Continuing competence update telehealth network supporting delivery of continuing competence education

THE Alberta Association of Registered Nurses (AARN) is increasing the use of Alberta's existing telehealth network to deliver continuing competence education to its members. In August, Chris Lemphers, regional nurse educator with the First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) of Health Canada and Barb Perry, AARN regional coordinator Edmonton/West, used videoconferencing technology to communicate with members at First Nations and regional health authority sites in rural Alberta about continuing competence. From Edmonton's Canada Place, Lemphers and Perry reached more than 44 FNIHB registered nurses located throughout the province.

At the sessions, Lemphers provided an overview of the FNIHB Competency Program that provides its community health nurse employees with guidelines to measure the quality of nursing care, (see Alberta RN, june 2002) Perry provided an overview of the AARN Continuing Competence Program, and a comparative analysis of how both programs could work together. Under Health Professions Act (HPA), all legislated health professions in Alberta must implement a continuing competence program. The AARN expects the act will be proclaimed for registered nurses in 2004 and once proclaimed, the AARN program becomes a requirement for registration for all registered nurses. Both the FNIHB program and the AARN program allow RNs to build on the solid foundation of entry to practice and experience.

All FNIHB nurse employees complete a self-assessment booklet. The program focuses on the following five competencies of a comprehensive community health program:

* health assessment

* intervention

* family health

* health promotion

* community development

A learning plan is next developed to identify learning strategies to meet the five competencies. To support and develop the learning plan, FNIHB offers in-house education programs, written exams and clinical skill assessments.

RNs employed by FNIHB are well underway in preparing for participation in the AARN Continuing Competence Program that will be a licensure requirement when the regulations for registered nurses are proclaimed under the HPA. The AARN program asks members to evaluate their practice against the indicators included in the AARN Nursing Practice Standards.

Initial response by participants to the videoconferencing sessions was positive and FNIHB taped one of the sessions for future education and reference. Both FNIHB and AARN considered the collaborative session a success and FNIHB has invited AARN to participate in two education display sessions scheduled for November and January.

AARN is working with other employers to deliver continuing competence education using videoconferencing technology where available.

Several videoconferencing sessions on AARN Nursing Practice Standards and Continuing Competence are scheduled this fail. Check Notice Board for dates and times.

Contact your regional coordinator (listed on page 2) to arrange an education session on continuing competence by videoconference or at your work site.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on the AARN Continuing Competence program go to www.nurses.ab.ca. Information on the FNIHB Competency Assessment program is posted on FNIHB pages of the Health Canada website http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca

BY CHRIS LEMPHERS, RN

Copyright Alberta Association of Registered Nurses Oct 2003
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