Facilitating the professional development role of clinicians : evaluating the impact of the clinician-trainer program

The professionalisation of nursing has been accompanied by recognition of the need for ongoing professional development. Continuing education is considered as an important method in maintaining professional development. Despite this recognition there is a paucity of literature addressing either the problems experienced in accessing and utilising continuing education or innovative programs designed to overcome these problems. THis paper describes the impact evaluation of the clinician-trainer program, developed by the Centre for Psychiatric Nursing Research and Practice (CPNRP). THis program was developed with a view to equip experienced psychiatric/mental health clinicians with the skills to provide workplace professional development to nursing colleagues. The evaluation suggests that for most participants (n=21), the program has led to an increase in the delivery of continuing education sessions.