The past, present and future of nurse education in Poland: stages, conditions and activities

Abstract

This paper describes the multidirectional activities recently completed to adapt nurse education in Poland to European standards. The Polish system transformation and the changes that have taken place in health care since the 1980s required intensive effort and change in the nursing care and education systems of nurses and midwives. Changes accomplished include: (1) preparation and implementation of a nurse education model complying with European standards; (2) discontinuance of the previous system of nurse education taught at the secondary school level; and (3) adjusting the organization and post-basic curricula of nurses and midwives to the actual needs of the society as well as for the nurses themselves. The goal of a uniform nurse education system in Poland that met European requirements motivated the Polish change agents. This change ensures the integration of Polish nurses with the nurses from Europe and other countries in their common endeavours to improve nursing care and health outcomes. The adopted changes in the system of nurse education resulted in uniformity of education and acceptance of bachelor's level education, which complies with European standards as well as adjusting the post-basic education to actual needs. Describing the substance and process of our work may be helpful to nurses in other countries who are working on their own models of nursing and health care restructuring.