Supporting best clinical practice
Nurses and health professionals will now have access to two new Cancer Institute NSW educational initiatives designed to implement best clinical practice.
The two new courses follow a wave of online and blended learning
options and will arm health professionals across Australia with the
tools and competencies to best support their patients.
Brain tumour nursing module
An initiative of the NSWOG Neuro-Oncology consumer
representative member, Robyn Leonard, the brain tumour nursing
module was developed to support the care of primary brain tumour
patients across the cancer journey.
Using the EdCaN
blueprint, the online module features video case-studies to
provide nurses an understanding of the unique aspects of the
journey for people with brain tumours.
Early indications are the new model will be effective.
"The videos are realistic and capture the major issues," said
one reviewer.
The case-study follows the story of Martin, a
49-year-old man diagnosed with a primary brain tumour. It
begins with his presentation to an emergency department after
experiencing a seizure, with the last clip canvassing Martin's
deterioration and behavioural changes as seen by his family.
The videos also feature "real-life" members of the NSWOG
Neuro-Oncology representing their professions. Neurosurgical
Clinical Nurse Consultant Kylie Wright, who was instrumental in
developing the resource, played one of the nurse roles in the
case-study,
"Although it isn't comfortable watching yourself, I felt it was
important to the integrity of the resource to have a real health
professional in the role," she says.
"The videos are such a great representation of how the journey
can unfold for these people, and although it was a great experience
to be a part of and I have a new respect for people in the movie
business. I am very glad to stick to nursing!"
The eight-part video complements the learning activities and
case-study reports, which parallel the many points along the cancer
journey when specialist cancer nurses can improve outcomes for
people with brain tumours and their families.
eviQEd - antineoplastic drug administration course (ADAC)
Supporting nurses and health professionals to safely administer
antineoplastic drugs (chemotherapy) is the focus of the
Institute's first interactive eLearning course. Delivered through
the education arm of eviQ, it is the first in a suite of eviQEd
point of care, safety-focussed learning courses.
The antineoplastic drug administration course was designed to
improve an aspect of cancer practice that significantly impacts
staff and patient safety, and quality patient outcomes.
"Enabling nurses to administer and handle antineoplastic drugs
(chemotherapy) and related waste safely is a procedure that
requires attainment of competence prior to independent practice",
says program manager, Chris Sargeant.
The course is aligned to and supports other national educational
initiatives, including EdCaN,
and was developed in consultation with NSW nurse cancer educators
and eLearning experts. It features scenarios, images and learning
activities and includes resources for a face to face workshop and a
clinical learning guide/competence assessment.
Launched by Professor David Currow at Cancer Nurses Society of
Australia in July, initial feedback has been positive.
"The learning module is great for providing junior practitioners
a detailed introduction to oral antineoplastics, and a revision for
more senior staff," said one user.
Future eviQEd modules in development include Managing Cancer
Pain; Discharge Planning; Managing Neutropenia and Febrile
Neutropenia, and Cancer Nursing Process.
Visit the eviQEd
website to find out more and participate in a webex overview of
the course.
