Primary Healthcare Report Recommendations Welcomed

Media Release:

Recommendations from Primary Healthcare Report Supported

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) welcomes the release of the independent report “Nursing Development in Primary Health Care”.

The recommendations that new graduates and those moving into the primary health care sector complete at least a post graduate certificate in primary health care nursing and also that new graduates undertake the Clinical Training Agency funded, Nursing Entry to Practice programme, mirrors the recommendations made by the NZNO to the Ministry of Health in September 2007.

“It is time the government realises that the need to address disparities in health and health service delivery means that all primary health care nurses require access to essential professional education, including the Maori and Pacific nursing workforce,” says Angela Clark, NZNO Professional Nursing Adviser.

Karyn Sangster, Chairperson of the NZNO Primary Healthcare Nurses’ Advisory Council, believes that these recommendations could make a real difference in primary health if they are enforced. “The promotion of a professional practice environment where primary healthcare nurses are valued and are able to activate the skills they have developed through their post graduate study to change their practice is the way forward for primary healthcare. The professional development of these nurses needs to go hand-in-hand with their ability to develop nurse-led initiatives and to provide the GP workforce with additional capacity to meet demands for their service,” Sangster said.

“Frequently we see primary healthcare nurses unable to enact their professional development to create change in clinical practice due to barriers in their work environment. Development of these nurses should not occur in isolation. Employers need to see the potential to provide additional services or reconfiguration of their existing service delivery model,” said Sangster.

The Clinical Training Agency currently funds 100 nurses to undertake new graduate training in primary health care. “It is not acceptance for such a small number of nurses to have access to this training. This alone does not attract nurses in primary health care. What is needed is appropriate remuneration, support to undertake further professional development and an availability of relieving nurses to care for patients while others are studying,“ Clark said.

ENDS

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