Paediatric cardiology. A proposed training programme.

Abstract

In January 1989, The Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Myrtle Street, moved to the Alder Hey branch site. This involved all paediatric in-patient services, including the Supra-Regional Paediatric Cardiac Unit. As a result of this amalgamation, the cardiac theatre nursing staff became part of the general theatre complex and an integration of theatre staff occurred. This identified a need by the general theatre nursing staff for paediatric cardiology experience. This programme of paediatric cardiac experience is designed to ensure the integration of theory and practice. The participants of the programme are seen as autonomous learners who will be supported throughout the programme by a facilitator who will be an experienced nurse within the cardiac unit or cardiac theatre. It is therefore envisaged that the programme will be flexible and acknowledge the participants previous theoretical and practical nursing skills.