Mid North Coast - Paediatric Life Support
At the end of 2002 a network-wide education needs
analysis 
(pdf 268K) was undertaken by Rhonda Winskill, NCHN Outreach CNC, to identify
and determine the felt and normative need of nurses employed to care for
children and their families throughout the network. Plans to develop relevant
continuing education initiatives and provide appropriate resources and
support were subsequently developed by the Outreach CNC in consultation
with the Mid-North Coast Area Health Service.
In February and March 2003 one-day workshops were conducted by the NCHN rural outreach CNC, the NETS outreach CNC and a local clinician, at three sites in the Mid-North Coast Area Health Service, which were selected to meet area needs. Content and promotion was developed in consultation with a nominated on-site contact person, who also had the responsibility of maintaining an attendance register. Workshops were also promoted via the NCHN web site.
The workshops were originally anticipated to facilitate 14 participants. Demand exceeded supply and it was not considered appropriate to refuse. As a result some venues were a little overcrowded and two additional workshops were conducted, funded by the NCHN administration funds but excluding wages and the educators' accommodation.
All participants were asked to complete an evaluation form. Successful completion of four skills stations on the day demonstrated application of acquired knowledge of theory to practice:
- Intraosseous insertion
- Blood Gas analysis
- Fluid management
- Paediatric bag and mask ventilation
91% of participants completed the evaluation form. Overwhelmingly the outcomes were positive with all respondents rating the course content as relevant to their work.
Given a choice of 1-5 rating, 100% of the six presentations and four workstations were rated at 3 - 5 ie, "relevant", "moderately relevant" or "highly relevant".
Attendance at these workshops and the overwhelmingly positive response to the course content confirmed the need to continue to develop and maintain peer support mechanisms and to outreach educational opportunities to rural child health service providers, in consultation with rural area health services. Therefore, as this was a one-off project, the NCHN outreach CNC will continue to provide similar education programmes but with a limited budget.