Maximising Outcomes through

Specialist Education for

Correctional Nurses

Revitalising the West Moreton Prison

Health Service

“The health of a society is shaped by

the degree to which it can develop

and sustain a knowledgeable

nursing workforce.”

Thorne, Sally E. 2006. Nursing Education: Key Issues for the 21st Century.

Nurse Education Today, 26, 614-621.

Content

• West Moreton HHS

• Restructuring the Prison Health Service

• Revitalising nurse education

– Framework for Lifelong Learning

• Building Capacity

– Student and first-year nurses

• Challenges and Solutions

West

Moreton

Hospital

& Health

Service

Queensland Correctional Centres

Queensland Prison Health

Services

Pre-2008 July 1

2008 July 1

2012

Queensland

Corrective

Services

Offender

Health

Services

(state-wide).

Devolved to

HHS. State-

wide unit

abolished.

Present

West Moreton PHS

• Brisbane CC

• Bris. Women’s CC

• Wolston CC

• Bris. Youth DC

Limitations of original model

• Lack of differentiated skill

mix

• Inefficient work flow

• No education support

• Minimal scope for career

advancement

• Low recruitment levels

• High cost

Clinical Nurse

Nurse Unit Manager

Nursing Director

Graduate

Registered Nurse

Grade 5

Registered Nurse

Grade 5

Clinical Nurse

Grade 6

Nurse Educator

Grade 7

Nurse Unit Manager

Grade 7

Nurse Practitioner

Grade 8

Nursing Director

Expert

Advanced

Proficient

Entry

Career pathways –

Offender Health

Services

Enrolled Nurse AP

Grade 4

Nurse Educator

• Provide new staff orientation

• Coordinate Transition Support Program

• Arrange workplace inservice

• Chair Professional Advancement Committee

• Build partnerships with tertiary providers

• Implement Lifelong Learning framework

Lifelong Learning Framework

Spheres of learning:

•Clinical

•Organisational

•Professional

Learning Continuum:

•Orientation/induction

•Transition

•CPD

Building capacity – Student nurses

• Griffith University 3rd

year undergraduates

• 56 students in 2014

• 2-4 week clinical

placements

• Specific course

objectives

Building Capacity - Transition Support

• First program of its kind in Queensland

• 12 month full-time

• Rotation across three adult correctional centres

• Regular study days, competency assessment, peer-supported learning

• Access to external workshops

Challenges Solutions

Limited technologies Electronic patient records

Q-Health IT access

Rising prisoner

populations

More nurses?

Or fewer prisoners?

Evidence base for

correctional nursing

practice

Nurse-led research

Clinical Guidelines

Knowledgeable nursing

workforce

Nurse Practitioner

Post-grad tertiary studies

in correctional health

The End – Thank you

Ashleigh Djachenko

A/Nurse Educator

Prison Health Services

West Moreton HHS

Queensland Health

Ashleigh.Djachenko@health.qld.gov.au