The Australian Nursing Federation has launched national online continuing professional education for nurses and midwives.

The self directed learning tutorials are designed to provide nurses and midwives with best practice learning on health issues that can then be applied to nursing practice.

"This is another exciting initiative for the ANF", Jill Iliffe ANF Federal Secretary said. "It is anticipated that a formal requirement to demonstrate continuing professional education will be part of the future national registration scheme for nurses and midwives. The ANF online tutorials will make continuing professional education readily accessible to nurses and midwives at a reasonable cost".

Additionally, for ANF members, there is an opportunity for nurses and midwives to keep a record of their continuing professional education in an online portfolio. Professional development activities completed in other settings can also be added.

"The online continuing professional education is based on a model pioneered by the ANF WA Branch", Ms Iliffe said. "The ANF has been concerned for some time that access to continuing professional education is difficult for nurses and midwives who are traditionally shift workers and in many instances, it is also cost prohibitive."

New tutorials will go online each month with about fifteen courses expected to be available by the end of the year. Each tutorial is supported by an online presentation, additional reading, and a random ten question assessment quiz.

The ANF, representing nearly 160,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses and midwives in Australia.

Australian Nursing Federation