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Comparative Analysis of Policies and Criteria for Physical and Mental Fitness in the Admission of Nursing Students in Iran and King’s College England: A Case Study
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Mohamad Hossein Mafi   , Sima Kazemi , Seyedehzahra Hosseinigolafshani, , Mohammad Reza Sheikhi, * |
| Qazvin University of Medical Science , mmsheikhi1@yahoo.com |
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Abstract: (20 Views) |
Background: Physical and psychological fitness among nursing students is a fundamental prerequisite for providing safe care and achieving professional competence. However, the criteria and mechanisms used to assess these competencies during the admission of nursing students vary across countries and may influence the quality of applicant selection. Therefore, this study was conducted to comparatively examine the criteria for physical and psychological fitness in nursing student admission.
Methods: This applied study is a descriptive-comparative study based on Bereday’s four-stage model, including description, interpretation, juxtaposition, and comparison, conducted in 2026. Data were collected through the review and analysis of legal documents, regulations, guidelines, professional standards, scientific articles, and official sources related to the admission of nursing students in Iran and England. The data were then categorized and comparatively analyzed according to legal requirements, assessment processes, responsible authorities, and decision-making criteria.
Results: The findings showed that physical and psychological health are considered requirements for admission to nursing education in both Iran and England; however, there are differences in the approaches to assessment and decision-making. In England, health assessment is based on the standards of the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), occupational health assessment, and the applicant’s ability to provide safe and effective care; accordingly, illness alone does not constitute a barrier to admission, and reasonable adjustments are considered. In Iran, despite the emphasis on physical and psychological health, no unified national framework, standardized tool, single responsible authority, or clearly operationalized criteria for assessing the health of nursing applicants were identified.
Conclusion: Although both countries emphasize the importance of physical and mental fitness in nursing student admission, the model adopted in England appears to be more coherent in terms of process structure, diversity of assessment components, and alignment with professional standards. These findings may inform the revision of nursing student admission policies in Iran, particularly by supporting the development of clearer eligibility criteria, more structured assessment processes, and greater consideration of both health status and non-cognitive competencies.
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| Keywords: Physical and mental health, Nursing student admission, Nursing education, Comparative study, Iran, England |
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Type of Study: Research |
Subject:
General
Received: 2026/08/2 | Accepted: 2026/09/1 | Published: 2026/09/1 | ePublished: 2026/09/1
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