Nurturing a homegrown nursing workforce

CCDHB_logo_web

22 July 2016

Nurturing a homegrown nursing workforce

A new initiative to be piloted by Capital & Coast DHB will see nursing students benefit from a more comprehensive and collaborative learning experience, and become better prepared for their entry into the health care workforce.

From 25 July 2016 CCDHB, Massey University and Whitireia New Zealand will collaborate on a nine-week Dedicated Education Unit (DEU) pilot at Wellington Regional and Kenepuru Hospitals.

“This is an exciting move from our one-on-one student-to-nurse preceptor (instructor) model, to an all-of-ward approach that gives students a sense of belonging in a fast-paced environment that’s responsive to patients’ changing needs,” said Director of Nursing & Midwifery Andrea McCance.

“The DEUs bring together the best of the clinical and academic worlds to empower and support students to learn nursing practice in clinical environments. Clinical staff are supported to teach students, and academic staff are supported in their delivery of the training curriculum.”

Developed and implemented at Adelaide’s Flinders University, the DEU model is a tried and proven method integrated into clinical learning environments in New Zealand and overseas. Its philosophy encourages clinicians and academics to work more closely together and acknowledge each other’s strengths in preparing the nursing workforce of the future.

“This aligns with our Nursing & Midwifery priorities ‘Knowing, Growing and Engaging our Workforce’. Ensuring students are familiar and comfortable with clinical environments is a vital part of their training, and including them in ward teams is essential in their development.”

The pilot will take place at Wellington Regional Hospital’s heart and lung unit (6 South) and general surgery (7 North), and at rehabilitation (Ward 6) at Kenepuru Hospital. The partners will then evaluate whether the DEU model is the right fit for CCDHB nursing staff and students.

“CCDHB is passionate about giving nursing students the best possible learning opportunities; nurturing them so they are equipped to step straight into nursing roles and help us deliver high-quality care to our patients.”

ends

© Scoop Media