Pilot of a palliative care orientation training program for overseas trained nurses

Pilot of a Palliative Care Orientation Program for Overseas Trained Nurses in the Wimmera Author: Melanie Hahne Coordinator/RN Wimmera Hospice Care, Wimmera Health Care Group Email: melanie.hahne@whcg.org.au

There have been an increasing number of overseas trained nurses migrating to the rural region of the Wimmera in western Victoria. These nurses working in Aged and Acute Care had no or minimal experience in palliative care and were not familiar with symptom management or opioids.

In 2012, Wimmera Hospice Care received a Rural Health Continuing Education Stream 2 (RHCE 2) program grant from National Rural Health Alliance (funded by the Department of Health and Ageing) to deliver a palliative care orientation program for overseas trained nurses.

There were three key learning objectives:
   1. Cultural awareness of death and dying in Australia and the Wimmera;
   2. Palliative Care Symptom management; and
   3. Supports available to deliver palliative care in the Region

There were two parts:
1. A self-directed learning package and orientation manual which included Palliative Care Victoria podcasts.
2. Participation in the Cancer Council of Victoria Workshop “Responding to Emotional Cues” (Conducted by the Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team).

Participants came from 3 Health Services (5 campuses) and were Registered Nurses working in Aged Care and Acute Care. 35 participants received a self-directed learning package. Of these, 29 attended a workshop.

Participants were surveyed pre and post completion of the program. The surveys also included a validated tool1 to assess attitudes towards the end of life and confidence in palliative care knowledge and skills. Overall, there was a positive response and an increase in confidence.

Some of the participant‟s comments included; “The program was really great. Wonderful acting and the role play really improved one‟s perception” “I would like to attend more programs like this” and “I gained more practical knowledge about dealing with palliative care patients. I was able to get rid of some of my misconceptions in Australian Nursing practice.”

This program has improved cultural awareness of death and dying in Australia for overseas trained nurses. Nurses, their Clinical Educators and Managers reported this program was extremely/highly relevant and useful for their practice. Ongoing delivery and expansion of the program with other palliative care services is currently being investigated.

Further Acknowledgements: Jennifer Noonan, Bronwen Clayton and Sharyn Meyer (Wimmera Hospice Care Registered Nurses), Jade Odgers and Regina Kendall (Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team), National Rural Health Alliance, Department of Health and Ageing, Wimmera Health Care Group, West Wimmera Health Services, Rural North West Health.

1 Bradley, EH, Cicchetti et al (2000) „Attitudes about care at the end of life among clinicians: A Quick, Reliable, and Valid Assessment Instrument‟ in Journal of Palliative Care 16(1);