Education and Mentoring of Specialist Pediatric Palliative Care Medical and Nursing Trainees: The Quality of Care Collaborative Australia

Abstract

Background The Quality of Care Collaborative Australia (QuoCCA) builds capability in the generalist and specialist paediatric palliative care (PPC) workforce throughout Australia. It supports regional and community services to provide care close to families’ homes, as well as building expertise in tertiary centers. Objective Medical Fellows and Nurse Practitioner candidates (specialist trainees) were funded by QuoCCA at four tertiary hospitals throughout Australia supported by an education and mentoring framework. This study explored the activity and experiences of clinicians who had occupied these roles to evaluate their effectiveness to build PPC capability. Methods Online surveys recorded the monthly activity of Medical Fellows, with a point in time check of knowledge, skills and confidence in 2019. Discovery Interview methodology was used to collect detailed experiences of 11 trainees employed between 2018 to 2022 in Queensland. Results A combination of mentoring and formal and informal education, peer support and practical experience was valuable for trainees. They found the support of the whole interdisciplinary team advantageous to learning. Shadowing experienced team members gave them the opportunity to learn practical skills, especially regarding communication with families. Practicing clinical skills was beneficial, through being on call, attending home visits, supporting families, prescribing medications and developing treatment plans in collaboration with the team. The trainee experience was optimised through learning from families, personal reflection, involvement in research projects and delivering QuoCCA education. Conclusion The QuoCCA trainee roles for Medical Fellows and Nurse Practitioner candidates exhibit a valuable and effective education and mentorship framework that could be applied to other specialties. The service leadership and collaborative interdisciplinary team support various modes of education and mentoring. The roles not only develop the trainees’ specialised PPC clinical skills, they also improve their general clinical practice, including communication, empathy and holistic care. A structured curriculum of education is recommended to protect these positive outcomes.

Nurses’ comfort and well-being: A descriptive study to find out the relationship between nurses’ awareness of self-comfort and well-being at long-term care settings in the state of Kuwait

“…Shares of comfort-oriented care provided by nurses to citizens generate holistic responses to complex stimuli, leading to improved comfort while seeking behavior directed at strengthening health. [ 28 , 29 ] This care is provided through interpersonal processes inherent in self-construction as well as the situations faced both naturally and socially from birth to death. [ 30 ] Numerous nursing researchers have explored comfort care as a phenomenon.…”

Mentoring the Wellbeing of Specialist Pediatric Palliative Care Medical and Nursing Trainees: The Quality of Care Collaborative Australia

“…A standard program of work has been recommended for the QuoCCA education and mentoring framework. 14 This should include strategies for personal wellbeing, professional issues, life balance, management of distress, networking and career counselling. 41 …”

“…Although these and other studies showed the opportunities to promote wellbeing through mentoring, it was unknown how this could be applied in the context of the specialised area of PPC through the QuoCCA education and mentoring framework. 14 The purpose of this study was to explore the perspectives and experiences of clinicians who had occupied the QuoCCA MF and NP trainee positions in the specialised area of PPC to identify the ways in which they were supported and mentored to maintain their wellbeing and facilitate sustainable practice.…”

Desde las discapacidades con afectación mental hasta la actividad comunal especializada

“…Practicar habilidades clínicas fue beneficioso en guardia, visitas domiciliarias, apoyo familiar, prescripción de medicamentos y trabajo con equipos para desarrollar planes de tratamiento. (Slater & Herbert, 2023) Etapa 17…”