware of and keen to meet the needs of the
visiting student. Their presence will also offer
social and informal educational events, such as
seminars and conferences, to which a range of
students who are nurses would be welcomed. While
studying at a recently established institution
carries some advantages, the nurse who is thinking
of applying for post-graduate study should consider
whether an institution and the courses offered
have worked through all of their 'teething troubles',
which may affect the quality of the learning experience.
The person who is contemplating applying should
also decide whether the broad orientation of the
institution is likely to meet or be well-aligned
with their own view of nursing and health care.
For example, a nurse who is employed in a management
capacity is likely to seek a place in an institution
where courses relevant to management are available.
Equally, the person whose interest is in the social
aspects of health would seek to study at an institution
with a social science orientation. In the same
way, someone studying in another country would
seek to ascertain, if not the international application
of courses, at least their relevance to overseas
settings.
A factor, the importance of which should never
be underestimated, is the value of a personal
recommendation of a course. If a nurse colleague
has taken a course and is prepared to discuss
its strengths, as well as any shortcomings, this
is a chance that should be grasped. In this way,
the application would be founded on more direct
knowledge of the course's local relevance.
For the nurse who is contemplating post-graduate
study in another country, the choice is wide to
the point of bewildering. Choices apply not only
to taught courses and research degrees, but also
the institutions that offer them. The information
to assist the search for a suitable course of
study is available from traditional as well as
more innovative sources. Invariably, though, the
staff or faculty who organise courses are keen
to share the information about the courses on
offer, and to assist the nurse in making a sound
decision, which is in the interests of all concerned.
Post-graduate advisors are happy to be contacted
by letter, phone, fax or email.
Author
Dr. Rosemary Mander
Senior Lecturer, Department of Nursing Studies
University of Edinburgh
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