The Congenital Heart Disease Standards and Specifications, NHSE 2016, outline the requirements for delivering high-quality care to individuals with congenital heart disease throughout their lives. The role of nurses is integral to delivering this standard.The Network is committed to developing a highly skilled nursing workforce who are able to provide this expert care. Please click below to view the standards and specifications.
Network Lead Nurses
The role of the Network lead nurses involves promoting patient and public engagement, quality improvement, professional training and education in addition to promoting research and innovation. The lead nurses work closely to connect key nursing professionals across the Network, these efforts help facilitate collaboration, share best practice and support professional development. The lead nurses host regular meetings with the lead congenital cardiac nurse specialists across the NW in addition to the meetings between key nurses at the paediatric cardiac L1 and L2 centres. The Network lead nurses are also involved at a national level with the National CHD Lead Nurse Meeting.
Training and Education
Our nursing colleagues have access to training and education events hosted by the Network. Please visit Training & Education for more information.
Link Nurses
In line with these standards the Network has developed paediatric and adult cardiac link nurse groups. These are two separate groups of nurses who meet via Teams on an 8 weekly basis. This provides an opportunity to network with other link nurses and to access regular training and resources. The Network supports each link nurse by providing a set of competencies to help with their training and development. Alongside this each link nurse will be allocated a mentor. These groups are facilitated by the Lead Nurse for the Network. Please contact us via NorthwestCHDNetwork@alderhey.nhs.uk if you are a paediatric or adult nurse who would be interested in knowing more or joining either of these two groups.
If you would like to know more about the role of the paediatric cardiac link nurse – please click here.
To access a copy of the paediatric link nurse competencies – please click here.
If you would like to know more about the role of the ACHD link nurse – please click here.
To access a copy of the ACHD link nurse competencies – please click here.
The RCN has two publications providing recommendations on the education and training requirements, supported by competency frameworks and clearly defined career pathways to ensure consistent and high-quality care delivery, this reflects the key roles outlined within the CHD standards (NHSE, 2016).
Click to access the Paediatric RCN guidelines Children and Young People’s Cardiac Nursing | Royal College of Nursing
The Congenital Cardiac Nurses Association (CCNA), is the only UK association dedicated to representing the voice of those involved or have an interest in paediatric cardiology throughout the UK and Southern Ireland. It is also open to nurses involved in the care of ACHD patients.
BACCNA provide a forum for nurses with an interest in adult congenital heart disease to communicate & network facilitating professional support & promoting high quality care for patients.
This includes educational events twice per year that facilitates networking, sharing of best practice, applying evidence to practice, & promoting the role of the ACHD nurse.