A broader approach to educating paediatric nurses is developing in both the United States and the UK. Leigh Boxall looks at the differences in nurse education between the two countries

Since World War II, Americans have discussed, debated and reorganised their nursing education towards more academic institutions, in a bid to educate nurses towards the needs of society and to gain credibility in establishing the nursing profession. In 1979, the American Nurses Association (ANA) stated that, the nursing profession has reached a maturin’ that not only justifies but also requires a statement affirming nursing s social responsibility, made in recognition of society's right to know how that responsibility is exercised in practice. This almost certainly reflects the general trends and philosophy supporting the current nursing educational climate in the light of Project 2000 in the UK, and it is reassuring to see that on both sides of the Atlantic, nursing is a developing profession, working towards the needs of society, in pursuit of academic approbation.