The development of the Acute Stroke Nurse Education Network (ASNEN) in Australia

Abstract

Background The role of the acute stroke nurse is increasing in importance with regard to the process of delivering thrombolysis and in the day-to-day management of the stroke patient's hospital admission. Established in 2012, the national ASNEN aims to support education and collaboration amongst Australian acute stroke nurses. Unrestricted educational grants were received from Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Ltd and Stroke Society of Australasia (SSA) to support initiatives. Methods During 2012-13 the 10-member ASNEN Steering Committee met 14 times via teleconference, webinar, and face-to-face meetings. 1.5 hour workshops were held during the 2013 SSA and 2013 SmartStrokes Annual Scientific Meetings (ASMs) in Darwin and Brisbane, with a $200 travel grant offered to nurses attending the SSA Workshop. A national webinar, "The changing face of acute stroke care", was held during the 2013 Stroke Week, with support from Boehringer Ingelheim Pty Ltd, the SSA, and the National Stroke Foundation. The ASNEN website was developed and made functional. Trialling of NETSMART Junior, an online stroke nurse education platform, in the Australian context was undertaken. Results 40 nurses attended the SSA ASM workshop, while 80 attended the SmartStrokes ASM workshop. 21 $200 travel grants were paid to stroke nurses attending the SSA ASM. 55 separate log-ins were utilised for the national webinar with over 200 attendees in total. 150 of these attendees were added to ASNEN database. Feedback from the workshops and webinar was overwhelmingly positive, both for the content and for the ASNEN to continue as an ongoing entity. Conclusions The first full year of the ASNEN's establishment has shown that this initiative was needed. From attendance numbers and feedback from workshop's and webinars, it has been shown that an educational gap is being addressed. Further development of the ASNEN website shall see acute stroke nurse interaction and education made increasingly more accessible and streamlined.