Emergency Nursing Education, Region Sjaelland, Denmark

The challenges related to providing continuing education and competence management for emergency nurses are not unique to any one organization, health system, or geographic location. These shared challenges, along with a desire to ensure high-quality practice of emergency nursing, were the catalyst for an international collaboration between emergency nurse leaders in Region Zealand, Denmark and nurse leaders and educators from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. The goal of the collaboration was to design a competency-based education framework to support high-quality emergency nursing care in Region Zealand. The core objectives of the collaboration included: 1) elevation of nursing practice, 2) development of a sustainable continuing education framework, and 3) standardization of training and nursing practice across the four emergency departments (EDs) in Region Zealand. To accomplish the core objectives, a multi-phased strategic approach was implemented. 

In 18 months, and through an international collaboration, emergency nursing education, training, and evaluation tools were developed and integrated into the four regional EDs. Initial feedback indicates that the education has had a positive impact. The annual competency day program has continued through 2021 and is now fully institutionalized within the regional emergency nursing continuing education program. Furthermore, use of this innovative education framework has expanded beyond the ED to other regional nursing specialties. Through this unique collaboration with regional and international participants, a sustainable, regional emergency nursing education program was developed that has elevated and standardized the practice of emergency nurses in Region Zealand, Denmark. This program development can serve as a model for region or healthcare system-wide collaborations in other countries.