Maybe you’re a trainee just starting your journey to becoming a Paediatric Advanced Clinical Practitioner, or perhaps you have been working within or developing your role for some time. Wherever you are on your journey one thing is for certain practice is changing at a pace never seen before in medicine. Keeping up-to-date with best practice can on the surface feel overwhelming and daunting with so many resources to choose from. We all have a duty to fulfil our four pillars of advanced practice. Education and current research feeds into our clinical practice and leadership as practitioners. Within an ever increasing FOAMed (Free Open Access Medical education) community let me take you on a whistle stop tour of some of our top picks to keep you ahead of the game in current paediatric advanced practice.
 

DFTB – Don’t Forget the Bubbles
Top of the picks and kicking off with an absolute blinder, Don’t Forget the Bubbles is an online community dedicated to everything paediatrics. Created in 2013 to share, collaborate and bring a sense of understanding to the medicine and art behind paediatric practice. Their resources include a website that is regularly updated with articles covering a variety of current issues in paediatric practice and a monthly ‘bubble wrap’ where current articles are laid bare in easily digestible chunks. You can find them on pretty much any social media, including Twitter (@DFTBubbles), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, with helpful practical videos ranging from ‘how to do a neonatal heel prick’, to ‘ how to get intraosseous access’ to ‘how to remove a foreign body from an ear’. They even run online courses, conferences and a brand new PEM Masters degree. No matter what way you like to know, what practical skill you need to perfect, or conditions you need to learn about, this one stop shop should be a regular feature on your journey.

 
Paediatric FOAM
Another fantastic FREE website jam packed with paediatric content. Paediatric FOAM uses (fictional) clinical scenarios to take you on a journey from history taking and those golden questions not to be missed, through to investigations with a focus on what is needed, when it is needed, and why. The management of the case is discussed using current evidence to support choices and address common pit falls. The articles are easy to follow, not too over whelming, and because they are (fictitiously) patient based you find you can relate to them and potential patients you may have seen yourself. I particularly like the random article ‘lucky dip’ button for those days when I want to read something but don’t have an area in mind. This website also offers an added bonus of mapping their articles to both the RCEM and RCPCH curriculum handy for any of you looking to credential, and those who like order in your life. Paediatric FOAM can also be followed on Twitter (@PaediatricFOAM) and Facebook.
 
Paediatric Pearls
Starting back in 2009 this website holds an archive of monthly paediatric content laid out in downloadable PDF format. It is filled to the brim with food for thought covering a variety of cutting edge topics. This is a fantastic place to start when looking at a topic as they offer many links to evidence and research in each area. So next time you’re at a loose end, why not click on the link and have a read, or follow them on Twitter @paedspearls.

 
GP blog spot
Edward Snelson – (@sailordoctor) a GP turned Paediatric Emergency Medicine Consultant has been blogging about paediatric practice since 2015. His website offers insight into the management of common presentations to primary care and discusses some of common pitfalls and how to avoid them. It’s a perfect blend of practical relatable scenarios, balanced with the science behind what is happening in the situation. This gives the reader a better understanding of what is happening and what needs to be done to manage the situation. GP blog spot can also be found on Facebook.
 
PEM Playbook
In Tim Horeczko’s own words “it is my mission to demystify the emergency care of infants and children for my brothers and sisters in the trenches.  You have it within you to take excellent care of acutely ill and injured children.  I’m here to share tricks, tips, and lessons learned”. PEM playbook is a podcast available on a variety of platforms and covers all of the common paediatric presentations you will need to be familiar with. Each episode varies between 20-45 minutes, perfect for that daily work commute! Each episode covers a clinical scenario, what to look out for, what history is key, what investigation are or are not useful, and what management will be helpful. The podcasts are easy listening and packed full of paediatric goodness.
 
RCEM ibook
This is a really fantastic resource from RCEM, and a perfect place to start for those new to paediatric emergency medicine. It covers areas including; decision making, the unwell infant and child, the child with a fever, coughing, wheezing, stridor, headaches, abdominal pain, and much more besides. With evidence based practice and practical tips to make your practice better, more effective, and aid your decision making ability. Why not download it today?
 
EM3
East Midlands Emergency Medicine Educational Media is a website, they can also be found on Twitter (@EM3FOAMed), Facebook and YouTube. They bring us a fantastic range of educational resources including a weekly blog post, infographics that can be downloaded and shared in your own work place, and even board games! Now come on, tell me you could resist a game of cards against paediatric orthopaedics… Playing games is the reason we all went into paeds, right? #paedsrocks. Check it out, you will not regret it!

 
Teach Me Paediatrics
Another great website with a wealth of education aimed at not just emergency care, but also community care of children. The best part I found was the examination tools with articles talking you through all aspects of system examination really well illustrated these can also be downloaded in PDF format for you to take with you. Teach me paediatrics can be found on Twitter (@TeachMePaeds) where you can get involved in the conversation about current practice.
 
2 Paeds In A Pod
2 Paeds In A Pod is a free medical education podcast created by Dr Ian Lewins, a consultant in Paediatric Emergency Medicine. Created in 2017 the podcast now boasts over 70 episodes. At 20-40 minutes in length, they're perfect for that morning commute with covering the basics of disease management including their most popular podcast on bronchiolitis, to cutting edge subjects including child poverty and an array in between.  Find them on Twitter @2paeds and download the podcast from spotify or sound cloud.

 
Headspace
So now your mind is blown with the wealth of information and resources that you have at your fingertips, that are FREE to access, and will help you to advance your clinical practice. No matter where you are in your journey there is always something out there to fit you educational needs. But now its time to look after you. Burnout in healthcare is a real concern. We all went into the role because we want to help and care. Your educational and clinical journey into paediatric advanced clinical practice will be filled with challenges and you need to put yourself first, take time out to recharge, focus, regroup, and look after you. Headspace is a mindfulness and meditation app aimed at helping you to let go of tension and focus on the here and now, giving you the strength and ability to spring back into action. Its currently free to all NHS workers. I would highly recommend giving it a go!
 

Hopefully this introduction into the world of FOAMed and the resources available will be helpful in your journey. No matter what your current educational needs are or what platform works best for your learning needs, there is something out there for everyone. So get clicking, and let the learning begin!

Emma



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