Education pathways, mentoring and future intentions of nurse and midwifery consultants in a NSW Health District

Authors

  • Denise Ann Edgar Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
  • James Brinton ISLHD
  • Bernadette Burgess ISLHD
  • Vanathy David ISLHD
  • Melissa Glass ISLHD
  • Lynda Horning ISLHD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33966/hepj.2.1.12918

Abstract

Clinical Nurse and Midwifery Consultants (CNC/CMCs) play an important role within NSW Health Services. They are required to function within five domains of practice: clinical service and consultancy, clinical leadership, research, education, and clinical services planning and management. This study engaged with one Health District’s current CNC/CMC network members with a view to informing the development of a strategy for career and succession planning. One hundred CNC/CMCs were invited to participate in an online survey and in one of three focus groups. The survey explored: the participants’ demographics, their educational pathways prior to and during the role, the relationship of this education to the five domains of CNC/CMC practice, their priorities for their own future education needs, the education priorities they suggested for other aspiring CNC/CMCs, and who was mentoring into their role. The focus group added further clarity to the survey data. The survey was completed by 61% of invitees and 19% attended the focus groups. The findings identified an experienced workforce, with 25% of CNC/CMCs intending to leave over the next five years, yet only 20% mentoring others. Nearly half (47%) of the participants held or were working towards a Master’s degree. A third of these Master’s degrees were considered by the participants to support knowledge in all five of the CNC/CMCs’ domains of practice, in comparison to only 11% of graduate certificates. The focus-group participants expressed the view that the Master’s qualification supported them to meet the domains of the CNC/CMC role, and suggested that aspiring CNC/CMCs should aim for this level of education. When considering their own personal educational needs, the CNC/CMCs prioritised service planning and management and research, but they felt that aspiring CNC/CMCs should prioritise the development of clinical knowledge, followed by clinical leadership.

Article submitted: 21/6/18

Article accepted: 10/1/19

Publish date: 15/2/19

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Author Biographies

  • Denise Ann Edgar, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District

    Denise Edgar

    Nurse Manager

    Nursing and Midwifery Research Unit

    ISLHD

    NSW

  • James Brinton, ISLHD
    Clinical Nurse Consultant -Surgery
  • Bernadette Burgess, ISLHD
    Clinical Nurse Consultant-Haematology
  • Vanathy David, ISLHD
    Clinical Nurse Consultant Aged Care
  • Melissa Glass, ISLHD
    Clinical Nurse Consultant Blood Management and Transfusion
  • Lynda Horning, ISLHD
    Clinical Nurse Consultant- McGrath Breast Care Nurse

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Published

2019-02-15

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Articles

How to Cite

Education pathways, mentoring and future intentions of nurse and midwifery consultants in a NSW Health District. (2019). Health Education in Practice: Journal of Research for Professional Learning, 2(1). https://doi.org/10.33966/hepj.2.1.12918