Review of clinical work placement hours required by EEN's studying Bachelor of Nursing
Review of clinical work placement hours required by EEN's studying Bachelor of Nursing
The issue
I have started this petition in hopes for a review of the course requirements based around clinical work placement hours for EEN's currently working in hospitals within NSW health and undertaking studies in Bachelor of Nursing (RN). I am sharing my plea here as I have been dismissed by the ANMAC, AHPRA and the Dean of Nursing from Western Sydney university. Throughout the past year most RN students have not attended a singular clinical placement due to COVID-19 and health restrictions. Although we are grateful for the reasonings behind this to protect students and limit the spread of COVID-19, it now leaves students with almost 5 months worth of placement that we are expected to fit in throughout the remainder of 2022 in order to reach our minimum requirements for accreditation. This number of hours is completely unattainable to fit in 1 year and special consideration for those who already work in hospitals with relevant skill accreditation should be eligible for a review of these requirements.
Most of us are working full time plus overtime and hospitals are struggling with under-staffing with the added pressure of COVID. We do not need more nurses taking time off for unnecessary placement hours just to meet criteria.
The PPE 3 and PPE 4 practical skills units from second year bachelor of nursing only entail skills that we as EEN's are already accredited for and practice daily within our scope in the hospital. It seems highly unnecessary and also a waste of nursing resources to be taking EEN's out of their daily jobs where nursing ratios are already poor, just to be undertaking placement hours elsewhere working in a lesser scope of practice than what we would usually be doing daily.
We have all met the 400 hours of clinical (unpaid) placement through the accreditation process of gaining our EEN registration and have had exposure to a variety of wards through our previous placements and now work within the hospital on a daily basis and get deployed to various wards giving us further education whilst on the job. However we are only given 80 hours of credit for this and are expected to complete a further 720 hours of clinical (unpaid) placement by the end of the year. The physical and mental burn out strain and not to mention financial burden this is putting on nurses and their families is overwhelming and unnecessary.
I believe that accreditation authorities and education providers are needed to work together to collaborate and implement the appropriate changes to acknowledge the struggles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and give due credit to the skills we already have.
When contacting AHPRA regarding the matter I was directed to 'National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic' document (please see link at the bottom for full doc). The document outlines the principles for clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular I would like to refer to point 8. of the document which states:
"Maximise recognition of appropriate clinical experience – education providers and Accreditation Authorities to maximise the recognition of relevant learning gained by registered students in paid employment as appropriate to individual professions, within jurisdictional contexts."
With this statement being said I think it is more than reasonable to call for a course review for the reduction of clinical placement hours of EEN's studying Bachelor of nursing and give recognition to the skills we are accredited for in the clinical skills units PPE3 and PPE4. Alternatively I don't see why a facilitator can't attended the workplace of students to ensure university level knowledge and sign off for skills whilst ENN's are working within their own ward to avoid being unnecessarily taken out of work but education providers can equally be satisfied with student's competencies by assessing necessary skills on the job.
Thankyou for taking the time to hear my concerns, myself and many other EEN's who have worked tireless throughout the COVID-19 pandemic are desperate for change and recognition!
National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic - Ahpra
National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic/17 April 2020 pg. 2 Clinical education principles for the COVID-19 pandemic
1,818
The issue
I have started this petition in hopes for a review of the course requirements based around clinical work placement hours for EEN's currently working in hospitals within NSW health and undertaking studies in Bachelor of Nursing (RN). I am sharing my plea here as I have been dismissed by the ANMAC, AHPRA and the Dean of Nursing from Western Sydney university. Throughout the past year most RN students have not attended a singular clinical placement due to COVID-19 and health restrictions. Although we are grateful for the reasonings behind this to protect students and limit the spread of COVID-19, it now leaves students with almost 5 months worth of placement that we are expected to fit in throughout the remainder of 2022 in order to reach our minimum requirements for accreditation. This number of hours is completely unattainable to fit in 1 year and special consideration for those who already work in hospitals with relevant skill accreditation should be eligible for a review of these requirements.
Most of us are working full time plus overtime and hospitals are struggling with under-staffing with the added pressure of COVID. We do not need more nurses taking time off for unnecessary placement hours just to meet criteria.
The PPE 3 and PPE 4 practical skills units from second year bachelor of nursing only entail skills that we as EEN's are already accredited for and practice daily within our scope in the hospital. It seems highly unnecessary and also a waste of nursing resources to be taking EEN's out of their daily jobs where nursing ratios are already poor, just to be undertaking placement hours elsewhere working in a lesser scope of practice than what we would usually be doing daily.
We have all met the 400 hours of clinical (unpaid) placement through the accreditation process of gaining our EEN registration and have had exposure to a variety of wards through our previous placements and now work within the hospital on a daily basis and get deployed to various wards giving us further education whilst on the job. However we are only given 80 hours of credit for this and are expected to complete a further 720 hours of clinical (unpaid) placement by the end of the year. The physical and mental burn out strain and not to mention financial burden this is putting on nurses and their families is overwhelming and unnecessary.
I believe that accreditation authorities and education providers are needed to work together to collaborate and implement the appropriate changes to acknowledge the struggles throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and give due credit to the skills we already have.
When contacting AHPRA regarding the matter I was directed to 'National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic' document (please see link at the bottom for full doc). The document outlines the principles for clinical practice during the COVID-19 pandemic, in particular I would like to refer to point 8. of the document which states:
"Maximise recognition of appropriate clinical experience – education providers and Accreditation Authorities to maximise the recognition of relevant learning gained by registered students in paid employment as appropriate to individual professions, within jurisdictional contexts."
With this statement being said I think it is more than reasonable to call for a course review for the reduction of clinical placement hours of EEN's studying Bachelor of nursing and give recognition to the skills we are accredited for in the clinical skills units PPE3 and PPE4. Alternatively I don't see why a facilitator can't attended the workplace of students to ensure university level knowledge and sign off for skills whilst ENN's are working within their own ward to avoid being unnecessarily taken out of work but education providers can equally be satisfied with student's competencies by assessing necessary skills on the job.
Thankyou for taking the time to hear my concerns, myself and many other EEN's who have worked tireless throughout the COVID-19 pandemic are desperate for change and recognition!
National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic - Ahpra
National principles for clinical education during the COVID-19 pandemic/17 April 2020 pg. 2 Clinical education principles for the COVID-19 pandemic
1,818
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Petition created on 12 February 2022