鈥楢dvanced practice nursing' (APN) is the term used to define a cohort of nurses working in specialised and advanced roles within the healthcare system. Here at the RCH our Advanced Practice Nursing Group includes:
- Nurse Practitioner
- Clinical Nurse Consultant
- Nurse Coordinator
Currently there are more than 200 APN鈥檚 across various specialties and services, who provide听coordination, advisory and leadership听in clinical practice.
Current APN听
APN Meetings听
听Quarterly meetings are coordinated and run by APN's to support their connectedness and facilitate the sharing of ideas and knowledge. This forum provides an opportunity听for APN's 听to discuss individual, local, organisational and community initiatives, ideas听and improvements.
APN Meeting Terms of Reference
Orientation
Information and guidance听for new APNs can be found in the
APN orientation manual.
Clinical Supervision
Clinical supervision for APNs is defined as a formal process of professional support and learning between two or more practitioners within a safe and supportive environment, that enables a continuum of reflective critical analysis of care, to ensure quality patient services and the well being of the practitioner.
RCH听supports group clinical supervision for APNs and it is an expectation that APNs prioritise their time to actively participate in the clinical supervision program.
APNs participating in clinical supervision have reported:
- reduced stress听
- less isolation/ more connectedness
- able to address issues with actions
- safe space to talk
- critically reflection on individual practice
- improved understanding of local and organisational processes
It is building a network of support for all of us. There were times when I wanted to ring the supervision group and say 鈥淓mergency Meeting. I need you all鈥. (focus group participant)
It became high challenge. I walked away with tools. I didn鈥檛 just walk in, off load and then go 鈥淥h, I鈥檝e said all that now, I feel bad for saying it鈥. You went going 鈥淥K, I鈥檝e really got to think about what my responsibility is. What can I do about it? What will I do about it? I鈥檝e got to report back so I鈥檝e got to follow through鈥 (focus group participant)
I would walk into clinical supervision very determined that 鈥渢his is what happened鈥 and 鈥渢his is how I viewed it鈥. I learnt there are different ways of viewing it. I hadn鈥檛 realised I was defiant in going a certain pathway. This was self-discovery. I realised I鈥檇 become quite cynical from experiences both personal and witnessed, that had created distrust in the processes around me. Clinical supervision has been a wonderful experience. I often didn鈥檛 feel like I had听 time to go but once I got in the room we shut everything out. (focus group participant)
For further information about Peer supervision for APNs please contact sophie.linton@rch.org.au or听
kylie.moon@rch.org.au