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Can you confidently assist medical staff in obtaining an airway for a patient who is struggling to maintain their own? Can you operate a ventilator and make alterations based on arterial blood gas levels? And can you take control of a defibrillator during a cardiac arrest, making the life altering decision to shock or not shock based on a wave form? As a critical care agency nurse you can probably do most if not all of the above and that’s why you’re in demand right now. Patients suspected or confirmed of having COVID-19 are a high risk group requiring specialised care. So it’s a good time to start asking yourself, should I go back to university and study critical care nursing? COVID - 19 Demands Critical Care Trained Staff It’s no secret that agency nurses trained in critical care areas like ICU, Emergency, step-down, cardiac care and theater are highly sought after. However, 2020 highlighted this fact. You only need to turn on the news or scroll through your social media feed to see hospitals, clinics and even make-shift field hospitals overflowing with patients requiring breathing and ventilatory support. These images make me thankful to live in a country where our leaders are enforcing rules which are saving lives, but it doesn’t make the Australian public immune. Innocent people are still being haunted by the virus and will continue to whilst we patiently wait for a vaccine. We as agency nurses have the power and potential know-how to assist them - but we need the training first. Is going back to school right for me? Though the demand for critically cared trained nurses is high, it doesn’t mean you will no longer be allocated to your requested shifts if you don’t commit to future studies. Theaters are still running with non urgent cases, car accidents and sports injuries are unfortunately still happening and those suffering from a stroke or heart attack still need diligent care on the wards and in community rehab. There is still so much agency work on offer outside of the COVID presentations. However, if reading this article is stirring something inside you, motivating you to hit the books again, the following questions are well worth considering; Ask yourself why: What outcome do I want to achieve from post graduate study? Why do I want to study in the first place? Finance: Can I afford the cost of the course? Are there any scholarships I can apply for? Are payment plans available? (Remember you can claim work related study on tax and potentially through your smart salary provider). Time: Do I have the time to study full / part time among my other commitments (kids, second job, spouse job / study) Can I study part time? Can I receive credits for what I have done previously? If time is an issue, don’t forget that agency work gives you the freedom to choose when you work which is perfect if you’re also studying. Job opportunity: Do I need to be part of a structured program to complete formal postgraduate studies? Will my current employer support my studies? Do I simply want to complete a series of short courses rather than a full university degree / certificate? Location: Is the course run online or do I physically need to travel? Future: Where do I want to work in the future? Continued Professional Development (CPD) points: How many CPD points are linked to the course? Remember enrolled and registered nurses and also midwives need to complete a minimum of CPD hours in order to remain registered. See this link via the AHPRA website for more details. If you are looking for a great place to start exploring future course options, the Australian Healthcare Academy (AHA) offers a range of courses for the beginner to the advanced nurse which will significantly boost not only your confidence but also your resume. Nursing Agencies like VNS get very excited when they see a AHA trained nurse because they know the course is comprehensive, professional and beneficial. To check out their range of excellent courses, click here . In summary, patients suspected of COVID-19 requiring specialised care, particularly respiratory support, are going to continue to enter the doors of Emergency Departments around the country until we have a vaccine. If you’ve been looking to extend your nursing resume, increase your chances of securing more shifts with your nursing agency and make a few extra dollars, this could be the perfect motivator you’ve been looking for. Cheers, Emma Smith Registered Nurse
Have you completed the required CPD hours depending on your level of experience as a nurse and/or midwife? Knowing where to look for different and unique opportunities can be tiring, particularly after a few night shifts or after the dreaded late/early. So we have done the hard work for you by outlining 5 potential ways you can maintain best practice and earn CPD points as a nurse or midwife working in Victoria. 1. Complete the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) (Victoria Branch) online modules The ANMF is spoiling us. They have developed a range of exciting online modules that can contribute to your CPD and are available online via interactive zoom workshops and seminars. Topics include; viral hepatitis prevention (2 hours CPD), acute management of minor burns (4 hours CPD), and managing problematic drug use (2 hours CPD). If you are a paid ANMF member of the Victorian Branch you receive an annual credit limit (renewed 1 July annually) for access to the online CPD portal. Note all face to face or interactive Zoom workshops/seminars require payment. The credit limits are as following: full time and part-time members $400 members on primary carer’s leave $120 student and associate members $80 To access the ANMF (Victorian Branch) CPD portal, click here. There are also modules available via the federal ANMF site which can be found here. 2. Explore local hospital-based events Major tertiary hospitals in Victoria such as The Royal Children’s Hospital, The Royal Women’s Hospital, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, and The Alfred Hospital all offer incredible events throughout the year covering a range of topics from trauma to burns to sepsis. In my experience, these events are well structured, professionally organised, and are well worth attending if you’ve never been. However, due to COVID-19, it appears the events calendar i s looking a little bare right now. Here are three workshops which may be of interest Emergency Medicine Research Course When: 3 August 2020 — 6 December 2020 Where: Online (link via Alfred Hospital) Find out more here Motivational Interviewing When: 8 December 2020 Where: Women's Alcohol & Drug Service (via zoom) Find out more Third Trimester Ultrasound for Nurses and Midwives When: 22nd April 2021 Where: See ultrasoundtraining.com for details Note: Australian College of Midwives CPD Recognised Activity; 13.5 CPD hours 3. Explore the Nursing CPD Institute Did you know there is an online nursing community specifically designed to help you maintain your CPD hours? Well, if you didn’t, say hello to the Nursing CPD institute. This intuitive platform provides comprehensive educational opportunities that meet the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia’s (NMBA) requirements. There are literally hundreds of ways you can achieve your CPD hours on their website! Instead of buying one-off courses, as you may experience with the ANMF’s online portal, the Nursing CPD Institute offers an annual membership of $99 giving you access to a huge library of CPD resources plus a ton of other benefits. If this sounds like something worth exploring more, check out this link to be taken to the Nursing CPD Institute home page. If you are on the fence about signing up, they do offer a free CPD session counting for 1 hour of CPD. Enrol here. 4. Complete online courses with HealthTimes I’m sure you’ve visited their website before upon googling something health and nursing-related, but did you know HealthTimes also offer CPD opportunities? They have teamed up with LearnEM , another online platform that provides excellent training and educational resources to those working within the acute healthcare sector to provide some pretty phenomenal healthcare modules. These include paediatric emergencies ($39.00 for 2 hours CPD), care of clients with bariatric needs ($42.90 for 1-hour CPD) and also bullying in the healthcare workplace ($44.00 for 1-hour CPD). Their courses are super easy to access here and well worth a look. 5. Explore AusMed Courses You may recognise AusMed as the company and/or app which you might use to keep track of your CPD hours. Well, this company has much more to offer than that. Find an abundance of courses and resources which have insightfully been sorted into “learning hubs.” These learning hubs include practice areas, clinical, non-clinical, and other resources such as wellbeing and mandatory training. In regards to cost, some of their resources are free and generally include only short reading materials. So to unlock the popular nitty-gritty content, you’re going to need to pay. They offer different payment structures such as $90 each quarter, or an annual fee of $360. Though it may seem hefty, from all accounts, it’s worth every cent. Find out more by checking out AusMed here. Extras: Here are another couple of resources which are worth exploring: Australian College of Midwives - Recognised CPD events The Australian Primary Health Care Nurses Association (APNA) NPS MedicationWise Australian College of Nursing Health.vic Intelli learn - Breastfeeding courses Medcast - Critical Care Nursing online course In summary, as a nurse working in Victoria, you are spoilt for choice when it comes to CPD opportunities. Research workshops, information evenings at your local hospital (some even offer dinner!) and explore online libraries packed with resources to stimulate your learning. Cheers, Emma Smith Registered Nurse