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Professional Development
The Mackinnon Collaborative Practice Centre (MCPC) supports personal and professional development of all nursing staff and works with allied health professionals to assist with meeting learning needs.
The MCPC supports designated programs including the Graduate Nurse Program, Career Advancement Year, Preceptorship, Paediatric Foundation Program and Sick Child Workshop. Education programs conducted through the CPC are based on adult learning principles and involve facilitated learning. The activities are structured to encourage critical thinking, reflection, inquiry and advocacy. The emphasis is on encouraging self directed learning and promoting accountability for learning, leading to application of theory into practice. The programs support the practice development philosophy. The education programs provided through the MCPC focus on supporting key nursing activities and initiatives at the Royal Childrens Hospital.
The MCPC liaises with Nurse Unit Managers and the Clinical Nurse Educator and Facilitators to support the clinical units with educational needs. Additional educational activities include support for postgraduate programs, undergraduate placements, coordination of CPR assessors and the development of specific programs to meet the learning needs of staff at RCH eg CPR for Physiotherapy.
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Current initiatives
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Workshops and short courses
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Support
The MCPC engages with nursing staff hospital wide on numerous educational initiatives, activities and projects.
Current Initiatives
Professional Practice Portfolios
In April 2008 the Nursing Council approved the professional practice portfolio guidelines 2. T he Nursing Council has agreed that all nurses at the Royal Childrens Hospital will have an individual Professional Practice Portfolio introduced on commencement at RCH, or for those currently employed, before end of December 2008. A memo has been circulated to all Nurse Unit Mnagers to communicate to staff.
The portfolio approach has been implemented across nursing at RCH
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to assist nurses to be well placed to meet the future registration procedures being implemented by the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV),
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to promote a lifelong learning self directed adult approach to learning.
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to support the performance appraisal process.
There is currently a working party from the Education and lifelong learning committee who are developing an awareness campaign to enable the introduction of portfolios hospital wide. The members of this group are Tania Ramos, Jane Wilcock, Peter Tyler and Selina Northover.
If you have any feedback regarding the guidelines please contact Maurice Hennessy 5775.
Registered Nurses Development Program (Division 1 & 2 nurses)
The hospital has developed and approved a program where Division 1 & 2 nurses will work together in a shared learning opportunity.
Applicants have been selected and will commence on September 1st, 2008. New applicants should ensure they are familiar with the Nurses Board of Victoria "Scope of Practice" guidelines by using the following links as reference material.
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NBV Guidelines: Scope of Nursing and Midwifery Practice
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NBV Guidelines: Delegation and Supervision for Registered Nurses and Midwives
Other usesful references are the following curriculum sites:
Information about Division 2 paid study leave
The key purposes of the program are to:
- enable Division 2 nurses to gain experience at the RCH and develop paediatric nursing knowledge and skills to deliver quality care to children and families in an acute care environment
- develop inquiry, critical reflection, advocacy, critical thinking and an understanding of working in teams
- promote the value of the Division 2 nurse at RCH
- promote a team nursing approach to the delivery of nursing care for children and families
- contribute to the hospital wide nursing recruitment and retention strategy to address the
The program is designed to offer opportunity for Division 1 and 2 nurses to gain paediatric nursing experience at the RCH and develop knowledge and skills underpinned by a person-centred attitude in an acute care environment. It aims to develop inquiry, critical reflection, advocacy, and critical thinking. The participants from this program will be expected to be key members of the nursing team now and into the future and offer one way of addressing the acute nursing shortage by growing the nursing workforce. The program aims to add value to the Division 2 nurse working at the Royal Childrens Hospital.
A facilitator will be employed for 2 days a week to provide support to this program, the participants and the clinical units. The major responsibilities of the position will to work with individuals and clinical units to support a learner centred environment and plan, structure, facilitate and evaluate activities to facilitate the achievement of the individual and program objectives of the Registered Nurse Developmental Program (Division 1 & 2). The secondary function will be to establish a clear understanding of the scope of practice and advanced scope of practice of the Registered Nurse Division 2 at RCH.
For more information contact Jan Gregor or Peter Tyler (5768).
Orientation
Program Aims:
Nursing Orientation is a one day program designed to facilitate a smooth transition for Registered Nurses joining the Royal Children's Hospital team.
Program Description:
Participants who attend the registered nurse orientation will be provided an overview of the human and material resources available to them to provide safe and efficient care for the patients and families of RCH. Nursing Orientation is conducted monthly. The majority of participants will have completed the Royal Children's Hospital general orientation prior to attending. Attendance at nursing orientation is arranged through Human resources
Recognition of Serious Illness in Childhood
Program Aims:
Recognition of Serious Illness in Childhood is a program aimed at assisting participants in identifying clinical indicators for serious illness in children and managing the unwell child. See flyer for background and 2008 dates.
Program Description:
The program is an interactive full day workshop, underpinned by practice development principles. Participants are supplied with resources and pre-readings prior to the workshop, and the study day focuses on critical thinking, problem solving and identifying relevant clinical information when dealing with the seriously ill child. Active learning and group participation are combined with practical advice and real-life examples to assist the practitioner in gaining confidence recognising and managing serious illness in children. The workshop is ideal for those with some experience in paediatric nursing who wish to further develop their assessment skills and knowledge. Please note that this workshop is no longer mandatory for all nurses every three years. This course may not be suitable for those with extensive paediatric nursing experience.
To apply:
Download an application form
Or contact the MCPC
Paediatric Foundation Program
Program aims:
The Paediatric Foundation Program aims to provide nurses with an overview of assessment, planning and management of care for the unwell child. It is ideally suited to nurses new to the field of paediatric nursing or those wishing to update their general paediatric nursing knowledge.
Program Description:
The Paediatric Foundation Program is conducted over five study days. The program considers the assessment and management of sick children as well as the psychosocial aspects of caring for the hospitalised child. Topics are presented by nurses and allied health professionals with in-depth experience in child health and there is a significant focus on providing current, evidence based information.
To apply:
Download an application form.
Or contact the MCPC
Preceptorship Course
Program Aims:
The overall aim of the Preceptorship Program is to facilitate the development of the preceptor. The program aspires to expand problem solving and interpersonal skills and also introduce the preceptor to the theoretical, conceptual and philosophical basis of a preceptorship relationship. In addition, there is a focus on developing skills and providing strategies for managing the practical aspects of preceptorship. The program is conducted jointly by the Royal Children's Hospital and the University of Melbourne and is intended to support those preceptoring undergraduate students through to postgraduate students.
Program Description:
The Preceptorship Education Program is a two day workshop underpinned by Practice Development philosophy. The program is highly interactive and requires active participation on the behalf of the learner. The program addresses the preceptor's personal and professional development through consideration of learning styles and personality types, as well as providing practical guidance on issues such as clinical supervision and appraising performance and giving feedback.
To apply:
Preceptorship Education Program application form
Undergraduate placements
The Royal Childrens Hospital provides approximately 1,000 undergraduate nursing student placements each year. Nursing students are provided with the opportunity to care for children and families in a supportive learning environment. Clinical placements are supported either with a clinical teacher or preceptorship model. Royal Childrens Hospital supports placements from approximately eight tertiary institutions and these are arranged between the parent university and RCH.
Placements for undergraduate nursing students at RCH 2008.
For more information please contact Marian Chandler 9345 5762.
Graduate Nurse Program
The 12 month Graduate Nurse Program at the Royal Childrens Hospital exists to support newly Registered Nurses to make the transition from student to full time Registered Nurse, practising in the clinical environment, caring for sick children and their families. The Program operates as an integral component of the organisation. The Program is informed and influenced and responds to
- the Royal Childrens Hospitals strategic plan, vision, values and philosophy of care, including Practice Development
- the Nurse Policy Branch, Victorian Government Department of Human Services
- formative and summative, reflective and creative evaluation by Registered Nurses undertaking the Program
To facilitate transition and development, the Program provides Registered Nurses with orientation, support via a preceptorship model enabling access to more experienced nurses for supervision, mentoring and on going learning opportunities in a safe, high support, high challenge environment. Further enabled learning opportunities are incorporated into the Program via regular study days, 10 in total, and engagement in action learning.
Selection for the graduate nurse program begins in July each year and candidates apply for places via the Nurse Computer Match Service, which is conducted by the Post Graduate Medical Council of Victoria.
See the Graduate Nurse Program 2009 page for more information.
Career Advancement Year
The Career Advancement Year (CAY) was a new initiative at the RCH in 2007. It is a 12 month program which aims to empower nurses to develop their knowledge, skills and attitude to enable the delivery of child-focused, family centred care which is reflective of the diversity apparent within the family structure.
Participants undertake two clinical rotations and are supported in their clinical experiences through a preceptorship model. Participants are enabled to develop health care links with the multi-disciplinary team, both within RCH and beyond to the community, toward an eventual goal of forging strong bonds with providers of care to the paediatric population.
The program uses an adult lifelong learning approach and offers six professional development days, two of which are self directed clinical days. There is a strong emphasis on developing inquiry, reflection and advocacy skills.
Information for the 2009 program will be available in September 2008.
Post graduate Qualifications
The Royal Childrens Hospital provides support to nursing staff enrolled in a relevant postgraduate diploma or certificate. In 2007 nursing staff were supported to complete the following nursing specialties: neonatal intensive care, mental health, paediatric critical care, paediatrics, peri-operative and adolescent health and welfare.
Postgraduate funding opportunities for 2008.
Funding is available for students undertaking the following postgraduate studies:
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Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Neonatal Intensive care nursing
- Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma of Nursing Practice (Peri-operative)
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Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Emergency Nursing The
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Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Nursing Practice (Paediatric Critical care)
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Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Nursing Practice (Paediatrics)
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Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Nursing Practice (Emergency)
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Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma in Nursing Practice (Mental Health)
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Postgraduate Certifcate/DiplomaCancer nursing
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Postgraduate Diploma in Adolescent health & welfare
Please read the guideline prior to applying.
Application form for funding can be downloaded here.
If you are enrolled in any other postgraduate diploma or certificate and believe you may be eligible for funding please contact Maurice Hennessy, Director of Nursing Education on 9345 5775 or maurice.hennessy@rch.org.au.
Further infformation about the range of post graduate opportunities for nurses working at the RCH can be found at the Nursing Resources page.
Setting up a nursing education program at the RCH
A framework has been created to facilitate the development and introduction of nursing programs and courses at RCH. The framework promotes an adult learning approach with continuous evaluation to ensure the programs meet the stated aims, measure learning outcomes and meet the needs of the individual and the organisation. The document can be located at &..
The purpose of this framework is:
- To ensure educational activities support a common purpose and philosophy and promote active learning
- To develop a process to ensure consistency in the development, implementation and evaluation of all education and learning activities at RCH
- To identify and agree the educational programs to support the development of paediatric nursing at RCH.
- To ensure educational activities support RCH and Nursing priorities.
- To ensure nursing education program development is aimed at achieving quality person centred outcomes
All education/learning initiatives (course or program) require approval from nursing council prior to implementation. This process will be applicable for all new and existing nursing education and learning initiatives.
For more information please contact Maurice Hennessy