Country nurses head to the city for ICU experience

WA Country Health Service’s (WACHS) commitment to staff upskilling has seen intensive care refresher training being delivered to 25 country nurses throughout 2023.

Teaming up with the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) teams at Royal Perth Hospital, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Fiona Stanley Hospital, the refresher program includes training in advanced ventilation modes and dialysis as well as the opportunity to support head-injury and multi-trauma patients.

Each group of senior emergency department and high dependency unit nurses spent five days in the ICU where they were given the opportunity to support care for critically unwell, ventilated patients.

The program is offered to a select group of nurses from across the regions who play an integral role in teaching and supporting junior nurses to develop their skills.

WACHS Nurse Educator Jillian Thomson said the ability to mentor junior staff at their home sites was an integral part of the program.

“Our staff have said they feel more confident in their own abilities, but that they felt confident in their ability to oversee junior staff on site.

“It is truly a wonderful opportunity for our staff to maintain critical skills and deliver better patient outcomes.”

Jillian said the collaboration with metropolitan hospitals would continue through 2024 with educators across sites exploring opportunities for greater involvement.

“I’m really excited about working with our metro counterparts on delivering these kinds of programs, building competence and confidence and exposing our staff to complex care scenarios.”

Kununurra-based Clinical Nurse Sophie Black said the training had been invaluable.

“City health care is vastly different to providing health care in the country, and it was interesting to observe different treatment options, particularly for stroke patients.

“I am now more confident in my ability to look after a critically unwell patient at Kununurra Hospital and plan to use this to run simulation and education sessions for my colleagues.”