Tuvalu
Pacific Emergency Nurse Training Program and Multi-disciplinary BEC program.
​
A very successful combined program of PENTP and BEC training was held with New Zealand MFAT support in Tuvalu in May. In the first week of the program, a nurse only group completed the PENTP course, and in the second week, Dr Brady Tassicker joined Angie and Bronwen for a multi-disciplinary BEC program. An enthusiastic and hardworking group of 17 nurses from Funafuti and the Outer Islands completed both training programs and were joined by 4 doctors and 1 Outer Islands nurse for the 4 day BEC training.
The UN Secretary General, António Guterres, flew in to Tuvalu for a short visit while the team were in Funafuti, highlighting the many challenges facing this small nation at the forefront of climate change.
The nurses and medical staff have a strong commitment to providing the best possible care under often challenging circumstances and it was a privilege to be part of capacity building with such a dedicated team.
This represents a considerable proportion of the Tuvaluan nursing workforce and underlines the commitment to Nurse education from the MoH and Administration at Princess Margaret Hospital.
As an emergency nurse did the course meet your needs?
​
Yes, I think we have mastered the most important things to do in ED like ABCDEF and I-BAR.
As an emergency nurse did the course meet your needs?
​
Yes, it really met the need in refreshing and adding more skills, especially knowledge in how important and ED nurse role is especially in time of emergency likewise as an outer islands nurse with no doctor and communication problems in times of an emergency.
As a Tuvaluan nurse did you find the conditions described in the course were helpful for your working conditions?
​
Yes, very much and besides we learnt a lot of new things which improve/increase our knowledge and skills/confidence to work in an Emergency Department.
Below are a selection of comments from participants of the course.
What did you like best about the training program?
​
I like the teaching and the practical sessions because we can apply our knowledge in a real situation and apply the skill that we learnt.
What did you like best about the training program?
​
Getting to really understand about the very complex topics that I thought I would never understand but it turns out lovely! I am so satisfied with the knowledge I have now. Thanks facilitators.
Is there anything you would like to change about the program?
​
I would like to extend the training days to three weeks and would like to train all PMH (Princess Margret Hospital) staff and Paramedics on how to face a disaster or an emergency situation.
