Specialty Nursing Pathways: Bridging Gaps with Tailored Learning Programs
| Thursday, July 24, 2025 |
| 8:00 AM - 8:40 AM |
| Exhibition Hall and Foyer |
Overview
Presenter: Helen Kendrick MACN, Amanda Sale
Speaker
Mrs Helen Kendrick MACN
Manager Organisational Development
St John of God Health Care
Specialty Nursing Pathways: Bridging Gaps with Tailored Learning Programs
8:00 AM - 8:40 AMAbstract
Introduction
Innovative education programs are essential to equip nurses for evolving healthcare challenges. St John of God Health Care, a national not-for-profit organisation with 27 facilities, developed the Pathway to Specialty Programs to address critical skills gaps. These programs prepare nurses for specialised clinical roles while fostering courage, compassion, and connection in care delivery.
Main Body
To tackle workforce shortages, we introduced specialty nursing short courses tailored to key needs. The curriculum framework is centrally developed as self-paced, learner-led online modules, complemented with workplace-based training to ensure standardisation, governance and consistency across all services. These courses are aimed to be completed within a 12 week period to support their transition as safe practitioners into a specialty area. Local teams support implementation and workplace learning, allowing flexibility to meet specific needs. This collaborative model ensures consistency while respecting local nuances, fostering connection between central and local teams.
Key features include:
• Needs-Based Curriculum: Co-designed with clinical leaders/subject matter experts to address workforce gaps and align with best practices.
• Interactive Learning: Blended approach including workplace learning, simulation, case studies, and reflective practice.
• Holistic Development: Embeds psychological safety, human factors, and compassionate care, to support both patient care and nurse well-being.
• Post-graduate Pathways: Partnering with universities to support career progression through post-graduate qualifications, with credit opportunities recognising participants’ commitment.
Outcomes:
• High enrolment uptake with early program completions
• Established pathways to postgraduate qualifications
Next Steps:
Next steps include reviewing completion barriers, measuring confidence shifts, tracking postgraduate enrolments, and evaluating retention rates and workforce impact.
Conclusion
By addressing critical skills gaps through innovative curriculum design, our programs embody the principles of courage, compassion, and connection. These programs empower nurses to thrive in their careers while delivering exceptional patient care and building a resilient, future-ready workforce.
Innovative education programs are essential to equip nurses for evolving healthcare challenges. St John of God Health Care, a national not-for-profit organisation with 27 facilities, developed the Pathway to Specialty Programs to address critical skills gaps. These programs prepare nurses for specialised clinical roles while fostering courage, compassion, and connection in care delivery.
Main Body
To tackle workforce shortages, we introduced specialty nursing short courses tailored to key needs. The curriculum framework is centrally developed as self-paced, learner-led online modules, complemented with workplace-based training to ensure standardisation, governance and consistency across all services. These courses are aimed to be completed within a 12 week period to support their transition as safe practitioners into a specialty area. Local teams support implementation and workplace learning, allowing flexibility to meet specific needs. This collaborative model ensures consistency while respecting local nuances, fostering connection between central and local teams.
Key features include:
• Needs-Based Curriculum: Co-designed with clinical leaders/subject matter experts to address workforce gaps and align with best practices.
• Interactive Learning: Blended approach including workplace learning, simulation, case studies, and reflective practice.
• Holistic Development: Embeds psychological safety, human factors, and compassionate care, to support both patient care and nurse well-being.
• Post-graduate Pathways: Partnering with universities to support career progression through post-graduate qualifications, with credit opportunities recognising participants’ commitment.
Outcomes:
• High enrolment uptake with early program completions
• Established pathways to postgraduate qualifications
Next Steps:
Next steps include reviewing completion barriers, measuring confidence shifts, tracking postgraduate enrolments, and evaluating retention rates and workforce impact.
Conclusion
By addressing critical skills gaps through innovative curriculum design, our programs embody the principles of courage, compassion, and connection. These programs empower nurses to thrive in their careers while delivering exceptional patient care and building a resilient, future-ready workforce.
Biography
Helen has been a Registered Nurse for 23 years working in both the UK and Australia. Her experience includes working in the areas of palliative care, education and leadership. Her current role oversees a team that develops education programs and manages the learning management system for the organisation.
