Thirteen Waikato District Health Board nurses were today
congratulated by chair Graeme Milne and chief executive
Craig Climo for graduating with their masters degrees in
nursing.
A Masters of Science in Nursing is an advanced-level postgraduate degree for registered nurses and is an entry-level degree for nurse educators and managers as well as preparation for those seeking a career as a nurse administrator, health policy expert or clinical nurse.
Mr Climo told the graduates to enjoy the glow while it lasted.
“It seems to me, and I don’t think the impression is because nurses are half of the workforce, that nurses pursue masters’ degrees at a greater rate than other professions.
“Whilst people undertake advanced study for a range of personal and pragmatic reasons, such as to lead them into management or advanced practice, it is a significant investment that the individual and society makes, and we should expect that it does lead to the elevation of nursing,” he said.
Waikato DHB requires a post graduate qualification for managerial roles.
“We should also expect that the health system, and those within it, most notably doctors, to make way for nurses to practice in areas such as nurse prescribing, nurse discharges, nurse clinics.
“I see little justification for doctors to debate domain over any area except perhaps diagnoses, which is where the art of medicine lies.
“I sense a quickening pace in this, as it is much needed,” he said.
There had never been a better of more interesting time to be a nurse or health professional as the sector continues to grow and heads for possibly the biggest transformation since hospitals stopped just being a place for poor people to die, said Mr Climo.
The graduates are: Amy Hutchinson,
Bridget Killion, Bryan Gibbison, Clare Davies, Gina Steel,
Jacqueline Coates- Harris, Kate Smith, Louise Leonard,
Michelle Hooker, Nicola Hagan, Peter Kimble, Rachel Mattock,
Wendy Sinclair.
Caption: Pictured: l-r back row: Michael
Bland (Clinical Nurse Director), Bryan Gibbison, Jacqueline
Coates-Harris, Louise Leonard, Clare Davies, Gina Steel, Amy
Hutchinson, Nicola Hagan, Bridget Killion, Kate Smith, Peter
Kimble.
Front row: Erina Morrison (Clinical Nurse
Director), Sue Hayward (Director of Nursing and Midwifery)
and Wendy Sinclair.
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About Waikato District Health Board and
Health Waikato:
Waikato DHB is
responsible for planning, funding and providing quality
health and disability support services for the 363,400
people living in the Waikato DHB region. It has an annual
turnover of $1.1 billion and employs more than 6000
people.
Health Waikato is the DHB’s
main provider of hospital and health services with an annual
budget of more than $674 million and 4980 staff. It has six
groups across five hospital sites, two continuing care
facilities and 20 community bases offering a comprehensive
range of primary, secondary and tertiary health
services.
A wide range of independent providers deliver other Waikato DHB-funded health services - including primary health, pharmacies and community laboratories.