And from that link above:

FOR & AGAINST

For: 'It should be empathy not academia'

A senior hospital nurse with more than 15 years' experience believes that a degree is not necessary and in some cases could stop people from entering the profession.

The 34-year-old, who asked not be named, is a band 7 sister in a South London hospital, earning about £34,000 a year. She trained for three years at St Thomas' Hospital for a diploma, and spent 12 weeks in college and the remaining time on the wards as a team member.

"Nursing is all about caring and empathy — you can't learn that in a classroom; either you have it or you don't," she said.

Against: 'I feel professionally more equipped'

Babs Larrad, 42, upgraded her nursing diploma to a degree after studying a course run through the Open University. The achievement posed a considerable challenge, and at times felt too detached from the practicalities of a job that she has done since 1993.

"I'm not academic by nature, so I found it pretty tough at times, and some of it did not feel like it related to my day-to-day patient case load. But it has meant a great deal to me to get a degree. I feel professionally more equipped and I can broaden my horizons," she said. <<<<<<