Just when I finally got started on the development of the storyboard, I have had a curve ball thrown my way.
The Early warning observation chart was designed to allow the lower ranking nurses and hence nurses with minimal training to identify the patient who is deteriorating and to guide them as to the urgency of them notifying senior staff members of the patients vital signs.
Initially my aim was a simplistic observation chart with varying colours. It was then forced upon me to add aditional, non relevant information on the chart as the "document committee" was delighted with it and wanted it to replace all adult observation charts in the hospitals. This was done under much duresss.
I was then told that I had to develop a User Guide and a Facilitator Guide for the chart. (Surely if a chart requires this it is too complex?) Nonetheless I did this but incorporated the two into one document.
Thereafter I was told that a test was required in order for the staff members to be awarded MAP points, the equivalent of CPD points in MediClinic. This too was done.
I then had to compile a Powerpoint presentation to enable the Training and Development Consultant in the hosiptals to train all staff. Also done.
Last week the package was released to all the hospitals and a huge outcry ensued. The main objections being that the test is too difficult; that the whole process is too complex and that "it is obvious that an ICU person is pushing the project with no consideration to ward staff".
This has meant that the whole project has been shelved for the time being.
It has been a very interesting and frustrating project from which I have learnt about corporate pressures, hierarchy management and mismangement, back stabbing, personal reflection to name a few.
Initailly when I proposed this, I mentioned that a similar project in Australia took 2 years to develop and encompassed much action research and pilot studies before being properly initiated.
In addition it involved a team working on it. I started this on my own, with pressure from "head office" to complete it by June ... no pilot study although that is what I wanted. In addition, all work on this was done after hours, from home as my prime role is teaching critical care nursing.
(The reason why I resigned).
I am both dissappointed and relieved that this has occurred as it validates my intial approach to the project. I am however hoping that I will now bw allowed to scrap the test and the Facilitator Guide. I have proposed that I initiate a pilot study at one of the local hospitals as this will allow additional input from the Medical Practitioners, allow observation of what, if any, formal teaching is required and ensure that a streamlined package is lauched throughout the group.
Of note too is that this was sent to all hospitals at the end of June with minimal feedback received. Once it was due to be launched the outcry began.
I do believe that some of the critisism is valid and this too will be addressed, i.e. the test was not at the level of the ENA but rather at the level of the PN. In defence I had written it as a formative assessment using scenarios, i.e problem based with the aim being that feedback would be given to the staff member. Not a pass / fail test which is what was finally given to the hospitals.
During this excercise I have had exposure to "Leadership for change"; CPD; Assessment; Learning and teaching etc. .... very interesting!
I will continue using the idea as the e-learning activity as I am sure that it will be initiated after some tweaking ... if not, then I will have learnt from the process.
Bronwen
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Chunking
I am going to develop an activity to assist with the training of nursing staff on the new Adult Observation record.
? Title: Adult Observation: N3182 (Boring I know but I feel that the target group need to be able to identify the activity easily.
Target Group: All Nursing staff using the record but mainly the lower rankings with the least amount of training, i.e. the persons performing the observations.
I have been reading about "chunking" of information. The concept follows the idea of information retention or memory and retrieval of information.
Apparently information should be "chunked" into parts of between 5-7 facts per storyboard.
This means that I am going to have to plan this activity fairly well.
The record has already been broken into about 10 "headings" which I will use as my main parcels of information.
As the training included the development of a Power Point presentation, I will look at perhaps using that as a base on which to work. I am aware of the pitfalls of assuming that Power Points can be adapted into an e-learning activity so will have to be very careful about using this approach.
Aim of activity: re-inforce the information that was learnt during the training sessions
One means of doing this would be to have more scenarios. During the training workshops 3 scenarios were discussed.
I need to find a programme that will allow many small assessments to be integrated into the storyboard.
Any tips?
? Title: Adult Observation: N3182 (Boring I know but I feel that the target group need to be able to identify the activity easily.
Target Group: All Nursing staff using the record but mainly the lower rankings with the least amount of training, i.e. the persons performing the observations.
I have been reading about "chunking" of information. The concept follows the idea of information retention or memory and retrieval of information.
Apparently information should be "chunked" into parts of between 5-7 facts per storyboard.
This means that I am going to have to plan this activity fairly well.
The record has already been broken into about 10 "headings" which I will use as my main parcels of information.
As the training included the development of a Power Point presentation, I will look at perhaps using that as a base on which to work. I am aware of the pitfalls of assuming that Power Points can be adapted into an e-learning activity so will have to be very careful about using this approach.
Aim of activity: re-inforce the information that was learnt during the training sessions
One means of doing this would be to have more scenarios. During the training workshops 3 scenarios were discussed.
I need to find a programme that will allow many small assessments to be integrated into the storyboard.
Any tips?
Sunday, July 12, 2009
THE module
I have two choices for this assignment, both are projects in which I am involved and require an e-learning activity to be developed.
1. HMIMMS: Hospital Major Incident Medical Management Strategies is an international approach to "Disaster" management. It has been initiated in South Africa by Prof. Lee Wallis from SU and UCT but was originally developed in the U.K. by a group known as the Advanced Life Support Group. The aim of this initiative is to get all role players in SA, i.e. public and private sector to have a common approach to "Disasters". This programme is supposed to be endorsed by all healthcare facilities by 2010.
Medi Clinic have adapted some of the concepts to facilitate the differences between their Organizational Philosophy and that of ALSG whilst still maintaining the same principles. I have been involved in the initial training throughout the group since January this year.
The initial training involved lectures and tabletop simulation excercises of the different stages in the HMIMMS plan. The plan for the training is that we train a core group from each hospital, provide training material and then expect that group to continue with the training of all staff in their hospital.
The core group comprised: Training and Development Consultant, (A Professional Nurse who provides inservice education), the Clinical Governance Manager; the Hospital Manager or Pharmacy manager; the Nursing Manager (Matron); Technical Manager and the Unit Manager of the Emergency Centre. As we required a minimum of 10 persons to attend a session that we ran, this was bulked up by additional staff of their choice.
The aim of the e-learning programme is to aid the 53 hospitals in their continuing education of the staff.
The target audience can be divided into 3 groups, viz. Healthcare Providers, Management and Support Services.
2. I have developed a new adult observation chart which is being launched this month. It will be used in the 53 SA hospitals, Namibia and Dubai. It is based on the Early Warning Scores used in the U.K., Scotland and Australia.
The aim of the chart is to help the nursing staff to identify the patient at risk of deteriorating and give guidance as to interventions that should be considered for that patient.
Early Warning Scores were used in conjunction with Rapid Response Teams of Critical Care Staff and Doctors. Unfortunately it would be difficult to initiate this in private hospitals, hence the change of format.
The training involved in the launch of this new chart is substantial.
1. A user guide has been developed which will be placed in each Nursing Unit, (ward).
2. A flow guide was developed which is to be placed in the patient file, allowing staff to easily obtain guidance should a vital sign fall out of "normal" ranges.
b. A facilitator guide and Power Point Presentation has been developed to aid the Training and Development Consultants in their training of staff. In this there are excercises and a test that require completion.
This has been linked to the MAP, or continuing education points system that is used in Medi-Clinic, i.e. the staff member will receive 3 MAP points once they have been trained and found competent in the use of the record.
The record will be formally implemented once the majority of nursing staff have been trained in a hospital, which should be by end July.
The e-learning activity should compliment the other training strategies and allow staff, particularly of the smaller hospitals, to enhance their knowledge.
Whilst developing this record and the training strategies, I realised that this may be a means of teaching integration of knowledge into the clinical area.
Regards
Bronwen
1. HMIMMS: Hospital Major Incident Medical Management Strategies is an international approach to "Disaster" management. It has been initiated in South Africa by Prof. Lee Wallis from SU and UCT but was originally developed in the U.K. by a group known as the Advanced Life Support Group. The aim of this initiative is to get all role players in SA, i.e. public and private sector to have a common approach to "Disasters". This programme is supposed to be endorsed by all healthcare facilities by 2010.
Medi Clinic have adapted some of the concepts to facilitate the differences between their Organizational Philosophy and that of ALSG whilst still maintaining the same principles. I have been involved in the initial training throughout the group since January this year.
The initial training involved lectures and tabletop simulation excercises of the different stages in the HMIMMS plan. The plan for the training is that we train a core group from each hospital, provide training material and then expect that group to continue with the training of all staff in their hospital.
The core group comprised: Training and Development Consultant, (A Professional Nurse who provides inservice education), the Clinical Governance Manager; the Hospital Manager or Pharmacy manager; the Nursing Manager (Matron); Technical Manager and the Unit Manager of the Emergency Centre. As we required a minimum of 10 persons to attend a session that we ran, this was bulked up by additional staff of their choice.
The aim of the e-learning programme is to aid the 53 hospitals in their continuing education of the staff.
The target audience can be divided into 3 groups, viz. Healthcare Providers, Management and Support Services.
2. I have developed a new adult observation chart which is being launched this month. It will be used in the 53 SA hospitals, Namibia and Dubai. It is based on the Early Warning Scores used in the U.K., Scotland and Australia.
The aim of the chart is to help the nursing staff to identify the patient at risk of deteriorating and give guidance as to interventions that should be considered for that patient.
Early Warning Scores were used in conjunction with Rapid Response Teams of Critical Care Staff and Doctors. Unfortunately it would be difficult to initiate this in private hospitals, hence the change of format.
The training involved in the launch of this new chart is substantial.
1. A user guide has been developed which will be placed in each Nursing Unit, (ward).
2. A flow guide was developed which is to be placed in the patient file, allowing staff to easily obtain guidance should a vital sign fall out of "normal" ranges.
b. A facilitator guide and Power Point Presentation has been developed to aid the Training and Development Consultants in their training of staff. In this there are excercises and a test that require completion.
This has been linked to the MAP, or continuing education points system that is used in Medi-Clinic, i.e. the staff member will receive 3 MAP points once they have been trained and found competent in the use of the record.
The record will be formally implemented once the majority of nursing staff have been trained in a hospital, which should be by end July.
The e-learning activity should compliment the other training strategies and allow staff, particularly of the smaller hospitals, to enhance their knowledge.
Whilst developing this record and the training strategies, I realised that this may be a means of teaching integration of knowledge into the clinical area.
Regards
Bronwen
Thursday, June 11, 2009
All fall down day
Hi
What a day ... does that sound familiar.
Today I was struggling to get the projector to interface for a video conference teaching session on Orthopaedics. Yes, I know that is not my field but the idiom states: "Jack of all trades ...."
Anyway, I decided to climb onto the boardroom table which then collapsed, leaving me writhing in pain with a sore ankle. The session suddenly changed from theory to practice.
Fortunately it was a minor injury which required no medical intervention. The damage to the ego however is something entirely different.
I am thinking about changing my research as SANC has recently circulated a directive to stop all curriculum development. Luckily I am involved in an intiative which may be suitable. This is rather late in the process to change but life tends to throw these curve balls to challenge us.
Regards
B
What a day ... does that sound familiar.
Today I was struggling to get the projector to interface for a video conference teaching session on Orthopaedics. Yes, I know that is not my field but the idiom states: "Jack of all trades ...."
Anyway, I decided to climb onto the boardroom table which then collapsed, leaving me writhing in pain with a sore ankle. The session suddenly changed from theory to practice.
Fortunately it was a minor injury which required no medical intervention. The damage to the ego however is something entirely different.
I am thinking about changing my research as SANC has recently circulated a directive to stop all curriculum development. Luckily I am involved in an intiative which may be suitable. This is rather late in the process to change but life tends to throw these curve balls to challenge us.
Regards
B
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
MPhil HSE e-Learning: e-Learning module - everybody's blog addresses
MPhil HSE e-Learning: e-Learning module - everybody's blog addresses
Bronwen: http://learn2teachcriticalcare.blogspot.com/
Bronwen: http://learn2teachcriticalcare.blogspot.com/
Hi
I am a MPhil Heath Sciences Education student at Stellenbosch University, situated in the beautiful winelands of the Western Cape, South Africa.
My passion is critical care nursing; my involvement in the field spans 20 years. After completion of my nursing education qualification, I became involved in critical care nursing education; however my lack of understanding of teaching and learning soon led me to continue my own studies within the education field.
Commencing the MPhil HSE has been challenging, daunting and incredibly exciting. It has given me exposure to the most dynamic leaders in HSE on our campus and at other universities from SA.
In addition, it has opened my eyes to the global issues in education in other HSE disciplines; I now realise that we have similar problems to overcome. Tragically nursing in SA has far more obstacles to overcome than other disciplines.
This blog has been compiled as an assignment in the e-learning module of my course. I sincerely believe that e-learning will be a cost effective means of teaching in our country; a country that spans an enormous area.
I would like to hear comments from persons involved in HSE, Nursing Education and any e-learning "experts".
The aim for this blog is to gather information on how we can improve critical care nursing in SA; how we can improve our professional image and to get together, (albeit online), swop stories and have fun.
I look forward to chatting with you ....
Regards
B
I am a MPhil Heath Sciences Education student at Stellenbosch University, situated in the beautiful winelands of the Western Cape, South Africa.
My passion is critical care nursing; my involvement in the field spans 20 years. After completion of my nursing education qualification, I became involved in critical care nursing education; however my lack of understanding of teaching and learning soon led me to continue my own studies within the education field.
Commencing the MPhil HSE has been challenging, daunting and incredibly exciting. It has given me exposure to the most dynamic leaders in HSE on our campus and at other universities from SA.
In addition, it has opened my eyes to the global issues in education in other HSE disciplines; I now realise that we have similar problems to overcome. Tragically nursing in SA has far more obstacles to overcome than other disciplines.
This blog has been compiled as an assignment in the e-learning module of my course. I sincerely believe that e-learning will be a cost effective means of teaching in our country; a country that spans an enormous area.
I would like to hear comments from persons involved in HSE, Nursing Education and any e-learning "experts".
The aim for this blog is to gather information on how we can improve critical care nursing in SA; how we can improve our professional image and to get together, (albeit online), swop stories and have fun.
I look forward to chatting with you ....
Regards
B
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