Di Roud RGON, MHSc(Hons), MCNA(NZ)
Nurse Advisor, Professional Development (ADHB)
This working party was established in June 2003 as a result of the National
Nursing Organisations (NNO) agreeing to act on the recommendation from
the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) (CNA) Forum to Progress the Nurse
Practitioner Role (2003) and to build on the work that continued after
the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO), Clinical Career Pathways (CCP)
Forum (2001) held in Hamilton. The organisations represented on the working
party have been the CNA; NZNO; Nursing Council of New Zealand; Nurse Educators
Tertiary Sector; Nurse Executives; Australia New Zealand College of Mental
Health Nurses; National Council of Maori Nurses and three CCP co-ordinators
from District Health Boards.
The working party met five times during the second half of 2003. Initially
our meetings were for one day, however to complete the draft document
and get it out for consultation prior to the end of 2003 the meeting times
were extended to two days for the October and November meetings. This
group was committed to developing a useful and concise document. In order
to achieve this we were mindful that a National Framework should be principles
based so as not to dictate detail, enabling organisations to contextualise
their Professional Development and Recognition Programme (PDRP) to reflect
their environment. There was considerable debate regarding the relevance
of Benner's (1984) work to the New Zealand context. This also raised the
issue and place of exemplars in competence assessment. Although definitive
answers to these questions did not emerge, the skill acquisition approach
to differentiating practice (Benner) was acknowledged as a model which
has been used with success. By incorporating specific Treaty of Waitangi
and cultural safety criteria into the framework a uniquely New Zealand
document has emerged. Other considerations were the fit with magnet hospital
work, links to Nursing Council competencies and proposed process for approval
of PDRPs for the purpose of competency based practising certificates and
the link with the draft International Council of Nurses Credentialing
Framework (2002).
The consultation document was widely circulated throughout the nursing
sector in December 2003 and a copy was posted on the CNA website enabling
members to influence the document. The consultation period ended on 9
February 2004. There was disappointingly little feedback from College
members. Soon after the conclusion of the consultation period the Working
Party met in February to consider all the feedback. Twenty-six submissions
are recorded as received. The feedback in the submissions was used to
amend the document prior to forwarding the framework to NNO for their
consideration.
In addition to developing a National Framework for PDRPs the Working
Party was also asked to make recommendations on nationally consistent
titles for nurses in designated roles (e.g. Charge Nurse, Nurse Educator
etc.). The approach used was to group similar titles under the three commonly
accepted career pathways: clinical practice, education/research/professional
development & leadership/management. A brief descriptor of the span
and activities of roles that were grouped under these pathways was developed
and a discrete range of titles suggested. The Working Party has recommended
that this piece of work requires further development.
It has been a pleasure working with such a committed group of nurses.
I believe the framework provides sound guidance to assist nurses to develop
and refine PDRPs and yet is broad enough to allow programmes to reflect
organisational differences - thus enabling nurses to have their skills
and competencies recognised more readily if and when they move to different
areas of practice and employers.
References
Benner, P. (1984). From novice to expert: Excellence and power in
clinical nursing practice. Menlo Park, CA: Addison Wesley.
College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ). (2003). Proceedings from forum to
progress the nurse practitioner role. Palmerston North, New Zealand:
Author.
International Council of Nurses. (2002). The ICN credentialing framework
draft. Geneva: Author.
Trim, S. (2002). Levels of practice programmes: A national framework
for NZ. NZNO.
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