Presentation skills workshops for nurses

In the modern NHS, where there is increasing emphasis on evidence-based practice and clinical governance, all healthcare professionals need to be able to present the results of their professional activities. Traditionally, nurses have not been trained to present the results of their work either verbally or in writing. A series of presentation workshops for nurses were held in Scotland. The feedback and presentation activities of participants, in the year following the workshops, are reported here. Immediate verbal feedback indicated that the majority of those attending had enjoyed the workshops. Written feedback over the course of the following year showed that the learning needs of participants had largely been met and that many of those attending had gone on to present their own work. Presentations were both verbal and in writing at a variety of levels, ranging from local reports and presentations to journal articles and papers given at international conferences. Nurses responded well to the very practical, informal and non-threatening environment of the workshop. The development of presentation skills has wider implications for raising awareness of and sharing best practice in nursing care.