Infant Journal
for neonatal and paediatric healthcare professionals

Foundations in Neonatal Care: a multidisciplinary approach to training a neonatal workforce

This article discusses an innovative curriculum development that provides an inclusive approach to training a multidisciplinary neonatal workforce (eg nurses, midwives, allied health professionals, registered nurse associates). A critical evaluation will discuss the process of modifying an accredited neonatal course to develop the new Foundations in Neonatal Care module to ensure that staff are adequately prepared to care for babies with complex needs and their families.

Joanne Cookson
Neonatal Lecturer, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Keele University
j.cookson@keele.ac.uk

Maria Francis
Lead Nurse – Workforce and Education, West Midlands Perinatal Operational Delivery Network

Cookson J., Francis M. Foundations in Neonatal Care: a multidisciplinary approach to training a neonatal workforce. Infant 2023; 19(4): 120-22.

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Keywords
neonatal education; multidisciplinary team; workforce development; nurses; midwives; allied health professionals; registered nurse associates
Key points
  1. It is important for healthcare professionals to work in teams in a mutually supportive way.
  2. The Foundations in Neonatal Care course ensures the necessary skills are obtained for the multidisciplinary provision of care to babies and their families.
  3. Capturing the student voice ensured the module modifications resulted in a fit-for-purpose course developed to ensure high quality care in this highly specialised clinical area.

Also published in Infant:

VOLUME 20 ISSUE 1/JANUARY 2024
Widening access to SHINE (Simulation to Help in Neonatal Emergencies) to include QIS students
Simulation is known to improve clinical skills and team communication. This article describes how an existing full-day simulation and workshop-based course, originally designed for post-graduate doctors-in-training, was adapted to provide educational opportunities and experiential learning for nurses undertaking the qualified in specialty (QIS) course. This also gave the doctors-in-training a more authentic multidisciplinary approach to clinical scenarios.

Read more...