Mid North Coast - Clinical Placement, exchange clinical placement and tours for nursing, medical and allied health staff
This project was designed to provide the opportunity for 17 Mid North Coast Area Health Service (MNCAHS) Child Health nursing, medical and allied health staff to be involved in supernumerary clinical placement, exchange clinical placement and tours of ambulatory, inpatient and primary health care services within Hunter Health and other NSW hospitals and health services.
Its aims were:
- To improve continuity of care for babies born at John Hunter Hospital and who return home through Manning Base Hospital, Port Macquarie Base Hospital or Coffs Harbour Base Hospital maternity or paediatric units
- To enhance clinical care of infants and children cared for by MNCAHS staff either in hospitals or as ambulatory patients
- To improve the standard of client / patient care within MNCAHS Child and Family Health services and Paediatric units by supporting and promoting professional development
- To develop a networking relationship for Child Health nursing and allied health staff between MNCAHS and other Health Services
- To improve retention of regional health service staff through facilitation of child and family health and paediatric staff professional development
- For placement participants to provide education sessions on current child and family health and paediatric topics to MNCAHS staff
- To develop a mentoring program for staff who have been seconded to the tertiary referral hospitals
The success of the project was measured by:
- Validation of current practise of nursing methods and OT practise
- Strengthened links between staff on the MNCAHS and John Hunter
- Exchange of knowledge and information between services
- Wider experience in a bigger setting with other more diverse medical conditions (eg Meningococcal Disease)
- Staff reported that they valued and enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the Programme
- Consolidation of career choice