1. The Nurse Practitioner Candidate Professional Development Program A Joint Partnership of Southern Synergy

2. Background • Experience of “solo” candidates • Smaller pool of staff in rural/regional areas • Fewer opportunities to advance career • Interest from potential NPCs • Funding requirement to provide a professional development and support program • Partnerships within the training cluster (Synergy)

3. Aims • To improve career opportunities for skilled nursing staff • To develop and support a critical mass of NPCs • To identify nurses with suitable competencies and attributes, within the cluster organisations, to become NPCs and undertake a PD program • To further develop the NP role, within the cluster organisations, to enable the long term sustainability of advanced roles within services

4. Process • Discussion within the cluster • Development of a submission for further funding • Support from 4 cluster services • Task Group established to identify resources and develop the program • Content identified

5. Program • Educational content • advanced assessment, physical health, medico-legal, prescribing • Case studies • Peer supervision and support • An adjunct to university study • Internal study day program only (no advanced standing) • Access to mentors and opportunity to engage in consultations etc. • difficult to get mentors and clinical supervision in rural areas

6. Participants First day of the program

7. Participants • NPCs and those working towards an NPC position • Employer supported • participants must have Manager and SPN approval • a way for employers to support candidates in their NP goals • Range of backgrounds • ED, CL, Child and Youth, Dual Diagnosis, Community, Inpatient Adult, Aged • Must be motivated, prepared, actively participate

8. Resources and Support NPC Resource Folder • program outline • prof. development • leadership plan • learning plan • professional portfolio • log book • NPS and RADAR • CPGs • useful reports • ANMC Competencies Texts • AMH 2010 • TG Psychotropic Version 6 • Clinical Primer in Psychiatry (Castle & Bassett 2010) Webresources • “H Prime” • on-line web link, resource sharing and discussion board

9. Evaluation • Pre and post evaluation • Participant • Service level

10. Summary • Opportunity to harness motivated and skilled nurses • An adjunct to Masters, the NP Collaborative • A way for services to support their candidates locally • Support rural services • A requirement for the funding of candidates in this round • Develop a critical mass • More endorsed MHNPs