New scholarships for primary health care nurses

Media Release

19 September 2002

New scholarships for primary health care nurses

NURSES working in primary health care who want to do postgraduate study can now apply for Ministry of Health scholarships to do so.

The Ministry's Chief Nursing Adviser, Frances Hughes, said $425,000 will be available in scholarships this year (from July 1) and the same amount available again from July 1 2003.

"As the primary health care environment starts to change we want to help nurses wanting to work differently within it - either autonomously or alongside other health providers. Nurses working in primary health can offer a wide range of services and care - population health, health promotion, disease prevention, wellness care, first-point-of-contact care and disease management," Ms Hughes said.

Applicants for the scholarships should be New Zealand registered nurses, have previous work experience in the New Zealand health and disability sector, have the support of their employer and be able to take time off for study if appropriate.

"I am absolutely delighted that we are able to do something this tangible to encourage primary health care nurses, and would like to encourage anyone who has been thinking about doing some more study to consider applying,' Ms Hughes said.

Funding for the scholarships is from an $8.1 million package to support primary health care nursing - part of a $300 million package for implementation of the Government's Primary Health Care Strategy.

Applications close on November 22, and forms are available by request or from the Ministry of Health website.

Applicants will be selected by a panel of nurses including postgraduate educators and members of the Primary Health Care Nursing Expert Advisory Group.

ENDS

For more information contact:

Kim Purdy Media Advisor Government & Sector Relations\Communications Corporate & Information Directorate Ministry of Health DDI: 04 496 2483/025 277 5411 Fax: 04 496 2010

http://www.moh.govt.nz mailto:kim_purdy@moh.govt.nz

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