29 September 2011
Nurses and midwives from Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, Gibraltar and Germany are meeting in Jersey this week for the Small Communities annual nursing conference.
It is the eleventh time the conference has been held.
More than 90 delegates are attending the conference in the Education Centre at the General Hospital, with around 33 nurses and midwives being from Jersey, from both Health and Social Services and Family Nursing and Home Care.
Jersey's Chief Nurse, Rose Naylor, who opened the 2-day conference on Wednesday (28 September), said: "It is a great opportunity to come together as colleagues and professionals on an annual basis. This year we have 5 countries represented by teams who all work in either an island or a small community setting.
Caring for a smaller population presents different challenges and this is an opportunity to share our practice and discuss ways in which nurses and midwives have improved care for their patients or clients."
'Excellence in practice'
This year’s conference focuses on nurses and midwives leading, influencing and celebrating excellence in practice. Over the course of 2 days delegates will hear a range of presentations and participate in a number of workshops covering a broad range of topics including safeguarding children, care of people with dementia and supporting choice in end of life care.
The conference, which has been organised by local nurses Moyra Journeaux and Jackie Harley, will feature keynote speaker Professor Brendan McCormack from the University of Ulster, who is the director of the University's Institute of Nursing Research, and head of the person-centred practice research centre.
He is the author of five books, and his research work has focused on gerontological nursing, (nursing for older people), person-centred nursing, and practice development. He has worked on projects in Europe, Australia and the UK.
Speakers from Edge Hill University in Lancashire, Brian Smith, Head of Technology Enhanced Learning, and Dr Graham Congdon, Associate Dean, both at the University’s Faculty of Health, will also attend the conference to talk about remodelling healthcare education for the future.
The nurses at the conference will be welcomed by Minister for Health and Social Services, Deputy Anne Pryke, and Julie Garbutt, Chief Executive Officer for HSSD.
gov.je