Graduates A Boost For Health Services

Media Release
30 April 2004

Graduates A Boost For Child
And Family Health Services

The Plunket Nurse programme has come of age, with 32 nurses graduating from
Whitireia Community Polytechnic in Wellington with a Postgraduate Certificate in
Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing

The nurses, the first graduates of the programme, are among 75 Plunket nurses and other Tamariki Ora Nurses receiving their certificates, diplomas and medals at a ceremony at the Polytechnic today (Subs: 30 April) and at Auckland Te Puea Memorial Marae in Mangere on 21 May.

The Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing is the equivalent of two papers of a Masters degree, and replaces what was commonly known as the 'Plunket Nurse Course' - the Graduate Diploma in Community Child & Family Health Promotion.

"This is a reflection of the New Zealand Nursing Council guidelines for postgraduate education for nurses," says Dr Jan Pearson, National Education Manager for Plunket.

"Development of the programme to a postgraduate qualification has been driven by the Primary Health Care Strategy, the Nursing Council of New Zealand and the need for post registration nursing qualifications to reflect that a Bachelor of Nursing is the entry to the profession."

The programme, developed and delivered by Plunket and Whitireia Community Polytechnic caters for Plunket nurses and Iwi and Pacific providers of well child health services throughout New Zealand.

"This ensures the independent child health providers can gain quality qualifications and knowledge to put to use for their Iwi or Pacific communities," says Dr Pearson.

Every year, Plunket Nurses and a growing number of Maori and Pacific providers, bring their specialist skills to over half a million visits in family homes, Plunket clinics, and Plunket Karitane Family Centres. In doing so, they form unique, trusting relationships with parents and caregivers.

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