Collaboration works: the experience of developing a high dependency-nursing course

Area of Science:

• Nursing Education
• Critical Care Nursing
• Healthcare Professional Development

Background:

• Nurses in high dependency areas require specialized skills.
• Existing training may not adequately prepare nurses for complex patient care.
• A need exists for collaborative educational initiatives between healthcare providers and academic institutions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a specialized course for nurses in high dependency units.
• To assess the impact of the course on nursing practice and patient care.
• To explore the role of formal education in supporting advanced nursing practice.

Main Methods:

• Collaborative development of a course by NHS trust staff and a university faculty.
• Initial evaluation of the course's impact on nursing practice.
• Assessment of changes in nurses' knowledge sharing, teaching willingness, patient care management, and critical/reflective skills.

Main Results:

• Nurses demonstrated increased willingness to share knowledge and teach peers.
• Management of patient care became more effective.
• Nurses showed greater confidence in caring for critically ill patients and developed enhanced reflective skills.
• Nurses engaged in practice development activities like audits.

Conclusions:

• Practice-based experience must be complemented by formal educational input for critical/acute care.
• Advances in nursing practice necessitate appropriate education and training.
• Organizational collaboration is crucial for meeting the needs of both healthcare staff and patients.