Professor Charlotte McArdle Chief Nursing Officer Department of Health
CHIEF NURSING OFFICER’S COVID-19 COMMUNICATION PLATFORM
Welcome to the digital Professional Communication Platform for Nursing & Midwifery across Northern Ireland.
As Chief Nursing Officer, I wanted to provide a digital space where I could share information with everyone working in nursing and midwifery including sharing news, stories and good practice.
The purpose of this platform is to host, in one place, web-links to information which is essential to keep you up-to-date during this COVID-19 response. This platform is designed to complement all the other updates you get, for example, from your employer, professional bodies, professional regulator, unions.
I want to reiterate my thanks to each and every Nurse, Midwife, Nursing Assistant, Maternity Support Worker, Nursing and Midwifery Student for your dedication, professionalism, positivity and courage. Your contribution is highly valued by us all, those serving at the highest level of government, your multidisciplinary colleagues and most importantly, the patients, families and the communities for whom you provide care and services.
Professor Charlotte McArdle & Mary Frances McManus were two of the six panelists involved in the launch of the Nurses for Health Equity report at WISH on the global stage, 22 June 2021. View the video Nurses at the forefront of change, challenging the status quo
Find out how the work of the Enhancing Clinical Care Framework and Care Homes Clinical Care Network is progressing and review the Framework coproduced to enable continuing safe, high quality and person centred clinical care within care homes.
Important COVID-19 updates:
NMC have published an updated version of its COVID-19 stakeholder information pack. This includes updates on
- The latest COVID-19 temporary register data
- The outcome of the emergency rules consultation
- Reflections on the pandemic one year on
- The NMC’s response to CQC’s report on the use of DNACPR decisions during the pandemic.
HSS(MD)47/2021 – PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT AND HEAT: RISK OF HEAT STRESS
HSS (MD) 39/2021 – CHANGE OF DOSE INTERVAL BETWEEN COVID-19 VACCINES
HSS (MD) 38/2021 – VACCINATION PROTOCOL FOR COVID-19 VACCINE MODERNA
The HSS Letter (06-05-21) advises on updates regarding Version 1.0a Vaccination protocol for Covid-19 vaccine BNT162b2 (Pfizer/Biontech) & Version 1.1 Vaccination Protocol for Covid-19 Vaccine Astrazeneca
The Green Book COVID-19 Vaccine for information on:
- the coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines
- the dosage and schedule for the UK
- recommendations for the use of the vaccine
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| COVID-19 Surge Capacity Microsite Launch | Charlotte McArdle, CNO – Thanks Vaccination Teams |
Infection Prevention Control Guidance for Adult COVID-19 vaccination clinics
Below are links to important information and updates:
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COVID-19 Department of Health Updates
Click on the links below to find out more information and to view the documents:
Department of Health – Covid-19 Updates- COVID-19 Visiting in Care Settings Across NI from 7 May 2021
- Endorsement Process for NICE Covid-19 Rapid Guidelines
- Coronavirus (COVID-19) regulations guidance: what the restrictions mean for you
- Public urged to stick to health guidance – even after vaccination
- Guidance to support Care Home visits and the use of Care Partners, it covers routes of transmission of COVID-19, donning, doffing and hand washing.
- What you need to know about visiting a hospital or care home in Northern Ireland at the moment. Easy read version
- CNO provides free access for those working across all sectors including Care Homes & Primary Care to training programmes delivered by the Clinical Education Centre www.cec.hscni.net
- Stop COVID the mobile app
- COVID-19 Dashboard
- Daily statistics corona virus
- @healthdpt
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COVID-19 Public Health Agency Updates
Click on the highlighted links below to find out more information and to view the documents:
Public Health Agency – COVID-19 Updates
- RCOG information for healthcare professionals and pregnant women eligible for COVID-19 vaccination COVID-19 vaccines and pregnancy
- COVID-19: Guidance for maintaining services within health and care settings
- Professional guidance and information on the COVID-19 vaccination programme
- free online stress classes
- Information on the Northern Ireland COVID-19 Vaccination Programme
- A guide to COVID-19 vaccination for all women of childbearing age, those currently pregnant, planning a pregnancy or breastfeeding
- Information for schools, colleges and universities
- Infection Prevention Control Guidance for Adult COVID-19 vaccination clinics
- Weekly PHA COVID-19 Bulletins
- Up-to-date restrictions explained
- Guidance for professionals
- Weekly Covid-19 Bulletin
- @publichealthni
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CNO Communications
Click on the highlighted links below to find out more information and to view the documents:
Link Nurse Framework: supporting Nurses in HSC Trusts
NMC & UK CNOs Joint letter supporting nursing and midwifery professionals during the Covid-19 pandemic
Access CEC e-learning programmes for COVID-19 Sessional VaccinatorsChief Nursing Officer Charlotte McArdle presented this 60 second Nursing Now NI video at the Global Footprint European Conference on 24 May 2021
- IDM 2021 Event – https://vimeo.com/549207828/31f2c8619f
- Minister’s message https://vimeo.com/552339936
International Nurses Day 12 May
- https://vimeo.com/547541730/c2968aff11
- View the longer video (28 mins) https://vimeo.com/546066865/b5f9aae673
Nursing Now report launched 18 May 2021: Agents of Change: the story of the Nursing Now campaign.
Nurses for health equity report (2021) important information about tackling the social determinants of health especially after Covid-19.
Nightingale 2020 Conference – 27 & 28 October 2020
Almost 500 nurses and midwives joined from across the world to debate and discuss issues relating to the professions & celebrate the role of nurses and midwives during the Covid-19 pandemic. Click on the links to view the two days recordings
Covid-19: Regional Principles for Visiting in Care Settings in Northern Ireland updated
Previous updates:
The Enhancing Clinical Care Framework (ECCF) for Northern Ireland Care Home residents is building on the work of the Rapid Learning Initiative that was undertaken to harness the learning from the transmission of Covid-19 into and within care homes during the first surge of the pandemic. The Care Home Clinical Care Network (CHCCN) has been established to enable collaborative working and learning with the care home sector on clinical matters and you can view information about the project on its new webpage
Nursing & Midwifery Task Group Implementation: Next Steps Framework – A Three Phased Approach 2020 – 2026
Document providing supporting information for students regarding returning to their normal studies.
First edition of the Nursing Now Northern Ireland –2020 International Year of The Nurse and The Midwife newsletter highlighting the significant contribution that Nurses and Midwives are making to the health and wellbeing of the people of NI.
Article by Dr Billy Rosa promoting the role of Palliative Care Nurses during COVID-19
- British Journal of Nursing marked International Nurses Day (12 May 2020) with an article by Prof Charlotte McArdle and the other three UK CNOs. View the article
- Nuala McKeever interviewing Prof Charlotte McArdle on 13 May 2020. Hear the audio clip
CNO chats with Nuala McKeever about Florence Nightingale’s pioneering work in infection control and its relevance to modern day nursing.
- Florence Nightingale – Nursing and Midwifery 200 Years digital exhibition in the National Museums of Northern Ireland. View the video
- Nursing Now is facilitating the global sharing of support for the nursing and midwifery communities by launching its Poetry Portal where people can share expressions of thanks, support, share emotions and come together through the medium of art. We are living through extraordinary times and the nursing and midwifery family are facing unprecedented challenges. It is paramount that frontline health workers are encouraged to share their emotions, as well as their experiences as a way to process the often traumatic situations they are faced with on a daily basis. To read poems or share your own, click here
For some inspiration:
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Education Providers COVID-19 Updates
Click on the highlighted links below to go to the Universities/ Education Centre & other resources:
The MSc Business Improvement qualification commencing in September 2021 provides those on the course with the improvement tools to take forward innovative approaches to service delivery whilst developing their strategic leadership skills. The first semester will be online, and this will be kept under review in the coming months.
QUB Celebration of International Day of the Midwife 2021
The Open University
@OUBelfastQueens University Belfast
@QUBSONMUlster University
@UlsterUniNurse
COVID-19 Programmes – CEC
@HSCCEC -
Information for Nursing & Midwifery Students
Click on the highlighted links below to find out more information and to view the documents:
- CNO open letter to all nursing and midwifery students who have made a huge contribution during this pandemic. “Your education is a top priority and the letter addresses NMC emergency standards, placements and my personal thanks to you all”.
- Minister commends nursing students & midwifery students
- Letter from CNO, thanking every student for the valuable contribution they make to the delivery of safe and effective care.
- Document providing supporting information for students regarding returning to their normal studies.
- Chief Nursing Officer’s letter to Universities promoting the new booklet for Final Year Nursing and Midwifery Students
- Booklet for Northern Ireland’s final year nursing and midwifery students in the last six months of their studies
Previous Updates
- OSCE Centres booking.
- Visit Ulster University site to find out more. Listen to this candidate briefing before attending the OSCE centre at it has specific information relevant to the required social distancing.
- NMC student statement – In this statement the NMC explains why there is no longer a need to establish a specific student part of the temporary register for nursing students.
- COVID-19 Deployment guidance for Nursing and Midwifery Students on the final six months of their programme
- COVID-19 Student Supervision & Assessment Roles
- COVID-19 supervision and support students in clinical placement fact sheet
@nipec_online
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General Practice Nursing
Click on the highlighted links below to find out more information and to view the documents:
Clinical Education Centre free access for those working in Primary Care to training programmes delivered by www.cec.hscni.net
Previous Updates
Are you interested in a career in General Practice Nursing – View the Career Pathway
View the General Practice Nurse Course here it is being offered by Ulster University, Jordanstown and commences in September 2021 until May 2022. Hear more about the course from Course Director Evelyn Walton, view video clip
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NMC COVID-19 Updates
Click on the highlighted links below to find out more information and to view the documents:
- NMC Reports & Accounts
- Reflections on a traumatic year
- Visit our Covid-19 web hub
- Moving from temporary registration to full registration
- NMC announces further expansion of the COVID-19 temporary register
- Caring with Confidence: The Code in action
- Contribute to the NMC consultation Building on ambitions for community and public health nursing which closes on 2 August 2021
Previous Updates
- NMC Report: Analysis of the NMC Covid-19 temporary register on 2 July 2020
- Visit Ulster University site to find out more. Listen to this candidate briefing before attending the OSCE centre at it has specific information relevant to the required social distancing.
- Reviewing Post-registration standards
- Join NMC webinars on post-registration standards review.
- NMC sets out plans to move towards a ‘new normal’
- Letter from Andrea Sutcliffe, NMC Chief Executive & Registrar regarding impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on ethnic minority registrants.
- Sign up for NMC newsletters
- Contact details for NMC
- NMC stands up for nurses providing care for residents in Care Homes
- Andrea Sutcliffe’s Blog: Black Lives Matter
- Frequently asked questions
- NMC student statement – In this statement the NMC explains why there is no longer a need to establish a specific student part of the temporary register for nursing students.
- NMC prescribing statement – In discussion with the four Chief Nursing Officers across the UK the NMC have no current plans to give either individual nurses and midwives, or groups of nurses and midwives, a temporary annotation allowing them to prescribe medicines for the purpose of the Covid-19 emergency.
- NMC joint statement on advance care planning
- Joint statements from UK CNOs expanding the workforces nursing and midwifery
- NMC statement on personal protective equipment during the Covid-19 pandemic
- Blog from Andrea Sutcliffe for Employers
- @nmcnews
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NIPEC Updates
Click on the highlighted links below to find out more information and to view the documents:
- Link Nurse Framework: supporting Nurses in HSC Trusts
- Take a virtual tour through the Ulster museum to view the “200 years of Nursing & Midwifery exhibition” celebrating nursing and midwifery through the ages
- Respiratory Competence Assessment Tools (R-Cat Revised March 2020)
- Delegation Framework for Nursing and Midwifery
- Free online Portfolio
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Your Stories & Best Practice
Hear from Liz Moore, Ward Sister on the Covid-19 step down ward at Belfast City Hospital, describing the impact the virus is having on patients of all ages.
For those working in health and social care complete this survey about the quality of your working life and coping while working during a COVID-19 Pandemic.
Stories from participants on the Global Leadership Development Programme
Hear from Learning Disabilities Nurses in Southern & Western HSC Trusts how they have cared for their clients during the COVID-19 Pandemic
- Julie Anne Colvin Southern HSC Trust, Learning Disabilities Health Facilitator Nurse. View video
- Clionagh McElhinney, Western HSC Trust, Acute Liaison Nurse for Learning Disabilities.View video
Evelyn Walton, Lecturer Ulster University & Course Director for the General Practice Nursing Programmes. View video clip – Evelyn provides an update on the new General Practice Nursing Course commencing in September 2020 at Ulster University, Jordanstown Campus.
- Karen Edwards, Nurse Manager, Phoenix Clinic, Newtownards. View Karen’s Story – Karen Edwards tells her story of how she and her staff have continued to care for the residents in Phoenix Clinic during the Corona Virus pandemic.
- “Nursing Northern Ireland and the world to Health & Wellbeing”.View the video
This video was made to celebrate International Nurses day on 12 May 2020.
- Dr Patricia Gillen & Paula McFadden, Ulster University & Southern HSC Trust.View the video – Patricia & Paula want to hear from nurses and midwives and understand more about their quality of working life and coping in relation to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Complete the survey
- District Nursing Team Leader Liz McCormick, South Eastern Trust.View the video – Liz tells her story about helping her nursing colleagues and caring for residents in one of the Nursing Homes in South Eastern Trust. Chief Nursing Officer Charlotte McArdle encourages other Nurses to consider undertaking this opportunity.
- Dr Dale Spence Midwifery Officer DoH, Alana Divito, Midwife, Northern HSC Trust & Annette, mum-to-be. View the video
Advice for mums about maternity services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alana is a participant on the Nightingale Challenge 2020 Global Leadership Development Programme.
- Midwives Mobilising the World to Health and Well-being. View the video
Some of those celebrating the International Day of the Midwife 2020 with Northern Ireland Midwives are, Prof. Charlotte McArdle, Chief Nursing Officer, Dr Dale Spence Midwifery Officer, Health Minister Robin Swann, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General & Fran McConville, Midwife WHO and Ciara Close, Student Midwife.
- Mary Frances McManus, Nursing Officer, Department of Health & Marie Canavan, School Nurse, Belfast Trust. View the video – Advice for staff and pupils in schools in relation to good hygiene, social distancing and what to do if presenting with signs & symptoms of COVID-19.
- Chief Nursing Officer, Charlotte McArdle and Ashleigh Pullins, District Nurse, Northern HSC Trust. View the video – A demonstration from Ashleigh on what patients can expect when being visited by District Nursing services in their own homes. Ashleigh is a participant on the Nightingale Challenge 2020 Global Leadership Development Programme.