Waikato DHB has one of the most diverse nursing workforces in New Zealand, covering acute and specialty nursing, community-based and district nursing, nursing in a secondary hospital at Thames and rural hospitals in Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumaruni, as well as public health nurses.
The size and diversity of Waikato DHB’s nursing workforce provides great opportunities to:
Our nursing education and development opportunities include cultural support, NETP and NESP, preceptorship, the Productive Series (Releasing Time to Care), Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP), professional supervision, leadership development programme (Pebbles) as well as numerous study days and other specific education. See details below.
Maria Schollum, expert in the art of wound healing
3 Jul 2019
As a nurse practitioner, Maria Schollum now has the ability to practice autonomously and prescribe a wide range of medications.
Read moreTaumarunui nurse with a thirst for learning
3 Jul 2019
The four years of postgraduate study to become a nurse practitioner was never hard work for Helene Draper – “it was a joy, with amazing ‘light bulb’ moments.”
Read moreAs a health provider in an district with 21 per cent of people identifying as Māori (compared to 16 per cent total New Zealand), we have a specific commitment to cultural support for Māori and Pasifika nurses, and for all nurses to deliver culturally appropriate care.
Our cultural support team provides support for Maori and Pasifika students, new graduates and existing nurses. Read more about the team here
Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) funding supports postgraduate nursing study.
The next closing date for applications: 24 September 2019 (for semester 1 & 2 of 2020)
For further information please read our HWNZ Postgraduate Funding online handbook information which covers many Frequently Asked Questions and includes necessary forms.
Contacts
Lin Marriott
Nurse Manager – Workforce
Ph: 021 359 498
Email: lin.marriott@waikatodhb.health.nz
Nicola McKenzie
Administrator
Ph: 021 241 5802
Email: Postgraduate@waikatodhb.health.nz
Our NETP and NESP entry to practice programmes are well-developed and highly regarded, and we work closely with organisations that train graduate nurses.
The Nursing Preceptorship course is for Waikato DHB employees and Waikato DHB funded workplaces who are supporting students and new graduate registered nurses.The Preceptorship course is run in conjunction with Wintec. We work collaboratively with them to develop your skills, in providing clinical practice instructions to, and evaluation of, students and newcomers to nursing. Check the course content on the Wintec website - under Preceptorship of Nurses in Practice
Course dates 2019 [PDF, 52 KB]
Complete a Waikato DHB Preceptor course application form [DOC, 70 KB] and get this signed off by your manager.
Please do not book directly with Wintec
Send the completed form to Nicola McKenzie at the PDU.
nicola.mckenzie@waikatodhb.health.nz
Or by post to
Nicola McKenzieLate applications may be accepted.
We use the Productive Series: Releasing Time to Care programme to help front line staff spend more time on patient care, reduce waste and improve efficiency. This includes the Productive Ward, Productive Community Services, Productive Mental Health and more recently Productive Theatre series.
Professional Development and Recognition Programme for Nurses (PDRP) is a national professional development and career planning framework which Waikato DHB strongly supports.
The knowledge and skills required in practice at different PDRP levels is integrated into the Waikato DHB Professional Frameworks for Nurses. PDRP is also designed to recognise nurses for their individual level of practice and their contribution to their service.
The Waikato DHB PDRP is available for nurses working for other providers outside the Waikato DHB who hold a current Memorandum of Understanding with the Waikato DHB PDRP.
It is optional for nurses to prepare a portfolio for PDRP, however portfolios are considered an essential tool in demonstrating professional accomplishments and documenting professional growth, and a pathway for future career growth and development.
Definitions of practice levels
Documents required for each level
Generic
RN Competent
RN Proficient
RN Expert
RN Senior Nurse (Education)
RN Senior Nurse (Management)
EN Competent
EN Proficient
EN Accomplished
Professional supervision is a structured process to support professional and practice development. This is usually negotiated on a monthly basis for an hour with another health professional who has completed training to be a supervisor. It can be one-on-one or sometimes as a group.
For nurses and midwives who identify as Māori, cultural mentorship is also an option.
Professional supervision and cultural mentorship for employees of Waikato DHB can be accessed through the Nursing and Midwifery Professional Development Unit. If you wish to access this please discuss with your CNM/ CMM who will then be able to provide you with the contact details of the Nurse Co-ordinators who facilitate these processes.
Within professional supervision options, there is an activity called Structured Reflection. This requires a referral process and is initiated through the CNM/CMM to the Professional Development Unit.
Introduced in 2007, the Pebbles programme is a professional development programme for clinically-based registered health professionals provided by the Waikato DHB. Open to health professionals working within the DHB or contracted services. It introduces purposeful development strategies for health professionals to extend clinical leadership expertise and/or prepare for senior roles. The programme recognises and builds on the contribution health professionals make in the provision of safe, effective, quality, person- centred healthcare.
Aim
The programme utilises a Practice Development approach to:
The programme provides a supportive learning environment and is seen as a means of contributing to the development of health professionals working within clinical environments. It is designed to promote clinical leadership for those wishing to remain in the clinical environment as well as those intending to move into formal leadership and management positions.
Expected outcomes for Registered Health Professionals attending Pebbles
Prospective Pebbles candidates are required to:
Release nominee for four full days over a four month period (one day per month for 4 months). Provide coaching for their nominee throughout the Pebbles programme and beyond.
The programme introduces participants to a wide range of information including leadership theories and methods, Practice Development, change management, evidence-based practice and professional responsibilities required for clinical leadership. Early in the programme, participants will present to other members of the group about their area of practice. They will also be provided with readings and support to enable them to complete a change project within their clinical area. Participants will give a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation of their project on the last course day.
The overall structure of the Pebbles programme aims to provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on their own practice and also to share and discuss common concerns and situations as well as the information contained in the course content. Participants will be supported to consider leadership from different world views and how this may resonate with their own practice.
The programme aligns with the Waikato DHB strategy and priorities which include health equity for high needs populations, person centred care, and productive partnerships.
The programme is offered 3-4 times per year and is advertised through the CNM/CMM network, allied health leaders and ARRC providers.
Kate Yeo
Associate Director of Nursing: Virtual Health and Older persons
Ph: 021 220 6344
Email: katherine.yeo@waikatodhb.health.nz
Lyn MacLeod
Nurse Coordinator Practice Development
Ph: 021 759 508
Email: Lyn.macleod@waikatodhb.health.nz
There are many study days, courses and learning opportunities offered by the different clinical services/clusters such as study days on Urology, GI, Plastic Surgery, Trauma Surgery, and many others offered by the surgical cluster.
Other services provide education on subjects such as leadership, smokefree education, clinical assessment skills, diabetes, epidural management, delirium, paediatrics etc.
All this education is also available to our rural hospitals, such as Te Kuiti, Thames and Taumarunui. Sometimes this is facilitated by the use of Telehealth, so that rural nurses can remain at their home base and interact in the education event using videoconferencing technology.
Clinical education calendar
Use this calendar to find education initiatives offered throughout the year. You can find out more detail about an education session by clicking on the link. It will also give you the instructions to enrol, contact person and venue. Please note the calendar is live and updated in real time as sessions get added or cancelled.
Due to the firewalls within the Waikato DHB system, sometimes the calendar doesn’t appear below. If that happens, try accessing the website through another internet browser such as Google Chrome.
The Infusion and related therapy CNS Team offer a range of study days and online learning e.g. Central Venous Access Device, IV Link Nurse, Generic Medication Management and Intra-arterial Line Management.
The Resuscitation Education Team provides 3 levels of training: CORE Essential (2 hours), CORE Immediate (4 hours) and CORE Advanced (All-day), depending on the needs of the staff member. Nurses in critical areas are required to do CORE Advanced, in acute wards the requirement is CORE Immediate, while non-clinical staff and allied health will generally do CORE Essential.
There are many online learning modules on the Ko Awatea Moodle platform. In order to access these you have to have a DHB email address. This will be arranged for you once you are employed by the DHB.
There are many courses and conferences, provided by external organisations, which can be attended if the learnings from these are likely to result in an improved quality of care provided to the patient and approval is gained from your manager/nurse educator.
In addition to the study days mentioned above, there is a specific course provided to enhance learning for Enrolled nurses.
Nurses based in our southern rural communities at Tokoroa Hospital, Te Kuiti Hospital and Taumarunui Hospital can access our courses and learning opportunities, including through the e-learning Ko Awatea platform.
They also have some specific courses and study days:
The Nursing and Midwifery Education Fund provides fair and equitable access to education for all nursing / midwifery staff at Waikato DHB.
Who is eligible for funding?
Registered nurses/midwives and enrolled nurses working in a nursing/midwifery role within Waikato DHB.
Who administers the fund?
The fund is administered by the Professional Development Unit and the decisions around funding sit with the Nursing & Midwifery directorate. Outcomes of these decisions are reported to the Group managers, Nurse managers & NZNO on a quarterly basis.
What are the criteria for funding?
Links to the Waikato DHB Strategy, Nursing & Midwifery Strategic Aims and Unit/service priorities
Our nursing education and professional development programmes are coordinated through a dedicated Professional Development Unit (PDU).