Imaging Nurses Forum takes to the road

Published: 26 November 2012

The RCN Imaging Nurses Forum roadshows, kindly supported by Cook Medical, were a series of regional events for registered nurses working in imaging.

The forum was aware that imaging nurses are not always able to attend large national events due to budget, time and travel constraints, so the forum committee felt that regional roadshows would be an ideal way to support its members’ professional education in an accessible way. The roadshows were delivered in 2011 and 2012 in Cardiff, Sunderland, London and Birmingham, and attended by more than 200 delegates. They provided practical information, advice and innovative ideas for implementation in the workplace. The days enabled imaging specialists to be better prepared and informed of changes and developments in current practice.

Delegates at the imaging nursing roadshow London event

Sessions covered topics such as aortic aneurysm care pathway, cardiac imaging, TIPS procedures, critical leg ischemia treatment and radiation safety, and the challenges of the vascular access nurse.

Declan Dunphy, Cook Medical’s Regional Manager for Peripheral Intervention, said: “Cook Medical was delighted to be partnering the RCN in this innovative accredited continuing professional education programme. Cook prides itself on its commitment to supporting those working in industry to access high quality educational opportunities. We were particularly pleased to support nurses working in imaging who are responding on a daily basis to the specialty’s challenges and developments.”

The collaboration is in keeping with Cook Medical’s ethos of improving patient care through supporting continuing professional education. The company has successfully worked with health professionals before throughits Vista programme. The programme involved doctors and industry sharing best practice and advanced techniques, providing opportunities for innovation of current and new technologies.

Imaging nurses have faced significant challenges when trying to prioritise their learning and development. Through their partnership, Cook Medical and the RCN have been able to support the professional development of individual nurses through the delivery of valuable RCN accredited training on a regional level.

This has enabled the tailoring of educational content to regional training needs with regionally sourced speakers; it has provided a forum for colleagues in a niche nursing specialism to share concerns.

Study day participant Rita Ling, a Radiology Sister at St Georges Hospital, said: “It is good to see so many nurses in one forum learning from each other and sharing information which can be applied in their departments. I would highly recommend the continuation of these study days.”

The nursing workshops also provided a platform for Cook Medical to support the development and launch of an RCN accredited framework for imaging nurses in clinical practice, called Core Competences for Imaging Nurses.

A lack of nationally agreed competences has posed challenges for imaging nurses and their managers when defining expectations for the role.So the framework has six core competences reflecting the roles of imaging nurses, and providing a foundation to optimise evidence-based practice. It is intended the new guidance publication will play a leading role in the continuing professional development of imaging specialist nurses and enable delivery of safe, competent care.

Maggie Williams, Chair of the RCN Imaging Nurses Forum, said: “The RCN has greatly valued the support of Cook in launching the roadshows. The forum was particularly pleased to be able to take the roadshows to the regions. This enabled networking with members who have previously been unable to attend national days. We hope the production of the core competences to demonstrate and recognise the skills and knowledge required to work within this niche nursing specialism. We look forward to exploring the potential for future collaborations, and support the continuing professional development of imaging nurses.”