Together, West Coast University-Miami, Contemporary Forums, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital are setting mutual goals, sharing resources, and helping nurses and nurse educators remain current in their practice.
Doral, Fla. (PRWEB) May 08, 2015
West Coast University's newest branch campus is setting the bar high for collaboration and interprofessional development. West Coast University-Miami, Contemporary Forums, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, formerly known as Miami Children’s Hospital, teamed up to create a unique opportunity for pediatric nurses: a two-day conference with custom built content for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital employees. The conference concluded Friday, reporting more than 140 attendees who came to hear renowned nurse educator, Michele Deck, RN, BSN, M.Ed., LCCE, FACCE, as well as key Nicklaus Children’s Hospital physicians and nurses.
Participants learned best practices for addressing current challenges faced by pediatric nurses and networked with other health care professionals – all while earning continuing education credits. In addition to engaging with conference speakers, participants toured the West Coast University-Miami campus, which includes a 5,000-square-foot simulation center with high-fidelity manikins.
Continuing education units were developed and delivered through the University’s sister brand, Contemporary Forums. While Contemporary Forums has been hosting conferences since 1982, with more than 300,000 healthcare professional attendees, this conference was truly unique. Typically, Contemporary Forums sets the theme and agenda for a conference, based on their in-depth understanding of current needs among the various disciplines in health care. However, this conference, focused on pediatric nursing in a hospital setting, was customized to meet the specific needs of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital.
“Having this conference was important for our staff,” said Carla Leblanc, RN, MSN, CPN, Manager of Clinical Development, Learning and Development Services, for Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. “It provided them current education that will enhance their clinical practice, and will improve the quality of care they deliver to our specialized patient population.”
For West Coast University, professional development is part and parcel of the education continuum. The University educates and trains nursing students, offers continuing support to graduates, and partners with the community to ensure their clinical partners’ workforce, which may include University alumni, have access to ongoing education and training.
“We are collaborating to provide greater opportunities for innovation,” said Claudette Spalding, PhD, ARNP, NEA, Dean and Professor of Nursing at West Coast University-Miami. “Together, West Coast University-Miami, Contemporary Forums, and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital are setting mutual goals, sharing resources, and helping nurses and nurse educators remain current in their practice.”
Founded in 1909, West Coast University is a private institution focused on health care education. WCU offers both undergraduate and graduate health sciences degrees. WCU campuses are located in Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties in California, as well as Dallas, Texas and Miami, Florida. WCU now offers Online RN to BSN and RN to MSN programs. Through their commitment to academic excellence, fostering of a student-centric culture, and investment in advanced campus facilities, WCU strives to stay on the leading edge of the health care industry, preparing graduates for a career they love and one that meets the needs of the community. WCU is institutionally accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission.
Contemporary Forums is an accredited continuing education provider presenting topics specifically focused on healthcare – especially those that affect patients’ care. For over 30 years, Contemporary Forums has presented dynamic learning formats such as live nationwide conferences, online learning, and customized content to over 300,000 healthcare providers who readily attest to the quality, attention to detail and professional enrichment Contemporary Forums programs provide. Contemporary Forums is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. Joint accreditation is the leading model of interprofessional collaboration that helps improve healthcare through continuing education for the team by the team. Contemporary Forums is one of 17 continuing education organizations in the country to receive Joint Accreditation.
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