Training and education for advanced community care nurses

Background:
The aim of this research was to identify training and education needs for advanced community care teams supporting children & young people with complex healthcare needs

Methods:
A quantitative descriptive correlational survey was conducted with an online
questionnaire being administered with a response rate of 44.6% (N=96). The
questionnaire comprised of 3 questions with question one about their work role / title. Question two was in relation to preferred teaching methods and more than one box could be ticked. The final question which was informed by the literature and current healthcare needs of children and young people that are currently allocated through the tender process was about nursing skills and education requirements. Participants could tick multiple boxes in areas they felt they needed training in. Education needs were reviewed in correlation to the number of clients and weekly service provision i.e., weekly nursing hours and clients

Results:
Eighty three percent of respondents were nurses working directly with children and young people. The preferred method of teaching is the traditional method of face-toface (71.6%) but 27% - 53% of participants are open to online platforms with prerecorded sessions being the least preferred (27%). Some other key results findings included over half the respondents (54%) stated a need for seizure management training which correlates with 42% of clients with a diagnosis of epilepsy / dystonia / seizure and accounts for 47% of weekly service provision. Over half the nurses (51.6%) expressed a need for tracheostomy training which correlates for 16% of clients and over 50% of weekly service provision. Enteral nutrition was requested by 35% of nurses which correlates of 47% of clients we support and accounts for 73% of weekly service provision

Conclusion:
Nursing Nurses are willing to consider other methods of training outside the traditional face-to-face methods such as pre-recorded sessions and live online sessions. However, nursing skills such as tracheostomy and enteral nutrition will still require a face-to-face element. Specialist training is warranted for nurses working in this area with a blended learning approach