Nurses working in general practice, community and acute settings in Cumbria are being offered integrated training sessions for the first time.
Over 2000 nurses working in the county have participated in the training organised by The Cumbria Learning and Improvement Collaborative (CLIC) and run by clinical specialists in Cumbria and the University of Cumbria.
‘The feedback we get has been overwhelmingly positive, the training is free and brings nurses working in different environments together,’ said Suzanne Beaty, a lead clinical skills nurse educator involved with the scheme.
The courses have been devised around topics identified by nurses. They cover subjects such as pain management, diabetes, and wound care. Other skills that the programme aims to develop include pressure ulcer management, communicating with patients, and verifying expected deaths for nurses working in palliative care. Nurses who attend a course are able to access follow-up support from the clinical skills nurse educators which encourages continued development.
June Kirkbride, a community nurse at Longtown Medical Centre said the courses were an ‘opportunity to share good practice’, while Hannah Jones, a community nurse in Ulverston, said the follow up support ‘makes you feel safe knowing someone else apart from your team is supporting you.’
‘As well as boosting skills we know the courses are popular because they are recognised by employers across Cumbria if nurses move from one health care organisation to another,” said Ms Beaty. ‘Nurses going through the process of revalidation can also use it as evidence to show they are continuing to develop and improve.’
The courses are offered in locations across Cumbria and will be available until March 2016.