Over the years, the nursing educational system, through multiple entry and exit routes, has prepared nurses for the variety of settings in which health care is delivered. The nursing educational system must continue to produce the most qualified and prepared nurses to deliver cost-effective and quality care. Nurse educators must continue to analyze health care trends and create flexible curricula that provide individuals with the skills and knowledge needed for diverse settings. Further, nurse educators must continue to offer continuing education for nurses as they fine-tune skills for new settings. Educational mobility in nursing is the vehicle by which nurses and aspiring nurses gain new knowledge and skills through formal and informal educational offerings.
Educational mobility serves the public, the profession, and the individual nurse.
Educational mobility should continue to focus on promoting high standards, maintaining the quality and integrity of baccalaureate and graduate programs, while emphasizing the attainment of program outcomes. The focus of higher learning should be on the socialization of students to new professional roles and the knowledge and skills needed for these roles. Educational mobility options should respect previous learning that students bring to the educational environment. To this end, educational mobility encompasses diverse approaches to continuous, life-long learning for nurses and for individuals aspiring to nursing as a profession. Baccalaureate and higher-degree programs in nursing should build on knowledge and skills attained by learners prior to their matriculation in formal educational programs.