Education

Nursing Education

O ngoing Education is key to excellent nursing practice. Throughout my career I have had various levels of involvement with education, both from a self-educational perspective as well as assisting with other health professionals’ educational requirements. I have added, and will continue to build, my evidence of learning and teaching within this ePortfolio.

Very early within my career I found that I like to share my knowledge to subordinates concerning nursing/clinical theory and practice. However, it was when I became a ‘Profession Development Coordinator’ that I was really given the opportunity to develop teaching strategies, share knowledge and create a structured mentoring relationship with others to help them in their own practices. (Shepherd & Hannafin, 2013). Teaching became part of my practice, which I believe is part of all nurses practice. Therefore, learning on an ongoing basis as describe within the standards, (NSQHS, September 2012) is not just a standard but a natural constituent of the health care provider.

Consequently, since gaining my Enrolled Nurse qualifications in 1978 at Kalgoorlie Hospital, (Western Australia), I attained my Bachelor of Nursing from Southern Cross University (Lismore, NSW) in 1998.

My education experiences are as follows:

• Current Student – Masters Clinical leadership, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW.
• Quality Coordinator – Division of Specialty and Procedural Services, Gold Coast Health District. ACHS – Evaluation and
• Quality Improvement Program (EQuIP) & NSQHS.
• Nurse Unit Manager – Perioperative. Division of Surgery, Gold Coast Health District.
• Research Nurse /Clinical Policy Officer/ Policy facilitation, education, investigation, report writing, research and systematic reviews.
• Clinical Governance Support Officer (PSO). Root Cause Analysis Investigations (RCA). Education, investigation, interviewing, research and report writing.

Whilst I was a ‘Profession Development Coordinator’ I wrote a complete orientation package for anaesthetic nurses, an orientation program for post graduate student anaesthetic nurses. I also delivered many lectures and in-services to the peri-operative and other units throughout the hospital. (see appendix 4)

I believe my learning and educational experiences have changed from just do what interests me to a more reflective approach where I can continually change and grow. My competence has increased along with my confidence to perform, and as (Green, Wyllie, & Jackson, 2014) quoted “competence is a state of being adequately or well qualified”.

I still find it hard to capture evidence of my learning experiences as I have not had to engage in such activity before but as I reflect on learning strategies I am sure it will great increase my learning and professional competence as suggested by (Debra Anderson, Glenn Gardner, Jo Ramsbotham, & Ramsbotham, 2009).

I have a strong clinical background and the reflective practice once ingrained I am sure will provide me with a strong guide for essential attributes of competent health care provision as well as improve my leadership abilities and experiences. (Mann, Gordon, & MacLeod, 2007).

Memberships include:

Safety Institute of Australia (SIA),
Australian Nurses Federation (ANF).
Operating Room Nurses Association (ORNA),
Queensland Swedish Massage Institute (QSMI).
Queensland Institute of Natural Science (QINS)

My education and practical experiences have lead me to gain recognition as follows: