cpd courses for nurses and midwives

Every Nurse’s Business is a Continued Professional Development (CPD) programme and online learning site for Australian Registered Nurses to help build nursing capacity to address the healthcare needs of people with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism (ASD) in mainstream health settings.

Purpose of the learning site:

To build capacity for RNs to address the healthcare needs of people with Intellectual Disability (ID) and/or Autism (ASD) in mainstream health settings (including primary health).

Relevance of project to Nurses:

The health challenges and service needs of people with ID and/or ASD are greater than those without intellectual and developmental disorders.
People with ID face greater risk for chronic and complex health conditions (epilepsy, hypothyroidism and cardiac issues), greater hospitalisation, readmission and complications following hospitalisation.
People with ASD have higher health risks across the lifespan including greater risk of mortality, disproportionate levels of chronic illness, and are less likely to receive primary care intervention to mitigate risk.
As people with ID and/or ASD regularly present in mainstream healthcare settings (including primary health), it is important that RNs feel comfortable and confident when communicating with, and addressing the needs of this cohort.
There has also been a gap in undergraduate nursing curricula regarding content and clinical placement specific to caring for people with ID/ASD. This free programme helps to supplement this gap.

Background to Every Nurse’s Business:

This research is led by Professor Andrew Cashin at Southern Cross University and supported by Associate Professor Nathan Wilson (University of Western Sydney), Amy Pracilio and Michelle Kersten (Southern Cross University). The research team holds interest in nursing experiences of addressing the healthcare needs of people with ID/ASD and building the capacity of Australian nurses to do so.

The first component of this project involved a survey of Australian Registered Nurses conducted in June, 2020 which identified undergraduate education experiences in terms of formal learning and dedicated practicum that focused on addressing the healthcare needs of people with ID/ASD and related postgraduate education and CPD undertaken. Additionally, RNs were asked about their self-perceived comfort, preparedness, and confidence in addressing the healthcare needs of people with ID/ASD.

Findings from this initial survey, and a scoping review of relevant literature, have informed the development of the online learning curriculum for graduate nurses aimed to promote the capacity of nurses in mainstream hospital and community health services. The curriculum includes foundational learning content distributed through professional nursing bodies in Australia to their membership and the development of a learning site to test foundational knowledge, and house intermediate and advanced curricula.

Structure of the Learning Site:

Foundation: This is currently a quiz to claim 1 CPD hour following exposure to the foundational learning content through the white labelling phase. This includes a ‘revision’ option which will include a folder holding all previous shared content (one-pagers, tiles, and videos).
Intermediate: This is separated into 7 learning domains (care imperatives, communication to people with ID/ASD, communication from people with ID/ASD, environments of care, making things go well, supporting positive behaviour, and introduction to the NDIS). This involves blocks of learning and a variety of information, videos, vignettes, interviews, activities, and further reading under the six domains. It also includes a quiz worth 4 hours towards CPD.
Advanced: This section is completed, and includes interactive content, independent research tasks, and synchronous learning sessions on different topics/areas of practice. Every synchronous learning session is worth 1 hour of CPD.
Completion of the learning material at the foundational, intermediate, and advanced levels and satisfactory completion of the optional assessment will be deemed to be equivalent to one unit of AQF level 8 postgraduate study. This can be presented to universities to consider for advanced standing.

Click here for more info: Every Nurse’s Business

With online registration renewals now open, it’s time to think about your Continuing Professional Development! Not to worry, the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Association and the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation are here to help!

Nurses and midwives may feel daunted at the prospect of trying to squeeze another layer of work into their busy lives, but don’t worry. Fulfilling your CPD requirements is a lot easier than you think!

CPD is about developing and maintaining your professional skills. This can be carried out in a number of ways, including attendance at conferences such as the NSW Nurses and Midwives’ Assocation (NSWNMA) Professional Day, online self-directed learning tutorials, reading journal articles or attending workshops or seminars such as those held by the NSWNMA.

How do you go about doing your CPD?

Look at your learning needs. Work out a learning plan, how you are going to address your needs. After completing your CPD activities, you then have to reflect on what you’ve learned – so how it affected and improved your work and what you will incorporate into your practice.

ANMF online tutorials

The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has a number of online tutorials, which NSWNMA members have access to at a discounted price. You also have access to a free online professional portfolio where all CPD – whether it is completed with the ANMF or outside – can be logged.

The tutorials range from wound care and asthma management to palliative care and emergency drugs, in addition to mandatory topics such as manual handling and advanced life support update.

As well as being cost-effective, the ANMF tutorials offer the convenience of completing CPD requirements at times that suit busy nurses and midwives. Once you have purchased a tutorial, you have access to it for 12 months, meaning it can be used as a reference tool in the workplace for that period. You have three attempts at the assessment section in order to achieve the highest mark. The ANMF is continually adding new modules. Modules are available here.

NSWNMA seminars

If you prefer hands-on, face-to-face teaching, the NSWNMA runs a number of workshops and seminars each month. These include basic foot care, legal and professional issues for nurses and midwives, and forums for nursing specialities such as mental health, aged care or Nurse Practitioners. Check out the NSWNMA website for more details.