Mrs Nicole Spina1, Ms Annie Jorgensen2, Mr Adam Rutyna3, Ms Suzanne Peyton1
1Melbourne City Mission Palliative Care, Thornbury, Australia, 2Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Service, Shepparton, Australia, 3Loddon Mallee Regional Palliative Care Consortium, Bendigo, Australia
Biography:
Nicole Spina: Nicole Spina is a Registered Nurse who works at Melbourne City Mission Palliative Care as the Coordinator of Nursing. Nicole has worked in palliative care in a variety of settings in both community palliative care and inpatient palliative care units for over 20 years. Nicole has worked in various roles, including nursing, education and leadership and has a passion for supporting clients to die in their place of preference. Nicole has completed her post graduate studies with a Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care. Nicole has a keen interest in seeking ways to recruit and support staff from other areas of nursing who want to transition into specialist palliative care.
Annie Jorgensen : Annie is a Clinical Nurse Consultant and the current Clinical Manager of Goulburn Valley Hospice Care Service in Shepparton, Victoria. Annie transitioned from a busy acute ward setting to a more autonomously challenging community palliative care role 6 years ago. Annie has completed post graduate studies with a Graduate Diploma in Palliative Care. Annie continued to follow her passion to ensure all people have equal access and choice to specialist palliative care in the community setting, where client’s choices and wishes are supported and respected. Annie has interests in continued improvement in client focused multidisciplinary care and symptom management for Palliative clients and families. Annie received the Emerging leader award at the National Palliative Care Awards in 2023.
Abstract:
Background: The Victorian Community Palliative Care Clinical Managers Forum (VCPCCMF) recognised a crucial gap specialist community palliative care nursing – the absence of a standardised novice to advanced practice trajectory framework. Acknowledging the need for consistency across the sector, the Forum initiated the development of a universal framework to provide a progressive skill and capacity pathway for organisations, and to guide nurses in their professional development within palliative care.
Aims: To create a comprehensive advanced practice framework that will:
serve as a reliable guide for organisations to develop their staff through preceptorship and mentoring of community specialist palliative care nurses;
ensure uniformity and clarity in professional development, meeting the diverse needs of nurses entering the sector; and
enhance the development of nurses currently working in palliative care
Methods: The Forum members, through collaboration, conducted extensive consultation with stakeholders and reviewed relevant literature. The framework was designed to encompass key skill sets and milestones required for progression in specialist palliative care nursing. The Forum sought feedback from the sector on the development phase of the framework’s efficacy, relevance, and applicability.
Results: The final version signifies endorsement of the framework’s utility and its adoption as a guiding tool for organisations and nursing professionals across the sector.
Conclusions: The collaboration between the sector led by the Victorian Community Palliative Care Clinical Managers Forum and the Victorian Palliative Care Consortia signifies a milestone in the pursuit of a standardised framework for specialist palliative care nurses. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of enhancing the quality and consistency of care in specialist community palliative settings.