Effective workforce

Placing a priority on developing an effective nursing workforce underpins our subsequent priorities of clinical outcomes, positive experience and zero harm. We support our nurses in developing their competence in accessing, critiquing and incorporating evidence into their clinical practice. We employ a number of strategies to engage nurses which can be found at nursing engagement.

Through our commitment to developing an effective nursing workforce, we have in place a research program exploring the development and maintenance of competence.

Examples of current research in this area supported by us include:

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • Evaluating a competency framework for nurses new to paediatric nursing
• Master of Nursing
  • Structured Education and support for undergraduate nurses at the RCH
  • The First 3 Minutes: Effective Team Paediatric Resuscitation Training

Click here to view the list of recent effective workforce publications authored by RCH nurses.

Excellent clinical outcomes

We support nurses to better evaluate the outcomes of interventions made with the aim of improving care and outcomes for patients and their families. Nurses readily initiate processes and programs based on identified patient needs, yet often the outcomes of such interventions are inadequately measured. We provide advice, supervision and mentoring to nurses engaged in measuring clinical outcomes of their service delivery, including:

• Clinical innovation
• Optimising patient outcomes
• Systems & process evaluation
• Integration of evidence into practice
• Quality improvement initiatives

Examples of current research in this area supported by us include:

• Doctor of Philosophy
  • The experiences of pain in children with cancer receiving Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
  • The epidemiology of Post Thrombotic Syndrome following the use of central venous lines in paediatrics
• Master of Nursing
  • Reviewing clinical outcomes in children with a tracheostomy tube
  • Evaluation of a nurse-led anticoagulation protocol for paediatric ECLS patients: A before and after study
• Other Projects
  • Evaluating the introduction of Criteria Led Discharge from the Emergency Department

Click here to view the list of recent clinical outcome publications authored by RCH nurses.

Positive experience

 
A strategic focus of the RCH is a positive experience for all. With a particular emphasis on patients and families, our key research foci within this priority area include:

• the process of developing of partnerships with consumers;
• fostering engagement with patients and families to participate in their own care;
• exploration of different models of care delivery;
• program development
• the impact of disease processes and interventions upon the quality of life for children and their families.

 Examples of current research in this area supported by us include:

• Master of Nursing
  • A qualitative analysis of the needs of parents supporting young adolescents with intellectual disability in managing puberty and sexuality.

Click here to view the list of recent positive experience publications authored by RCH nurses.

Zero harm

The integral role of nursing in promotion of patient safety and zero harm is well recognised. We support nurses to engage in research activities to identify target areas for attention, develop strategies to improve patient safety and measure the impact of those interventions. Specifically, the Department supports:

• Incident review
• Development of Policies and protocols
• Systems analysis
• Clinical risk management

 Examples of current research in this area supported by us include:

• Master of Nursing
  • A retrospective clinical audit of falls risk assessment tools and follow-up documentation completion rates in a paediatric surgical ward
  • Medication preparation practice in the paediatric setting

Click here to view the list of recent zero harm publications authored by RCH nurses.