Literature Review:
Our thesis aims to evaluate work based learning approaches in developing acute skills for nurses in critical care wards. In this section of the literature review, we will discuss policies in the nursing profession, case studies and various approaches to work based acute skills learning programmes. For our purposes we conducted a literature search using popular medical databases and terms such as ‘acute skills’ ‘learning programmes’ and ‘critical care learning’. Our review highlights on the several important approaches to work based learning ranging from reflective practice to experiential learning and work based formal practical training to enhance professional skills.
A learning programme for acute ward nurses responsible for caring of critically ill patients has been the central focus of nursing practice development. According to Coad et al (2002), a work-based learning approach has been found to empower ward staff with the necessary skills of nursing and the authors studied the efficacy of a five-day competency based high dependency skills course in enhancing professionalism and quality of care in nursing. The aims of comprehensive critical care are developing leadership potential and enhancing networking opportunities for nurses within critical care and acute ward areas.
Critical care is the most challenging aspect of nursing care and acute skills in nursing are enhanced not just by work-based learning programs but also from first hand nursing and emergency experiences. Titchen (2003) describes emergency care in which one professional learns from another as ‘critical companionship’ that serve as a framework for learning from practical healthcare experiences. Critical companionship describes the essence of caring and helping relationship in which an experienced helper and facilitator, in this case, the critical care nurse accompanies