The Centre for Health Services Management recently held the first of four workshops for Nursing Unit Managers (NUMs) for Northern Sydney Central Coast Health (NSCCH).
The workshops were designed by Professors Mary Chiarella and Christine Duffield, in conjunction with the Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Julie Hartley-Jones and the nursing executive from NSCCH, in response to a needs analysis undertaken by Ms Hartley-Jones on her appointment.
The aims of the workshops are: to provide NUMs with a range of practical skills as part of an ongoing Professional Development Program; to assist NUMs to explore solutions and improvements to practical unit management issues; and to initiate or further a range of strategies to enhance the organisational culture and climate of their units.
The ‘Nursing Unit Managers – Redesigning the Role’ workshops comprise three full-day sessions. The focus for day one is ‘Practical Skills in Making Data Work for You’; day two offers ‘Practical Skills in Helping Your Staff to Shine’; and day three addresses ‘Practical Skills in Ensuring a Healthy Workplace’.
The first workshop was very well received and feedback from the delegates was extremely positive. Each day was evaluated individually so that adjustments can be tailored to feedback as and when necessary. The evaluations for the first workshop have been extremely positive overall. Comments included the following:
‘This has been a fabulously informative day for me – long overdue. It has given me the renewed strength I need to tackle ongoing issues with my department’.
‘Fabulous day – learnt a lot’
‘Easy to understand, well presented. Very useful having access to computers, and doing the segment hands-on’
‘Excellent day. It just got better. A huge thank you for an inspiring three days.’
The program concluded with the awarding of certificates by NSCCH Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Ms Julie Hartley-Jones and the opportunity for some of the executive team from NSCCH to meet with the NUMs and discuss the program.
A total of 200 NUMs from NSCCH will attend the workshops. The first group commenced in July 2007 and the final group will complete in October 2007.
