Kayla Timms, who works at Kaitāia Hospital’s emergency department (ED), completed the intensive course, trauma nursing core course (TNCC), after just two years in nursing. Details of the course can be found on NZNO’s college of emergency nurses page, here.
Timms’ achievement reflects the important contribution ENs make to delivering safe, high-quality care in rural communities, Northland chief nurse Megan Marshall said in a release from Te Whatu Ora-Health NZ (HNZ).
The intensive course teaches the knowledge, critical thinking and practical skills required to care for patients experiencing traumatic injury, It also provides a structured approach for nurses to trauma assessment and management.
Timms said the benefits were immediate and she had already applied the new skills while caring for a patient involved in a motor vehicle crash.Being equipped with a systematic assessment process gave her greater confidence in that situation, as well as on night shift, she said.
Kaitaia’s overnight clinical teams were trained to work together and respond to a range of cases, including trauma. Courses like TNCC were important for rural nursing practice, she said.
Timms had taken up several opportunities to work to the top of the new EN scope of practice, gaining competencies in venepuncture (taking blood), vaccination administration and intravenous medication administration.
‘It’s wonderful to see an enrolled nurse pushing boundaries, working to the top of scope and contributing such valuable skills to rural health care.’
These skills had helped her transition from primary health to the hospital’s ED and she strongly encouraged other ENs to pursue professional development opportunities and continue building their clinical skills.
For nurses in rural communities, especially, it was important to have access to training and development so patients could receive high-quality care close to home, Timms said.
“Strong, systematic” assessment skills such as those taught in the TNCC were essential when caring for complex patients — and could make a significant difference to outcomes.
‘Fantastic achievement’ says EN leader
NZNO enrolled nurse section chair Michelle Prattley said it was a “fantastic” achievement and reflection of Timms’ “dedication, commitment to professional development and passion for nursing”.
“It’s wonderful to see an enrolled nurse pushing boundaries, working to the top of scope and contributing such valuable skills to rural health care,” she told Kaitiaki. “What an inspiration to other ENs and to the wider nursing profession.”
Marshall said the achievement highlighted the valuable role ENs held within multidisciplinary health-care teams.
“We’re very proud of our nursing teams and acknowledge the importance of the care they deliver for our rural communities. Ongoing education and training for nurses has a positive impact for staff, patients and their whānau.”