The Da Nang Department of Health invited Canterbury Christ Church University (CCCU) to carry out a nurse education assessment to review current practice, identify the training needs, and to formulate an initial proposal for a pilot neonatal nurse-training course and further training of the most able nurses to become Practice Nurse Educators.
The University’s Head of Health, Wellbeing & Family, and a Senior Lecturer, Neonatal Care and Child Nursing, carried out the nurse education assessment in March 2012, spending 6 days within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the High Dependency Unit (HDU). Both assessors are also experienced neonatal nurses and have worked in 12 individual and different neonatal units in the UK and internationally, and have a combined work experience of 50 years in neonatal care.
It was an amazing ten days with some incredible highs and a huge learning curve for us all. Debra & Gill worked really hard, lots of interactive dialogue, a quiz for the nurses to get to grips with what they know, two days of practical nursing observation and meetings with key people.
The initial assessment was very interesting and confirmed the need for a formal neonatal nurse training programme and an increase in the nurse baby ratio. Plans are being developed for a UK/Da Nang education partnership to deliver Vietnam’s first neonatal nurse training programme.
Newborns Vietnam is seeking funding for the course and welcomes support from Foundations and Corporate bodies.
We also invite you to support our major fundraising event Cycle a Difference – take the challenge join our sponsored cycle ride across Vietnam. Check out the details of the 2013 Ride at http://www.cycle-a-difference.com
