Regulation in Leadership Program (RiLP) 2024
Regulation in Leadership Program (RiLP) 2024
Feedback from the participants involved in the 2020/21 Nightingale Challenge was overwhelmingly positive, and they returned to their workplaces equipped with a deep understanding of professional practice and shared their new-found knowledge across their teams and organizations.
Following this success, the Council offered the three-month paid program again in 2024, with participants Maria Ferguson and Travis Brown engaging in a wide range of activities covering all aspects of the Council's role in managing complaints and notifications about the health, performance and conduct of nurses, midwives and students in both professions.
Photo (L to R): Greg Rickard, NMC Council President; 2024 RiLP participant Maria Ferguson; 2021 RiLP participant Kristen Bennie; 2024 RiLP participant Trais Brown
"One thing the program has made me feel more confident about as a leader is understanding how to support practitioners and indeed my colleagues. When I go back to my workplace I will share my knowledge with my stream managers, nurse managers and Director of Nursing about what I've learned and how we might be better improve on support for our practitioners through the work that we do, and also to illustrate the importance of the professional practice framework. (Travis)
"I've got a very simple take home message to take back to my practice, and that is to constantly revise the standards for practice and the code of conduct and frameworks. I'm also not going to underestimate the power of self-reflection and using it as a great tool to inform my future learning and development within my own nursing career". (Maria)
Read here Maria and Travis's further thoughts on the program as they came to the end of their secondment with the Nursing and Midwifery Council.
Please note:
The NMC intend to run the Regulation in Leadership Program again in 2025. Further information will be sent out to all nurses and midwives practising in NSW nearer the time. In the meantime, please enjoy the short video below outlining the work undertaken during the project.
The Nightingale Challenge 2020/21
In 2020/21 The Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW participated in the Nightingale Challenge – the great global movement to develop emerging leaders in nursing and midwifery.
About the Nightingale Challenge
The Nightingale Challenge asked every health employer around the world to provide leadership and development training for a group of nurses and midwives (aged 35 or under) during 2020 and 2021.
2020 was declared by the World Health Organisation as the Year of the Nurse and the Midwife. 2020 also marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of Florence Nightingale: nurse, innovator, reformer and leader of improved health care. Due to the impact of COVID-19 in 2021, the Challenge was extended to 2021.
Find out more on Nursing Now’s website
NMC Nightingale Challenge 2020/21
In 2021 we ran two programs as part of the Nightingale Challenge, the Professional Regulation in Practice Program (PRiPP) and the Regulation in Leadership Program (RLP).
The Professional Regulation in Practice Program
Thirteen nurses and midwives had a three-day learning experience with the Council that focused on the standards that guide nursing and midwifery professional practice, as well as the NSW complaints process. The aim of the experience was to increase participants' capacity to lead in practical settings through a deeper understanding of the law, systems and processes that regulate nursing and midwifery. This knowledge is vital for those in leadership roles, particularly for the key areas of staff management, clinical decision-making and complaint/performance management.
Participants rated the Program an average 4.5 out of 5 stars!
Below are some thoughts on the Program from participants.
"I have a far greater understanding of the NMC and the professional practice program after completing the PRiPP. I have been so impressed at the systems and processes in place and how they protect the public while still ultimately providing support to the practitioner to return to normal practice where possible. The focus on patient safety and practitioner support is commendable and reassuring."
"It has certainly helped me better understand my role as a manager in the performance management process and how involving NMC earlier can be helpful for all involved."
"Although I have been a nurse and midwife for very many years (and thought I knew what the NMC did), I have learnt so much. The program benefits nurses/midwives by enhancing their knowledge of the systems in place to support patient safety and ensure the high standard of clinical practice expected by patients and practitioners."
"It has given me much more awareness of how, when and to whom to report unsafe practice."
"It encourages reflection on your own practice and on the culture in your workplace. I think it also disperses some fears associated with being reported to the council or reporting another staff member."
The Regulation in Leadership Program
![Kristen Bennie and Andrew Bailey celebrate their completion of the Regulation in leadership program](https://downloads.nursingandmidwiferycouncil.nsw.gov.au/s3fs-public/andrew_and_kristen_-_rlp2_min.jpg)
Kristen Bennie and Andrew Bailey, two NSW Registered Nurses, undertook a three-month secondment with the Council where they took part in a wide range of activities, spanning all aspects of the Council. Armed with an enhanced perspective and deeper knowledge of the regulation of nurses and midwives, Kristen and Andrew each developed a project to implement in their substantive workplace that embeds a stronger understanding and application of the nursing and midwifery professional standards.
Kristen is the Clinical Nurse Educator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and her project, 'Mitigating risk through regulation', aims to create a framework that assists in minimising harm and mitigating risk through regulation. Andrew, who is the Community and Allied Health Manager at Mid North Cost Local Health District, developed a project called 'Accountability through Performance', which aims to ensure his team takes responsibility for their own professional development through self-reflection against the professional standards.
In the short video below, Andrew and Kristen reflect on the benefits of the experience and share how it has enhanced their leadership.