Bupa Care Services (Bupa) is the First Aged Care Provider in New Zealand to have a council approved Professional
Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP).
The Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) has approved and validated Bupa’s PDRP for 5 years, making this a significant
achievement for Bupa and for all their qualified nurses.
Whilst PDRP’s have been around for a number of years, with the majority of DHBs having one, Bupa is the first aged care
provider in New Zealand to have a Nursing Council approved programme
Committed to the ongoing professional growth of their qualified nurses Bupa developed their PDRP 2 years ago. They have
been refining the programme to meet the stringent needs of the Nursing Council with the key aim of having it formally
validated.
“I considered that nurses working in DHBs and having access to a PDRP had a distinct advantage over nurses working in
the residential aged care sector” says Gina Langlands GM Quality and Risk, and Bupa’s lead nurse.
“Having a NCNZ approved PDRP became a key aim. It would close the gap between nurses in DHBs and Aged Residential Care
and provide our nurses with an opportunity to showcase their knowledge and skills– and to have that commitment and
professionalism recognised”. adds Langlands.
Many DHB’s are extending their PDRP to include qualified nurses working in ARC. Langlands considered this wasn’t tenable
for Bupa whose staff work across 18 DHBs throughout New Zealand. She felt there was greater value to be had from Bupa
having it’s own validated PDRP.
About Bupa
Bupa Care Services New Zealand is part of the Bupa Group a leading international healthcare company. Established in New
Zealand in 1991, Bupa has three aged care businesses; rest homes and hospitals; retirement villages and personal medical
alarms plus a brain rehabilitation business, looking after more than 16,000 New Zealanders.
Established in 1947, the Bupa Group has over ten million customers in more than 190 countries and employs over 55,000
people around the world. Their main interests are care homes for young disabled and older people, health insurance,
workplace health services, health assessments and chronic disease management services, including health coaching and
healthcare services in the home.
ENDS