Professing a new discipline through a new chair in nursing development

Iain W. Graham, Southern Cross University

Abstract

Within the context of major change in health and social care, there is the need to re¯ect upon the position of the discipline of nursing and consider its future. Clinical governance, life-long learning and evidence-based practice will present new opportunities and challenges, which may mean the need to embrace a different clinical and academic future. The decision by two British National Health Service (NHS) Trusts (which manage their local health services) to sponsor a chair in nursing development at Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, England, to which I have been appointed, must be seen as a direct attempt from which such an opportunity can be embraced to create such a future.