title: The description of levels in nursing degrees: an illustration and analysis of the variations.
abstract: This study has analysed the level descriptors of Higher Award degree programmes offered by a random sample of 15 colleges of nursing and midwifery in England. The analysis revealed a wide variation in the way each level (1, 2, 3 and M) had been defined. The variation occurred in a range of different ways. The main categories of variation were: the style of the descriptor; the features defined by the descriptor; the use of descriptors in the cognitive domain; the use of dimensions of professional knowledge and practice such as autonomy and reflective practice; and progression between the levels. The context of the study is described and the implications of the study and possible ways forward are discussed.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: James
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Redfern
mesh_terms: D002322:Career Mobility; D002568:Certification; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D011361:Professional Competence