Dear Colleague,
It is with immense pleasure that I write to you regarding the new Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurse Professional Standards for Practice, 2024.
The Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurse Association (VAMCHN) is the peak professional representational body for all Maternal and Child Health Nurses (MCH) across Victoria. VAMCHN advocates on behalf of all Victorian MCH nurses at a local, State and Federal level.
VAMCHN established the Committee for the Review of the document entitled "Competency Standards for the Maternal and Child Health Nurse in Victoria (2010)" in 2019. The Committee was established under clauses 4.8 and 4.9 of the VAMCHN By Laws and reported to and operated under the VAMCHN Executive.
The Document, "Competency Standards for the Maternal and Child Health Nurse in Victoria (2010)" has underpinned the professional practice of each Maternal and Child Health Nurse working within Victoria. Significant clinical practice changes had occurred since the release of the existing Standards in 2010, necessitating review.
The outcome of the review was to "prepare and publish a revised iteration of the Competency Standards which would reflect contemporary Victorian MCH nursing practice and thereby articulate the accepted standards of MCH Nursing practice in Victoria" (Project Brief 2020).
The first "Standards of Practice" were released in 1993 and today, "Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurse Professional Standards for Practice, 2024" is the fourth iteration of Standards for Practice.
Members of the Review Committee were:
Leesa Hooker, Pauline Chandler, Ann Colahan, Helen Cunningham, Leanne Sheeran, Sharon McInerney, Di Wilson, Rayleen Breach, Belinda Clark (ANMF), Lisa Auchettl and Bernice Boland.
Project Review Process:
The Formulation of the document underwent a rigorous research process, commencing with the formulation of Terms of Reference document and then followed by formulation of a Project Brief.
Ethics approval for the project was obtained from La Trobe University Melbourne.
The research project encompassed the following:
- Benchmarking of the Competency Standards 2010 against others.
- Development of an online questionnaire issued to MCH Nurses across the State requesting responses to specific questions and comments in relation to the Competency Standards, 2010.
- Further Survey developed and Focus groups held to further clarify the future needs of the document.
- Extensive Consultation with Key Stakeholders.
- Collation and thematic analysis of all data obtained over the above processes.
- Drafting of new standards: This involved regular meetings and involved the document being drafted three times over a number of months before the Committee was satisfied that the document aligned with current MCH practice today and would be interpreted appropriately from the student to the advanced practitioner.
- Checking compliance with data collected. Researching current evidence based best practice.
- Researching Public Health Policy both within Australia and overseas.
- Revisions with Draft documents with key Stakeholders. This included Safer Care Victoria, Municipal Association Victoria, Coordinators Association, VAMCHN and others.
- Draft Copy editing of Contemporary Document.
- Finalisation of the document for online and print publication.
The Document entitled "Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurse Professional Standards for Practice" 2024 comprises Seven standards. The seven Standards are underpinned by the Registered Nurse Standards for practice and the Registered Midwife Standards for practice.
Each of the standards is then defined further within the context of each of the standards by the use of subheadings and additional listed criteria.
The Standards are as follows:
- Promotes health and wellbeing through evidence-based MCH practice.
- Engages in ethical, professional, therapeutic relationships and respectful partnerships.
- Demonstrates the capacity and accountability for MCH practice.
- Uses nursing, midwifery and MCH Knowledge and skills to conduct screening and assessment.
- Plans and monitors MCH care responding to family and child needs from birth until school age.
- Provides safe, quality care and excellence in MCH practice.
- Evaluates outcomes to inform and improve MCH practice.
The work of the Maternal and Child Health Nurse is impacted by numerous other documents such as frameworks and guidelines and statute. There are a number of these documents listed within the Appendices which were correct at the time of publication for your information.
Lastly, I would like to thank the Committee for the excellent work that has been achieved. The onset of the Covid Pandemic resulted in unavoidable delayed timelines but still the nurses continued to meet online. There were numerous meetings with everyone giving of their best in exceedingly difficult circumstances. The level of professionalism and knowledge displayed throughout the various stages of the project was magnificent. I cannot thank them all enough for their ongoing commitment to the project and its finalisation. We also thank La Trobe University for use of their online services.
On behalf of the Review Committee, I would like to now recommend to you the document "Victorian Maternal and Child Health Nurse Professional Standards for Practice", 2024. It is a well debated professional document of which you may be proud. A document which accurately describes your chosen profession of Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
With Thanks,
Bernice E Boland
RN, RM, Grad Dip MCHN, Grad Dip Public Health, MAS NSG.
Enhanced Maternal and Child Health Nurse.
Chair of the Competency Standards Review Committee.
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