title: Development of competent children's ward co-ordinators.
abstract: Taking charge of a clinical shift on a ward is daunting for newly qualified staff nurses. This article describes the co-ordinators competency pathway, written to guide and assess band 5 ward nurses, and a co-ordinators development day, which is a simulation-based training day developed by a team of senior nurses to prepare band 5 nurses to become competent children's ward co-ordinators. Each of two groups - of either experienced or less experienced band 5s - starts with the training day as a base for either 12 or 18 months of in-work training that follow. A new job description matching the trust's workforce reorganisation enabled this development of the band 5 nurse's role. A service evaluation has found staff are more competent and confident as a result of this initiative.
authors.affiliation: Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust.
authors.forename: Clair
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scaife
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: October
authors.forename: Valerie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kellett
mesh_terms: D005246:Feedback; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000458:organization & administration; D007857:Leadership; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D011361:Professional Competence; D015397:Program Evaluation; D006113:United Kingdom; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: Band 5 development; further nurse training; ward co-ordinators