An inter-professional approach to children's nursing education

Nurses caring for children and young people do not practice in isolation but work as members of a multi-professional healthcare team. The Inter-professional programme delivered at Canterbury Christ Church University offers pathways in midwifery, adult nursing, child nursing, medical imaging, occupational therapy, social work and operating department practice. Benefits include the focus on children and their families from the outset, and learning to nurse using a multi-professional approach. Challenges in implementing the programme include maintaining professional identity, changing patterns of teaching and learning, supporting clinical staff in adapting to early student placement and the multiprofessional focus.