Recognizing the talent within: preparing clinicians for a role in professional development.
BACKGROUND
Ongoing professional development is recognized as crucial to the psychiatric and mental health nursing profession; however, implementing effective professional development programs has proved problematic. The Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice in Victoria, Australia, developed a clinician-trainer course to overcome some of the identified problems.


METHODS
An evaluation was conducted to measure participant satisfaction with the program.


RESULTS
The initial evaluation suggests the course delivery and content were considered useful and relevant to participants, although areas for improvement were identified.


CONCLUSIONS
The model developed is potentially effective but a longitudinal evaluation is required to determine the impact of the course on the implementation of professional development in the clinical domain.
Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice, School of Postgraduate Nursing, University of Melbourne, Carlton, Victoria, Australia.
Greg
G
Miller
Brenda
B
Happell
D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D006801:Humans; D017145:Models, Educational; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011568:Psychiatric Nursing / Q000193:education*; D014739:Victoria