On Wednesday 28 June 2023, the Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery (Australia and New Zealand) celebrated 50 years of tertiary education for nurses in Aotearoa in association with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and Nurse Education in the Tertiary Sector. We were delighted to commemorate this special occasion along with nurse leaders and associates across Aotearoa. The evening featured a series of presenters who addressed the history of nursing and lead up to the transition to the tertiary sector, as well as acknowledging the importance of Māori engagement and cultural safety.

Background

Following the Carpenter report in 1971, the nursing profession moved nurse training from hospitals to tertiary education providers, and New Zealand was one of the first countries to do so.

 

Why is it important?

Nursing is a profession with complex and diverse practice settings which represents over 50% of the regulated health workforce in New Zealand. Health is a rapidly changing sector in which nurses lead, co-ordinate and deliver care with the most up-to date clinical information, technology and processes. Nursing leaders are in every part and every level of the health sector, including service delivery, policy, education, research and management. 

Nursing academics lead nursing research and education for improved and equitable health outcomes. Education programmes for nursing workforce development include enrolled nurse diplomas to pre-registration degrees (undergraduate and postgraduate) for registered nurses, and post-registration master’s education programmes including the nurse prescribing and nurse practitioner pathways and Doctoral programmes. 

Nurse Practitioner training programmes are coordinated from tertiary education, ensuring that the profession is leading the way for health care into the future.



Our vision

It is time to change the societal perception of nurses to a recognition of their pivotal role as leaders and influencers within the health system. Nursing in Aotearoa has significantly evolved as a profession over the last 50 years in its contribution to the health system however this is not well understood by society and even sometimes within the health system.

There is a huge body of Aotearoa education and nursing research that already influences national and global understanding in way that is not widely appreciated and is underutilised. 

A challenge for the nursing profession is find collective voice and to consistently be part of decision making for our health system. We will mark this event to celebrate our achievements with our nursing colleagues across the motu and wider society. We acknowledge that there is still work to be done to achieve equity for Māori and Pacific nurses and the communities we serve but we are ready to contribute and lead. 

Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall - Opening Address

Dr Ayesha Verrall is an infectious diseases doctor and Labour list MP from Wellington. She is passionate about preventing illness so that every New Zealander can enjoy good health and live a free and full life.

Ayesha grew up in Te Anau. She attended medical school at the University of Otago and worked as a junior doctor at Wellington Hospital. Ayesha completed her specialist training in Singapore and researched tuberculosis in Indonesia.

In 2019 Ayesha was elected to the Capital and Coast District Health Board on a Labour ticket. She is an expert on vaccines, tuberculosis and COVID-19. During the COVID-19 pandemic response, Ayesha was instrumental in efforts to improve New Zealand’s contact tracing.

Ayesha lives in Wellington with her partner Alice and their daughter

Trish Conradson, RN - History of nursing and lead up to the transition

Trish is a nurse educator at SIT/Te Pukenga.

She is a registered nurse and registered midwife. Trish has a BA, Graduate Certificate in Social Sciences, Post Graduate Diploma in Health Service Management, Master of Education (Adult).

Trish has an enduring interest in nursing education - past, present.

Dr Jane O’Malley, RN - Being a part of the first nursing group to transition

Jane started her nursing education at Christchurch polytechnic in 1973. Over the course of her career she has worked in surgical, medical and mental health settings as a staff nurse, charge nurse, tutor, researcher, advisor and manager

She holds a Bachelors degree from Massey University, a Masters degree from New York University and a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington.

Jane is a past president of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Director of Nursing and Midwifery WestCoast DHB, Chief Nurse MOH and Chief Nurse Whanau Awhina Plunket. She retired in 2022 and enjoys life in Ōtautahi with her husband Ian. They have five grandsons; grand parenting is their best job ever.

Dame Judy Kilpatrick, RN - A life in nursing education

Judy registered as a nurse in 1970 and held various clinical roles (primarily in A & E nursing) until joining staff of Auckland Institute of Technology ( now Auckland University of Technology) in 1982 becoming Head of School in 1991. In 1999 she confounded the School of Nursing at Auckland University becoming its first Head of School in 2002 until 2017. She remained as consultant/project manager until finally retiring in 2020. 😁

She chaired the Nursing Council of New Zealand from 1996 to 2002 and was on the Ministerial Taskforce on Nurses 1998 which led to Nurse Prescribing and Advanced Nursing roles. 

Internationally Judy has held leadership roles with the Boards of Universitas 21, the Australasian Council of Deans of Nursing and Midwifery and the International Association for Interprofessional Education and Collaborative Practice. 

Hemaima Mariana Hughes - Reflections and closing

PhD Candidate, MA (applied) in Nursing with Merit, BN, CAT, NZRN

Biographical Sketch

Ka tu ahau ki raru i te maru o tāku tipuna a Muriwai te wahine toa. Ko au he uri a Mokomoko raua ko Kimohia.

Ko Mataatua te waka, Matiti te maunga, ko Waioweka me Otara ngā awa. 

Ko Whakatōhea te iwi Ngāti Ira me Ngaitamahaua ma ngā hapū. No Opotiki te kainga tuturu, inaianei e noho ana ki Whakatu, o Te Tau Ihu o Te Waka a Maui .

Ko Hemaima Hughes ahau.

No reira. Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā ra koutou katoa.

Hemaima Hughes of Whakatohea and Ngāpuhi descent; a mother of five, nanny of six mokopuna, a competent independent nurse consultant, experienced clinician, educator, curricular and programme developer, Maōri health and programme leader, governor, manager, ethicist, researcher, clinical and cultural supervisor and policy constructor celebrates 54 years in the profession. The genesis of her nursing journey as a new graduate registered nurse began as a missionary volunteer at Atoifi Hospital, Malaita, Solomon Islands in 1973 -1975.

As a committed nurse leader, past president Te Kaunihera o Ngā Neehi Māori o Aotearoa/National Council of Māori Nurses (NCMN) and currently an active member of the organisation, an experienced member of committees, councils and panels, Hemaima has always maintained her passion for nursing, succession planning, workforce development and continues to be a change agent working collaboratively, communicating effectively, sensitively and respectfully, creating empowering environments of holistic healing. Tihei Mauri Ora!