WA Country Health Service upskilling nurses to support regional dialysis patients

WA Country Health Service (WACHS) is upskilling nurses to provide expert level renal dialysis care to regional patients, thanks to an innovative partnership program with Royal Perth Hospital (RPH).

Three regional nurses from the Great Southern and Goldfields travelled to Perth in late February to undertake the haemodialysis intensive pathway (HDIP), helping to boost renal dialysis expertise in the bush.

The program included simulation workshops with the haemodialysis machine, aseptic technique and clinical deterioration and direct patient care during haemodialysis treatments.

Executive Director Nursing and Midwifery Maria Flynn said the upskilling pathway was an important part of WACHS’ efforts to provide care close to home and on country.

“Our Renal Dialysis Service provides care to up to one third of the dialysis population across WA.

“This is the first cohort to successfully complete the program and we’re confident it’s the first of many more to come,” Ms Flynn said.

Registered Nurses Thankamma Mathew and Sonam Choden travelled from Kalgoorlie, joining fellow Registered Nurse Pretima Bhugun from Albany on a six-week intensive training program with the RPH renal team.

Thankamma Mathew said the experience at RPH helped her to link theory to practice in a busy hospital environment.

“Having the support from the staff development nurses meant I felt really comfortable to ask questions and perform hands-on skills."

Sonam Choden said the HDIP program provided skills and knowledge that she would be able to share with colleagues.