‘Creating a modern nursing workforce’: nursing education reform in the neoliberal social imaginary

This paper explores how nursing education both exemplifies the contradictions of neoliberalism alongside its seemingly all-encompassing influence. We conduct a feminist critical policy analysis to trace histories as feminised vocation located outside academy, and this is reflected in recent policy. then critically explore widening participation social mobility relation education, demonstrate discourse fairness used justify market solutions. The ‘special case’ considered through an ‘the nurse’ subject constituted discourse. Our discussion focuses on effects these reforms demonstrates historical discourses that centre women carers are assimilated into ‘neoliberal imaginary’. paper’s scope local – gendered history England global force neoliberal globalisation