Supporting care pathways through the RCN Learning Zone Liz Clark, Head of Distance Learning Royal College of Nursing

“Learning and development are key to delivering the Government’s vision of patient-centred care in the NHS. Lifelong learning is about growth and opportunity, about making sure that our staff … can acquire new knowledge and skills, both to realise their potential and to help shape and change things for the better.” “ Learning and development are key to delivering the Government’s vision of patient-centred care in the NHS. Lifelong learning is about growth and opportunity, about making sure that our staff … can acquire new knowledge and skills, both to realise their potential and to help shape and change things for the better.” Working Together - Learning Together: A framework for lifelong learning for the NHS, 2001

RCN Learning Zone: Background RCN Learning Zone launched at Congress 2002 RCN Learning Zone launched at Congress 2002 Accessed via the RCN web site Accessed via the RCN web site Partnership with AXIA CitizenConnect Partnership with AXIA CitizenConnect Currently over 23,000 registered users Currently over 23,000 registered users Developing service Developing service

Aims and objectives Support for professional and personal development Support for professional and personal development Easy access to relevant quality information Easy access to relevant quality information Bite-sized learning designed to support providing quality care Bite-sized learning designed to support providing quality care Flexible resource for ‘busy nurses’ Flexible resource for ‘busy nurses’ Linked to key RCN initiatives – e-journals, Mental Health Zone, Clinical Guidelines Linked to key RCN initiatives – e-journals, Mental Health Zone, Clinical Guidelines

Learning Zone services  Electronic portfolio  Careers  Learning  Clinical guidelines  Meeting places  Access to key resources (e.g. Care Pathways Database)

Learning areas ’Bite-sized' chunks ’Bite-sized' chunks Various routes in to learning Various routes in to learning Online tutorials with quizzes, self-tests, case studies and other resources Online tutorials with quizzes, self-tests, case studies and other resources Download hard copies Download hard copies

Clinical Guidelines Up-to-date information about evidence-based practice from quality- assured sources.

Meeting places - learning communities

The future  Develop user-friendly categories for navigating range of learning opportunities  Expand resources - selected range of free, full-text journals  Undertaking ongoing review of information and learning needs of RCN members  Develop new services relevant to healthcare environment - e.g. portfolio and Knowledge and Skills Framework  Integrated care pathways and associated learning on dermatology