An education programme for junior nurses working in acute medicine

It is hard to recruit and retain junior nurses in acute medicine. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust offers an education programme to support junior nurses working in this specialty and encourage them to stay.

Abstract
As in many areas of healthcare, recruiting and retaining junior nurses to acute medicine is difficult. University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has developed and piloted a foundation education programme – one day a week over eight weeks – for junior nurses in acute medicine. The programme, comprising didactic lectures, self-directed learning, action learning sets and a portfolio of learning, is currently being evaluated. Initial results are promising, as shown by the positive feedback obtained from the first cohort. The process of academic accreditation is under way and the longer-term vision is to provide an education platform for nurses to continue developing their career in acute medicine.

Citation: Lees-Deutsch L et al (2019) An education programme for junior nurses working in acute medicine. Nursing Times [online]; 115: 9, 50-52.

Authors: Liz Lees-Deutsch is consultant nurse in acute medicine, Heartlands Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, and lecturer, University of Birmingham. Jessica Thompson-Kempson is clinical educator acute medicine; Andrew Coughlan is ward manager acute medicine; both at Heartlands Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust.
This article has been double-blind peer reviewed
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