Capacity building of the workforce across the NCHN
It is proposed that clinicians from facilities throughout the NCHN are offered the opportunity of secondment to a secondary or tertiary facility or are offered an education and training opportunity facilitated by the NCHN and delivered in their own working environment.
They will also be able to access multimedia education via videoconferencing, DVD recordings and online education via the web site.
The project will involve the development and roll out of network based education programmes. It will also facilitate and develop communication networks and guidelines. These guidelines will represent and understand the local environment of Rural Clinicians (VMO GP’s) and their issues and needs to care for children in this environment and /or escalate care in a timely and coordinated manner.
Aims and objectives
Aims
- To provide an interactive multidisciplinary learning environment to enhance and facilitate the rural clinicians ability to recognise and manage effectively the ill or injured infant and/or child.
- To provide evidence based education and training to rural clinicians in emergency and ongoing care.
- To improve standards of practice delivery to children within the NCHN.
- To provide a learning and development opportunity for rural clinicians in a recognised area of need, as close as possible to home.
- To provide an opportunity for clinicians working in rural areas to enhance their paediatric knowledge and skills.
- To develop links between facilities in the network and ensure consistent management across these facilities, especially in regard to referral from level 1-3 hospitals to level 4 facilities, and retrieval to level 5-6 hospitals.
- To offer education in multimedia formats.
- To enhance and expand the NCHN web site.
- To provide advocacy and influence Area Health Services planning and policy making in relation to children, young people and their families.
Objectives
At the completion of the secondment or education opportunity it is expected the participant can:
- Examine, appraise and critically reflect on evidence based practice in relationship to paediatric assessment and management.
- Critically analyse current management of the child and identify management strategies and treatments for the ill child.
- Demonstrate an up skilling of current practices and knowledge in regard to paediatrics
- Demonstrate competency and confidence in assessing and treating paediatric patients in regard to triage, initial management or ongoing care
- Provide clinical leadership and support to colleagues regarding assessment and management of the paediatric patient
- Develop a network of peers who can act as a resource to provide ongoing advice and education
- Facilitate the implementation and ongoing reinforcement of the paediatric clinical practice guidelines into NCHN facilities
At the completion of the project it is hoped to have:
- Improved communication networks
- Influenced planning for Paediatric Services across the network
Key performance indicators
The success of the project will be measured by:
- Proven take up of education opportunities across the whole of the network.
- Demonstrated increased knowledge on recognition, treatment and management of the sick child.
- Established network of peers.
Progress
Many projects have been undertaken with this funding, they include:
- Outreach neonatal Training - transitioning complex neonatal patients
back to the local community
These 2 day sessions have been extremely well received with almost universal agreement they have improved confidence and competence. 8 instructors have so far taught more than 200 people in the management of complex neonatal patients. Feedback has been received on each session run and they continually strive to improve the service provided. In addition, to the education they have also built excellent relationships and this has lead to regular communication within the region to improve the management of patients once they transition to their own communities.
- Paediatric Resource Nurse and Paediatric Secondments - Southern
HNE
Three nurses completed clinical secondments at facilities other than their own. All completed a program evaluation form and were positive about their clinical experience. Three nurses undertook the ‘Paediatric Resource Nurse Project’. Each achieved significant changes in the ED/facility.
- Paediatric Resource Nurse - NCAH
Local resource nurse champions were identified at each site with recognition from facility and network management and peers. Support and encouragement by management for these positions has enhanced the ‘grow your own’ principles. A one day workshop was conducted with the 2 AHS Paediatric CNC’s and the 8 resource nurses to discuss the paediatric clinical practice guidelines and the aims and objectives of the positions. The paediatric CNC worked collaboratively along side the resource nurses at their facility during some of the resource days. The paediatric CNC provided support, information and resources to the paediatric resource nurses. The resource nurses have conducted an audit of current facility practice and developed or commenced to develop strategies that will address issues that arose from the audit. These include education and in-service, increasing awareness of the NSW Health Paediatric CPG’s and reviewing current local paediatric guidelines. The resource nurses have indicated the desire to continue in this role once the project is complete.
- Nurse secondment to JHCH
So far only 2 staff from the southern sector NCAHS have been seconded. Both indicated a very well organised and productive secondment. Staff indicated it was good to see that larger hospitals also had similar issues to the smaller hospitals.
- Allied Health secondments
5 allied Health professionals from Tamworth (Physiotherapist, Social Worker, Occupational Therapist, Psychologist and Early Childhood Nurse) and one from Lismore (Play Therapist) accessed short term secondment placements at John Hunter Children’s Hospital in order to enhance their paediatric knowledge and skills. These staff have indicated that the information and knowledge gained are directly applicable to their target populations and will be of significant benefit in the delivery of services. As the Allied Health staff have organised their own placements, they have been required to network with other staff that they may not have interacted with. These placements have enabled them to increase their networks.
- Paediatric Capacity Building for Rural Sites - Northern HNE
Five Paediatric Resource Nurses were appointed from the Northern region Health Services that have inpatient Paediatric Units for 8 hours per week for a period of 12 weeks to identify, facilitate and enhance paediatric initiatives at their hospital site.
For more information contact:
Leanne Crittenden
Coordinator, NCHN
0438 141 931