Education and Training
Medical Education
This content of this section is currently being revised.
Nurse Education
Newborn Intensive Care Unit Clinical Nurse Educators
Role
The Newborn Intensive Care Unit employs clinical nurse educators (CNEs) to organise and provide education and clinical support to nurses who work on the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, as well as to provide education to nurses who work in other areas of the Royal Children's Hospital. Other activities that CNEs are involved in include orientation of new staff members, participation in quality improvement including clinical practice guideline development, and working with universities to provide post-graduate nursing education.
Contact
Email: neonatal.educator@rch.org.au Telephone: (03) 9345 5316
Neonatal Nurse Practitioners
Role
The Newborn Intensive Care Unit employs two Neonatal Nurse Practitioners. The Neonatal Nurse Practitioners are advanced nurses who hold a relevant Masters degree and are endorsed with AHPRA to function autonomously and collaboratively in extended clinical roles.
Their role includes assessment and management of our neonatal population throughout the admission to discharge process. This involves referral of patients to other medical subspecialties, ordering diagnostic investigations, prescribing of medications and carrying out advanced clinical skills and procedures. The position of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner at The Royal Children's Hospital also involves education of medical and nursing staff and patient families, research and evidence based practice projects, professional development, specialty and role promotion and clinical and professional leadership. The role of the Neonatal Nurse Practitioner is grounded in the nursing profession's values and provides innovative and flexible health care delivery that compliments other health care providers.
Contact
Email: simonne.jollye@rch.org.au Telephone: (03) 9345 5000 (page 5020) Email: catherine.fox@rch.org.au Telephone: (03) 9345 5000 (page 5314)
Mandatory Hospital and Newborn Intensive Care Unit Competencies
There are a number of competencies that Newborn Intensive Care Unit nurses are required to complete. These competencies include mandatory Royal Children's Hospital and Newborn Intensive Care Unit specific competencies. It is recommended that nurses complete these competencies within 4 weeks of commencing employment on the Newborn Intensive Care Unit, and then annually.
The Royal Children's Hospital mandatory competencies are available via Nursing Education Department (intranet only).
The Newborn Intensive Care Unit specific competencies are:
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Neonatal Basic Life Support (BLS)
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Neonatal Medication Test
There are additionally a number of neonatal specific clinical competencies available for nurses to complete.
Clinical Competencies - Neonatal Nursing Care
Clinical competencies are available for completion by nurses who would like to enhance their knowledge and skills in a specific area of neonatal nursing care.
Clinical competencies provide an excellent opportunity for nurses to assess, update, and consolidate knowledge and skills.
The available clinical competencies for Special Care and Neonatal Intensive Care are available via Nursing Education Department.
On-going Education
Post Graduate Certificate and Post Graduate Diploma in Neonatal Intensive Care
La Trobe University offers a post graduate course in Neonatal Intensive Care. Students are employed on the Neonatal Unit where they complete the clinical component of the course. Participants complete their studies at La Trobe University.
NICU course information and application forms are available via the La Trobe University website.
For further information, contact the Neonatal Unit CNEs, or
Melissah Burnett Neonatal Nursing Course Coordinator La Trobe University Email: m.burnett@latrobe.edu.au Telephone: (03) 9479 5914Transition to Neonatal Intensive Care
Nurses who work in the special care/high dependency area of the Newborn Intensive Care Unit are offered the opportunity to move into neonatal intensive care. This is a supported transition - with supernumerary shifts offered (with a preceptor when possible). Nurses transitioning into neonatal intensive care are also:
- rostered a study day to attend an "Introduction to NICU" study day, which is run by the CNEs
- given various learning packages and a clinical competency package, with an emphasis on self-directed (adult) learning
- offered ongoing clinical support when supernumerary time ceases
Preceptorship
Where possible, new nurses are allocated a preceptor to assist with their transition to the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. For various reasons it is often not possible to match a new nurse's shifts with just one preceptor.
Information and dates of preceptorship courses are available via Nursing Education Department.
Learning Packages
There are a number of learning and reading packages available for new and existing Newborn Intensive Care Unit nursing staff. These include topics such as Newborn Intensive Care Unit Orientation Manual, CPAP, Transition to NICU, HFO Ventilation, Jet Ventilation, and more.
In-services
There are a number of in-service lectures available for Newborn Intensive Care Unit nursing staff. The in-service lectures available include topics such as Neonatal Care, Thermoregulation, Acid-Base Balance, Congenital Anomalies, CDH, PPHN and many more.
Study Days
Throughout the year there are a number of study days that are run by the CNEs.
General Study Days
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Study days for any Newborn Intensive Care Unit nurse to attend - Information about these study days is usually posted on the education board
Specific Study Days
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Study days that are aimed at specific groups of nurses, e.g. Orientation Day, Introduction to Neonatal Intensive Care Study Day, Graduate Nurse Study Day, Neonatal Intensive Care Student Study Day
