MidCentral District Health Board nurses team up with Massey University

14/07/2008 | MDHB nurses team up with Massey University

Massey University’s School of Health and Social Services has sought the expertise of MidCentral District Health Board’s primary health care Nursing Development Team (NDT) to help teach the Bachelor of Nursing programme.

The NDT will be involved in delivering the theoretical and practical papers on primary health care. The two papers, for second year nursing students, address health promotion, public health, health education and health policy in the primary health care sector.

Nurse manager for practice development, Yvonne Stillwell and nurse coordinator for practice development Debbie Davies describe their involvement with the programme as an exciting initiative.

“We have been supporting nursing graduates in the primary health care sector for several years now,” says Mrs Davies. “Working with undergraduates is an excellent opportunity to get involved in nurses’ education earlier on, share our experience and expertise with them and get them excited about primary health care.”

Bachelor of Nursing programme coordinator, Bert Teekman, says this is a fantastic opportunity for nursing students. 
“Within nursing education there is always a debate about the ‘theory–practice gap’ and how this can be reduced,” says Mr Teekman. “With the NDT taking responsibility for teaching the theoretical component and supporting the students in clinical practice, we have achieved a true fusion between theory and practice. This is seamless nursing education at its best.”

Mrs Davies says that students will also benefit from the NDT’s breadth of experience and knowledge.
“We have a range of lecturers lined up who are well connected to their communities and are ideal role models for the next generation of primary health care nurses,” says Mrs Davies.

“The relationships these staff have with primary health care providers throughout the district will be a key benefit to students as they undertake their clinical practice experiences.

“We are able to place students in a wide range of settings throughout the Manawatu, Tararua and Horowhenua.  We hope by exposing students to a range of roles in primary health care we will encourage them to consider primary health as a career option for the future. This will, in turn, help meet the growing demands for primary health care nurses in our community.”

The NDT will be delivering the primary health theory and practical papers in semester two at Massey University’s Turitea Campus.

CONTACT:
For more information please contact:
Caroline Rowe
Communications Advisor
Funding Division
MidCentral District Health Board
ph: 021 162 0274
Chiquita Hansen
Director of Nursing – Primary Health
MidCentral District Health Board
ph: 027 229 2897