Conference Proceedings - School of Nursing & Midwifery - Trinity ...

School of Nursing & Midwifery, Trinity College Dublin: 8 th Annual Interdisciplinary Research Conference
Transforming Healthcare Through Research, Education & Technology: 7 th – 9 th November 2007
Conference Proceedings
Back to contents page
Development and Evaluation of a Professional Development
Module on Caring for Children with a Neurological Disorder.
Colleen O’Neill, RGN; RCN; MSc (Nursing); BNS; H Dip (Children’s
Nursing); Lecturer in Nursing, Dublin City University. Tel: 00353 1
7007157, colleen.oneill@dcu.ie
Therese Nestor, RSCN, RGN, Clinical Nurse Specialist in Neurology,
Children’s University Hospital, Temple Street. Tel: 00353 1
8784412, therese.nestor@cuh.ie
Abstract
The aim of this poster is to outline the development and evaluation
of a professional development module. The module entitled “Nursing
Care of Children with a Neurogical Disorder”, which is the first of its
kind in Ireland, was developed by the Children’s University Hospital,
Dublin in partnership with Dublin City University. This new and
innovative module was developed in response to a need for specially
trained nurses in the field of paediatric neurology and aims to
address the education needs of nurses caring for children with a
neurological disorder and their families. It enables nurses to
enhance, develop and extend their knowledge and clinical
experience in the area of Paediatric Neurological Disorders. The
module provides participants with a theoretical foundation of the
context and concepts of care for patients with a Neurological
Disorder and enables the acquisition of the knowledge base
necessary to prepare for advancement in Paediatric Neurology
Nursing.
A Likert scale questionnaire was used to assess the module content,
programme delivery and learning environment. This quantitative
data was analysised using descriptive statistics. The results
indicated that there was a high degree of student satisfaction with
the module and students reported benefits from undertaking the
course in terms of increased knowledge and confidence in the care
of a child with a neurological disorder.
Back to contents page
- 641 -