A Joint Partnership of Southern Synergy
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Experience of “solo” candidates
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Smaller pool of staff in rural/regional areas
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Fewer opportunities to advance career
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Interest from potential NPCs
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Funding requirement to provide a professional
development and support program
Partnerships within the training cluster (Synergy)
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To improve career opportunities for skilled
nursing staff
To develop and support a critical mass of NPCs
To identify nurses with suitable competencies
and attributes, within the cluster organisations,
to become NPCs and undertake a PD program
To further develop the NP role, within the cluster
organisations, to enable the long term
sustainability of advanced roles within services
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Discussion within the cluster
Development of a submission for further
funding
Support from 4 cluster services
Task Group established to identify resources
and develop the program
Content identified
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Educational content
◦ advanced assessment, physical health, medico-legal,
prescribing
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Case studies
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Peer supervision and support
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An adjunct to university study
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Internal study day program only (no advanced
standing)
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Access to mentors and opportunity to engage in
consultations etc.
◦ difficult to get mentors and clinical supervision in rural
areas
Participants
First day of the program
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NPCs and those working towards an NPC position
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Employer supported
◦ participants must have Manager and SPN approval
◦ a way for employers to support candidates in their NP
goals
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Range of backgrounds
◦ ED, CL, Child and Youth, Dual Diagnosis, Community,
Inpatient Adult, Aged
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Must be motivated, prepared, actively participate
NPC Resource Folder
 program outline
 prof. development
 leadership plan
 learning plan
 professional portfolio
 log book
 NPS and RADAR
 CPGs
 useful reports
 ANMC Competencies
Texts
 AMH 2010
 TG Psychotropic
Version 6
 Clinical Primer in
Psychiatry (Castle &
Bassett 2010)
Web resources
 “H Prime”
on-line web link,
resource sharing
and discussion
board
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Pre and post evaluation
◦ Participant
◦ Service level
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Opportunity to harness motivated and skilled
nurses
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An adjunct to Masters, the NP Collaborative
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A way for services to support their candidates
locally
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Support rural services
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A requirement for the funding of candidates
in this round
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Develop a critical mass
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More endorsed MHNPs