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29 October 2006 A high-tech new direction for training cancer nurses
Specialist cancer nurses are using the latest digital technology including MP3 'podcasts' and online chat rooms for their studies as part of an innovative pilot program NSW Health Minister John Hatzistergos said today. "This is a new direction in specialist nursing training - putting the latest education technology to use," Mr Hatzistergos said. "This innovative pilot program by Sydney West Area Health Service is the first of its kind in the state. "The pilot uses multimedia technology, pod casts and an online chat room to train nurses in cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments. "Using this technology allows specialists nurse in rural NSW to overcome the tyranny of distance. "It means they can access training from experts in major teaching hospitals in Sydney, without the inconvenience of leaving their hometown to attend courses. "Students can watch their lectures on-line and download lecture material from the web, eliminating the need to attend lectures in person. "The program is the first of its kind in NSW which has been developed to complement and revolutionise workforce training for all staff. "This is NSW's first post-graduate nursing course with a radiotherapy elective and will hep train specialist nurses to staff expanding cancer and radiotherapy services across the state," he said. If the pilot is a success it has the potential to be rolled out across the state. The digital technology is being used to provide more than 75 hours of web-based lectures to post-graduate cancer nurses in areas such as:
The chat forums allow nurses to communicate from all over the world. The Pilot On-Line Clinical Education in Nursing (POLCEN) Project Director, Dr Vivien Lane, a nursing cancer specialist at the area health service said the pilot began in February this year with an intake of 17 postgraduate cancer nurses. "Investing in this type of online technology will revolutionise the way we teach within the health system," Dr Lane said. "These nurses are at the forefront of 'click and go' learning where the latest information and education is provided at the click of a button. "The benefits of this will enhance the way Sydney West Area Health Service cares for and treats their cancer patients. "The technology is very easy to use, even if you aren't familiar with computers or the new hand-held devices. "All the staff will require is a little bit of training to get started. This model of education and training will benefit staff because they can learn at a time and place of their choice," she said. The cancer modules of the Graduate Certificate in Speciality Nursing Course are available to nurses who care for cancer patients in their home or during extensive periods of hospitalisation. During the postgraduate course students will have the opportunity to visit with cancer services at Blacktown, Nepean, Westmead and the Mater Newcastle hospitals, as well as specialist facilities such as Jean Colvin Hospital at Darling Point which cares for rural cancer patients undergoing extensive radiotherapy. The pilot has been developed in partnership with Sydney West Area Health Service, the University of Sydney Medical IT Faculty and the NSW Department of Commerce, Government Chief Information Office (GCIO). For a range of health information, go online to www.health.nsw.gov.au |
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