The Center for Global Nursing collaborates with Mulgao National Referral Hospital on pediatric nursing development. Together in April 2026, they will launch the one-day intensive Systematic Assessment Resuscitation Training (StART) Pediatric Basic Life Support (BLS) program to address the urgent need for context-appropriate pediatric emergency training for nurses across Africa. The launch also includes a three-day train-the-trainer program that will promote sustainability and continuity of this program. The course equips nurses with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to systematically assess, promptly intervene, and deliver effective pediatric BLS. This work has been supported through a grant from the UK-based non-profit organization, KidsOR.
StART Pediatric BLS Program
The StART Pediatric BLS program integrates evidence-based, context-appropriate training, designed specifically for providers caring for pediatric patients in hospital settings across Africa. The nurses involved in this training will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to systematically assess, promptly intervene, and deliver effective BLS during pediatric emergencies. The StART Pediatric BLS emphasizes early recognition, timely intervention, and teamwork, using the Assess–Decide–React framework as a structured approach to care. By focusing on essential, evidence-based interventions that are feasible and sustainable within African hospitals, the training reflects the realities faced by nurses in their local clinical environments.
Train-the-Trainer Program
While the one-day BLS provider course builds immediate competence, long-term sustainability depends on the ability to repeat training regularly. To achieve this, StART Pediatric BLS includes a separate but essential Train-the-Trainer (ToT) program. The ToT prepares selected nurses to become certified trainers, capable of delivering future courses within their own hospitals. These in-house trainers can run refresher sessions and train new staff, ensuring all nurses involved in pediatric care have ongoing opportunities to practice and retain lifesaving skills. By embedding StART Pediatric BLS into continuous professional development programs, hospitals can create a self-sustaining training model that strengthens pediatric emergency care and reduces preventable child death.
Program Leads
Rona Breese, BA, RGN, FHEA
Independent Health Professions Training Consultant | Smile Train
Melissa Lincks, MSN, CPNP-AC
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner | UCSF Health
Michele Mullin, BSN, RN, CCRN
Critical Care Nurse | UCSF Medical Center
Rebecca Silvers, DNP, CPNP-AC
Director | Center for Global Nursing
