Enrolled Nurses: a study for the UKCC

Despite recent decline in the numbers of enrolled nurses, they are likely to remain a significant element of the NHS nursing workforce for some time. This report examines issues surrounding the employment of these second-level registrants, their careers and deployment. It points to future problems of under-utilisation of enrolled nurses, and reducing career opportunities. The pressures to convert to first level registration are increasing, but barriers, mostly relating to funding, persist. Reductions in the availability of conversion course places may be both premature and unwise.