Article: Improving the uptake of medical device training to promote patient safety.

Safe and effective patient care is dependent on the appropriate use of medical devices, so it is necessary to ensure that all nursing staff are competent in their use.  This article describes how one urology ward in a large acute NHD trust has supported medical device training for its staff.

Shields R, Latter K (2019) Improving the uptake of medical device training to promote patient safety.
Nursing Standard, 35 (1) p 31 - 34.

Contact the library for a copy

Article: Improving nursing students' experience of clinical placements

This article describes the challenges involved in clinical placements, and discusses the importance of person-centred care and techniques such as reasoning and reflection that can improve nursing students' learning in practice. It uses two case studies to illustrate how clinical supervisors and mentors can design  clinical placements that enable nursing students to develop their skills, knowledge and self confidence.

Price B (2019) Improving nursing students' experience of clinical placements.  Nursing Standard, 34 (9) p 43 - 47.

Contact the library for a copy

Article: Teaching nurses to teach: a qualitative study of nurses' perceptions of the impact of education and skills training to prepare them to teach end of life care

In the UK, much adult end of life care is provided by specialist nurses who often have no specific education development to prepare them to teach.  To address this gap, an Education Development Programme (EDP) was developed and delivered to specialist nurses, and then evaluated.  Twenty participants from 3 hospices in the North West of England were sampled and interviewed.  The results showed all participants had developed skills in learning to teach, applying theory to practice, gaining tools to teach and understanding learning styles.  In addition skills to change teaching practice, and increased confidence were noted.  The EDP model is recommended in supporting staff who provide education to generalist staff with differing levels of education and knowledge.

Jack, B. et al. 2019 Teaching nurses to teach: a qualitative study of nurses' perceptions of the impact of education and skills training to prepare them to teach end of life care.  Journal of Clinical Nursing,

Available to download

Guidance: Voluntary standards for community children's nurse education and practice

The Community Children’s Nurse (CCN) role is highly complex and requires skills in negotiating, coaching, teaching and supporting the families and carers of babies, children and young people with disabilities, complex conditions, life-limiting conditions and those requiring palliative and end of life care. The Queens Nursing Institute (QNI) and QNI Scotland worked with leading experts in the UK to develop a set of standards to support children's community nurse (CCN) education and practice including a Specialist Practice Qualification (SPQ).  The standards were launched at the end of September 2018.

Download here

RCN Competencies: Caring for infants, children and young people requiring palliative care

This document is a revision of the first RCN competence framework (2012) produced for nurses and health care support workers and builds on a number of best practice guidance documents and resources.  The four key areas cover communication, holistic care in any setting, managing symptoms and sustaining yourself and the well being of others. Published July 2018.

Available to download

Article: "The nice thing about doctors is that you can sometimes get a day off school": an action research study to bring lived experiences from children, parents and hospice staff into medical students' preparation to practice

Medical students have lower confidence in paediatric palliative care than other specialties with limited specific teaching.  In this study, 7 children, 5 parents and 6 staff were recruited from a children's hospice.  Participants discussed what newly qualified doctors needed to care for children with life-limiting conditions.  6 learning themes emerged including treating children as individuals, acting as a person before being a doctor, learning from children, parents and staff, and working as part of the team.  From these themes a guide was produced aimed at medical students.  Guide available on request from the library

Spalding, J.& Yardley, S. 2016.  "The nice thing about doctors is that you can sometimes get a day off school": an action research study to bring lived experiences from children, parents and hospice staff into medical students' preparation to practice.   BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 6 (4) p 459 - 464.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

Booklet: What would children, parents and hospice staff like to teach medical students about paediatric palliative care?

This guide is intended to help undergraduate medical students and others learn about paediatric palliative care from the perspective of children, parents and hospice staff.  It comes from workshops carried out at Donna Louise Hospice.  The workshops have been published as a paper "The nice things about doctors is that you can sometimes get the day off school".  See post above.

Spalding, J. & Yardley S. What would children, parents and hospice staff like to teach medical students about paediatric palliative care?   Good, bad and ugly perceptions.

Booklet available from the EACH Library

[Article] Using your workplace for learning

Written by the Director of Practice Learning at the University of Bedford, the article analyses how the workplace can be used for learning, explains the difference between practice and practise, and discusses the challenges and opportunities of workplace learning.


Wareing, M. 2016.  Using your workplace for learning.  British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 10 (12) p 610 - 619.
To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Handy guide to the care certificate

A very good overview of why the care certificate was introduced, what the CQC expects, the 15 standards, the certification process, the support staff require and assessment.  A useful article for any education or managerial staff supporting a healthcare assistant through the certificate.
Johnson, R. 2016. Handy guide to the care certificate.  British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 10 (12) p 606 - 610.
To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Creating an environment for learning

The importance of developing a high quality practice placement is discussed in the Nursing and Midwifery Council's Standards to Support Learning and Assessment in Practice (SSLAP), and in particular, the importance of "creating an environment for learning".  This article provides learning activities and suggests ways in which mentors and educators can undertake various self-assessments, enabling them to gather evidence to demonstrate how they can meet and maintain this requirement.

Houghton, T. (2016).  Creating an environment for learning.  Nursing Standard, 30 (29) p 40 - 48.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Managers' role in maximising investment in continuing professional education.

Continual Professional Education (CPE) plays a major part in ensuring staff maintain and develop their knowledge and skills, however there is little evidence on it's effect on healthcare outcomes.  This article reports the results of a study that explored a range of stakeholders' perceptions of CPE on practice.  The study showed that CPE can improve care, but requires a positive organisational culture, and supportive learning environments to maximise learning.  The articles discusses how managers have a pivotal role creating positive cultures where CPE can flourish.

Draper, J., & Clark, L. 2015.  Managers' role in maximising investment in continuing professional education.  Nursing Management, 22 (9) p 30 - 33.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Findings from a clinical learning needs survey at Ireland's first children's hospice

This article reports the main findings from a Clinical Learning Needs Survey conducted at LauraLynn, currently Ireland's only children's hospice.  The study had 2 main aims: a) to assist clinical staff to identify their own learning priorities in children's palliative care, and b) to inform the design, and delivery of a range of workshops, programmes and study sessions.  The findings identified key learning needs as end of life care; palliative emergencies, communication skills and bereavement support. 

Quinn, C. & Hillis, R. 2015.   Findings from a clinical learning needs survey at Ireland's first children's hospice.  International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 21 (12) p 596-601.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] The Care Certificate: Standards 1 and 2 - Your role and Personal Development

Published in the British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, this is the first in a series of articles that will address all 15 standards of the Care Certificate.  This article focuses on the healthcare assistants role and why personal development is key in offering care to people that is safe and effective.   It discusses the Personal Development Plan (PDP), improving knowledge and skills, and lifelong learning.

Peate, I. 2015.  Care Certificate Standards 1 and 2: your role and your personal development.  British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 9 (10) p 496 - 501.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Care Certificate Standard 3 and 4: Duty of Care and Equality and Diversity

This article discusses the 3rd and 4th standards in the Care Certificate: duty of care, and equality and diversity.  It discusses accountability and responsibility, delegation of duties, discrimination and prejudice.

Peate, I. 2015. Care Certificate Standard 3 and 4: Duty of Care and Equality And Diversity.  British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 9 (12) p 600 - 604.

To request a copy, click here fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Care Certificate Standards 5 and 6: Working in a Person-Centred Way, and Communication.

3rd in the series of articles from the British Journal of Healthcare Assistants.  The article discusses person-centred values and the 9 values this incorporates including individuality, independence, choice, dignity, privacy, partnership working and rights.  Under the communication standard, it discusses the key elements of communicating effectively and being self aware of how we also communication via body language and gestures.

Peate, I. 2016.  Standards 5 and 6: Working in a Person-Centred Way, and Communication.  British Journal of Healthcare Assistants, 10 (1) p 36 - 42

To request a copy, click here  fill in form and return to library.

[Article] Bereaved caregivers as educators in pediatric palliative care: their experiences and impact

With the continuing growth of children's palliative care, there is an increasing need to develop effective training for health care professionals. Bereaved parents have participated in the training of health care professionals in an educational curriculum from the Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care (IPPC) but their experience as educators has not been studied before.  Nine bereaved parents and 11 health care professionals took part in this research.  Major themes found were a sense of purpose for the parents and benefits and challenges for both parents and professionals.  The experience for parents contributed to their meaning-making for both their children's lives and deaths.  Parents and professionals identified mutual learning and increased mutual understanding, although for some health professionals it was felt that the presence of parents limited the openness of discussion.  In conclusion, more benefits than burdens were experienced by both parents and health care professionals from participating in the training.

Adams, G., Green, A., Towe, S. & Huett, A. 2013.  Bereaved caregivers as educators in pediatric palliative care: their experiences and impact.  Journal of Palliative Medicine 16 (6) p 609-612.

To access electronically, click here, log in using your Athens username and password and search via the BNI database.

[Report] The future of hospice education and training

Published in October 2013, the report, produced with the National Association of Palliative Care Educators, explores how hospices can preserve and improve upon their vital role as educators to the end of life care sector.

Help the Hospices, 2013, The future of hospice education and training.   Help the Hospices.

Click here to download report.  Also available on loan from the library