Opportunities
With the hospital expansions on the horizon we are continually looking at new and innovative ways of working. We are learning from other centres of excellence and examining how we can implement new ways of working that will suit our patients and staff. We continue to monitor our nursing skill mix and the opportunities for role development at every level in the nursing family.
We have an on-going commitment to the development of roles both new and existing including the development of robust programmes for all nurses and the significant learning opportunities available within the hospital.
1. Advanced Practice
There have been many nursing opportunities developed in Advanced Practice. This ensures that we are aware of the emerging advanced practice roles and opportunities and associated governance of this.
Action 3.1
We will keep closely aligned to the national groups taking this work forward locally.
2. Health Care Support Workers
There has been extensive work undertaken to develop Associate Practitioner roles in Theatres Department and this has delivered many successes in this environment. There are some Associate Practitioner roles being created now in other parts of the hospital. This work will continue to evolve.
Action 3.2
Plans are in place to implement a structure for supporting Health Care Support Workers attain Scottish Vocational Training awards at levels 2 and 3 through our Scottish Qualifications Authority Centre.
3. Clinical Competencies
There is ongoing review of staff competency attainment and our plans for ongoing review of clinical competencies is detailed in the Clinical Education Strategy. This helps to ensure that the expansion of nursing roles is carefully planned, implemented and monitored to ensure that we are able to deliver patient care.
4. Nursing Research
We have strong relationships with Higher Education Institutions and support from our nursing colleagues to promote a nursing research culture. We encourage nurses to maximise their potential through ongoing study at Masters level and potentially at Doctoral level programmes.
Action 3.3
We continue to participate in an international research collaborative and have an international profile in the field of Caring Science. We will seek to develop opportunities for practice based research, e.g. around service delivery with our pharmacy colleagues.
