Challenges in designing an All-Wales professional development programme to empower ward sisters and charge nurses.
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the challenges of designing a professional development programme for ward managers working in in-patient facilities in Wales.


BACKGROUND
In 2008, the Minister of Health launched the Free to Lead, Free to Care initiative to empower ward managers. One work-stream involved the creation of a universal professional development programme to ensure they had the skills and knowledge to function effectively in their roles in the newly restructured NHS in Wales.


METHODS
A collaborative, staged approach, involving multiple stakeholders, resulted in the design of a programme founded in principles of action and work-based learning tailored to the needs of the individual in attaining accredited competencies.


RESULTS
Achieving buy-in and ownership from stakeholders are essential to ensure standardization and consistency of implementation of a universal programme. Shared responsibility and acceptance of key principles underpinning an individualized, work-based programme are fundamental to ensuring equity of outcome achievement. IMPLICATIONS FOR MANAGEMENT: Managerially facilitated cultural change is needed to embed individual work-based professional development programmes in the clinical environment, with practitioners supported through a variety of learning strategies appropriate to their learning needs.
Jasper
Melanie A
MA
School of Human and Health Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK. m.a.jasper@swansea.ac.uk
Grundy
Lynne
L
Curry
Esther
E
Jones
Lynne
L
D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009718:Nurse Administrators; D009729:Nursing; D009745:Nursing, Supervisory / Q000458:organization & administration*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011209:Power, Psychological; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012931:Social Environment; D013192:Staff Development / Q000379:methods*; D013222:State Medicine; D014852:Wales; D017132:Workplace