Matching Knowledge and Skills for Qualified in Specialty (QIS) Neonatal Nurses (2012)

Uniformity of qualification and competence throughout the UK can only be achieved by providing clear expectations of a standard knowledge content that supports skills performance in practice. Initial discussion within the group identified 4 sections to support standard qualification. These were, knowledge content (mapped to skills), transferable evidence of achievement, mentor guidance for assessment of knowledge transfer in practice, and identified aspects of quality inherent in education provision. It became clear early in the development of the document that the knowledge content for courses mirrored that expected of mentors in assessing students in practice. This document therefore sets out the following 3 sections:

• Essential core syllabus (knowledge) and skills content for QIS
• Criteria for evidencing achievement of knowledge and skills through the development of a transferable portfolio.
• Identified key measures of quality for education provision.