ACN doubles scholarship program as ENs step up to help out

The Australian College of Nursing has doubled the number of scholarships available to enable Enrolled Nurses (EN) currently working in non-clinical practice to refresh their clinical skills after the original 250 places were filled within just 24 hours.

“Within the first day, this program was completely oversubscribed,” Australian College of Nursing CEO, Adjunct Professor Kylie Ward FACN said. “This shows how eager our nurses are to help care for the community as we battle COVID-19.”

Under the expansion of the scholarship program, up to 500 nurses will now be able to complete the refresher program at no cost to themselves.

This course is designed to enable Enrolled Nurses to build on their previous nursing experience and qualifications by providing an introduction to the contemporary requirements of the current day nurse, including professional practice, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of care and collaborative and therapeutic practice.

The modules offered are:

1. Professional Issues

2. Introduction to Physical Assessment

3. Care and Management of a Deteriorating Patient

4. Assessment and Management of Common Respiratory Conditions

5. Assessment and Management of Common Cardiac Conditions

6. Assessment and Management of Common Neurological Conditions

7. Assessment and Management of Common Mental Health Conditions

8. Infection Prevention and Control

9. Wound Management

“Coronavirus presents challenges for every member of our community, but frontline health care perhaps face the most personal risk and pressures,” Adjunct Professor Ward said. “That is why we want to recognise the dedication of all health care professionals providing care and sincerely thank every one of them, including the large number who have re-entered the workforce or taken up different roles in order to get us through this emergency.”

/Public Release. View in full here.