Source: Radio New Zealand
123RF
More than double the planned number of primary care nurses will begin advanced training this year, following strong demand for the government’s new scholarship.
Health Minister Simeon Brown said the government had originally committed to funding 120 primary care registered nurses each year for four years to undertake advanced education through its new Registered Nurse Primary Care scholarships, and become registered nurse prescribers – but this year, it would fund 235.
Brown said there had been a “very high level of demand”, and the extra places could be offered within existing funding.
Placements would begin from the week of 23 February.
Of those 235 – who were registered nurses already working in primary and community healthcare settings – 147 would work towards a postgraduate diploma in prescribing, and 88 would undertake a master of nursing.
Nurses who completed those qualifications could prescribe from an approved list of medicines for common and long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, respiratory conditions, and menopause symptoms.
Health Minister Simeon Brown. RNZ / Mark Papalii
The health minister said this additional training capacity came at an important time following the recent expansion of prescribing rights announced in December.
Te Whatu Ora national chief nurse Nadine Gray said it would improve access to prescriptions for New Zealanders, with more healthcare workers able to see patients and prescribe.
She said these nurses would train at a number of universities across the country, undertaking a mixture of pharmacology post-graduate papers and completing clinical hours under supervision.
Gray said nurse prescribers could go on to become nurse practitioners, who through a masters degree, would have the ability to see, diagnose, prescribe, treat and manage patients as independent practitioners without the need for GP oversight.
“Some nurses probably applied for scholarships or funding through the old DHBs or their districts, but this is far greater than what we’ve had before,” she said.
The scholarship covered course fees and clinical supervision requirements, being released to be able to study – “it’s a real wrap-around supportive scholarship so the nurse is successful”.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand
