Developing and evaluating a major trauma course and coaching programme for ward nurses.

Why you should read this article: • To enhance your understanding of the training needs of ward nurses who manage major trauma patients • To read about the development and evaluation of a bespoke major trauma course for ward nurses • To identify potential challenges in quality improvement projects and how they can be addressed. Nurses working with major trauma patients in ward environments in the UK are expected to evidence their knowledge and skills in a set of national competencies. This article describes a bespoke major trauma course and a coaching and portfolio development programme designed to enhance ward nurses’ knowledge and skills, help them evidence their competence and support their professional development. Evaluation of the course showed an overall improvement in nurses’ self-rated competence and confidence in a range of relevant major trauma topics and clinical skills. Evaluation of the coaching and portfolio development programme showed that nurses believed their knowledge and skills had improved after taking part and that they valued the opportunity for professional development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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