Mid North Coast - Advanced Paediatric Life Support
Staff needs analysis identified educational and professional support was required in the practice of paediatric advanced life support and retrieval. With the absence of a full time paediatrician, there has been an abundance of locums visiting. This situation has seen the nursing staff vulnerable, as there are inconsistencies with clinical management. The staff sought knowledge that reflects current practice from NETS consultants.
The NCHN Paediatric Outreach CNC and the NETS Outreach CNC were asked to facilitate a workshop. The workshop had to:
- Be supportive to all clinicians to allow a review of their current clinical practice when performing neonatal and paediatric resuscitation.
- Improve the standard of practice delivery to children.
Medical and nursing staff from Manning Base Hospital and Mid North Coast Area Health were invited to participate in the workshop. 15 applications were received and accepted.
Staff evaluations of the workshop revealed the following outcomes:
- A highly successful day and all participants stated that the course was beneficial to their workplace.
- Nursing staff are feeling more equipped in dealing with NETS retrievals, as current practice has been recognised.
- Standardisation of clinical management between health professionals will improve the care provided to the children.
- A staff handout has been developed as a learning tool for colleagues to assist with their knowledge of paediatric resuscitation.
- Paediatric CNS and NUM are to develop learning packages so all staff are supported and educated and are at a competent level of expertise with paediatric resuscitation
- The NETS CNC and the NCHN Outreach CNC were extremely resourceful and allowed the validation of current clinical practice and therefore validation for any changes to be implemented.
The following barriers were faced in the facilitation of the workshop:
- The ability of nursing staff to participate in this course was limited by the inability to replace released staff. Rostering of the emergency and paediatric units at a safe staffing level is a priority.
- Due to hazards of weather some staff withdrew from the course.