The Primary Health Nursing Network is one forum where a range of primary health nurses can share their expertise and thoughts with colleagues from around the country. A key purpose of the network is to share information and stimulate discussion, and to provide a source of expertise for commenting on submissions and relevant professional issues.

This Network is facilitated by Julie Ebbet

Julia Ebbett: It is with both pleasure and a sense of privilege that I agreed to co-facilitate the Primary Health Care Network with Mary Jane Gilmer.
My background has been in primary health care for 14 years in varying levels of clinical, management, business owner, quality, governance and teaching roles. Current position as HBPHO Board Director elect (nursing) and Clinical Quality Advisory Committee have provided me insight into the primary health care nursing environment and enabled the establishment of trusting relationships both locally and nationally.
As a member of New Zealand Nursing Council Professional Conduct Committee for primary health care nursing, I experience conduct issues that relate to poor quality primary health care delivery and observe particularly the effect this brings those in receipt of the health care experience. I am passionate to support the development of primary health care nursing practice and lead quality health care experiences for our consumers.
As a member of the General Practice Nursing Alliance (GPNA) I am in regular contact with national primary health care nursing leaders.
I am currently studying toward a Masters in Primary Health Care with Otago University , Wellington School of Medicine and Health Sciences, electing this programme because of the multidisciplinary emphasis. I am passionate about quality general practice in New Zealand and how primary health care nursing potential can complement teamwork both within these settings and the wider community. I am a firm believer that to achieve clinical quality we must place emphasis on organisational quality. To this end I pursue monthly assessment work as RNZCGP Cornerstone assessor in addition to my clinical role.
As clinical facilitator for CarePlus programme in HBPHO and Tu Meke PHO, I support best evidence based practice both in general practices and Maori providers within the Hawkes Bay region. Often it is the interpretation and how to encourage behaviour change which is critical to a quality environment. Success of this mission will translate into positive patient experiences.
I recognise that primary health care nursing is not simply the domain of personal health alone, but rather includes those registered nurses who work in public health and Non Government Organisations with an emphasis on improving the health of communities. It is through understanding the inter relationship of personal and community health that health inequalities will be reduced.
My commitment to the Treaty of Waitangi is demonstrated through relationships grown over the years with Maori provider organisations in Hawkes Bay . I understand the principles of He Koromai Oranga, the emphasis on healthy families, relating together, and participation by Maori at all levels.
I have a particular interest in patient self management and how primary health care nurses can support this critical approach to chronic disease management.
I have a passion for ensuring that people's experience of services is based on a quality interaction. I see the vehicle for this to be the ongoing development of the primary health care nursing role in New Zealand .

Julia Ebbett

 

Primary Health Nursing an Update
Background reading

Primary Health Network
History of the this Network

 

If you would like to be a participant of the Primary Health Nursing Network, please make yourself known to Mary Jane Gilmer or Julia Ebbett. E-mail: julia.ebbett@clear.net.nz

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Further Reading

November 2007
Primary Healthcare Update
An update on the ongoing processes related to revising the recommendations of Investing in Health (Moh, 2003) and the re-establishment of the Primary Health Care Nursing Expert Advisory Group to the Ministry of Health.

August 2007
Primary Healthcare Group Update
Brief report on the ongoing processes related to revising the recommendations of Investing in Health (Moh, 2003)

August 2007
Primary Health Nursing in an Ideal World
Information management is critical in this day and age of rapidly multiplying information.  However, actions resulting from haphazard utilisation of information can erode the trust of individuals who depend on this system to provide primary health care.  In this situation a nurse skilled in informatics would be able to prevent such programming errors.

August 2007
Report on Investing in Health
An update on the recommendation of the 2003 MoH document. On 6 March 2007, a strategy group comprising representatives from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) and the College of Nurses Aotearoa met to review the recommendations. From this workshop, the group then developed the draft document Investing in Health.. The document was released for consultation and a total of 81 submissions were received on the revised recommendations.

July 2007
From Learning into Practice: A Reflective Process
This session focused on family violence, in particular the welfare of children and their families.  The session was presented in a non-judgemental way that showed a real passion and concern for not only children and young people, but also their families. 

July 2007
Audit report of the NZ Diabetes "Get Checked Program" (PDF 1MB)
The “Get Checked” programme gives people diagnosed with diabetes access to free annual health checks. These checks ensure that key tests (which assist in identifying diabetes complications early) have been completed for the year and treatment can be planned for the year ahead. The data collected from the programme is also important for providing care and for planning diabetes services.

March 2007
Expert Advisory Group on Primary Health Care Nursing
Comparative listing of different recommendations

March 2007
Investing in Health - Update on a Workshop
The purpose of the workshop was to come together to formulate a strategic plan. Jenny Carryer, Executive Director of the College and Chiquita Hansen, Chairperson PHC Nurses Council NZNO co-facilitated this workshop. The MOH was represented and have demonstrated commitment to this work.

April 2006
Leading for Outcomes - A Framework for Holistic Care - Mark Jones & Richard McLachlan
By and large, nurses have based their practice on principles which acknowledge the importance of considering the needs of a recipient of their care in the context of their place in society. The so-called 'social determinants of health' extend to cover not only the situation of an individual as single citizen, but to their situation in a family and community, and so far as the effects of employment and environment might have on health and well-being. Maori philosophy in particular reminds us of the significance of Whanau and the relationship between mind, body, and spirit in the maintenance of a healthy disposition. Much of this is encapsulated in the notion of 'holistic' nursing care.

Novemeber 2005
The Problem with Needs Based Health Policy - Dr Denise Wilson
The Prime Minister, the Right Hon. Helen Clark, has indicated that the next term will be about 'smart' policies, the exact nature of these policies and their influence on health is yet to be determined. It is, however, worth examining the 'needs based' versus 'race based' dialogue that emerged on the political landscape pre-election.

July 2005
Report as Member of the Primary Health Care Strategy and PHO Implementation Taskforce
The Taskforce has been working on developing a picture of primary health care in 2010 as an internal working document which can be shared with the organisations represented on the Taskforce. In this context the document serves only to identify major issues and scenarios needing wider discussion and deliberation before such advice can be given.

2005
The primary health strategy: Time for a stock take.
All New Zealanders are theoretically enrolled in a PHO or at least have had the opportunity to do so. So where .

2005
School Nurses and Primary Health Care
The Primary Health Care Strategy has provided an opportunity for nurses to seek new ways to provide best practice to the communities in which they work. One such area is in the delivery of adolescent health care and this is particularly relevant to school nurses.

2004
Infection Control & Prevention
Recent changes in the healthcare sector have resulted in a more effective framework for infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities. However, this brings with it a number of challenges including resourcing and capacity of the current workforce.

2004
National Clinical Action Plan for Emerging Infectious Diseases
January 2004 saw the Ministry of Health release a discussion document on the National Clinical Action Plan for Emerging Infectious Diseases. The following outlines the responsibilities, for the health sector, to deal with infections that are highly contagious.

2004
Primary Health Care Nursing Expert Advisory Group
This information is provided for all primary health nurses and any others who may not be familiar with the existence and work of the nursing expert advisory group to the Ministry of Health.

2003
Practice Nursing - A PHO Salaried Model
The introduction of PHOs has seen the enhancement and development of the practice nursing (PN) roll with the introduction of capitation and new projects under SIA, Health Promotion and Care Plus. Primary care is now seen as a more attractive career path for nurses wanting to work to improve the health status of their enrolled populations.

2001
The Nursing Answer to Inequalities in Primary Health Care
The key goal of this primary health care nursing strategy is to provide the platform for an efficient and equitable delivery of primary health care nursing in community settings. Mindful of the need for a cost effective and well co-ordinated service, nurses working in this sector often experience a sense of frustration when their patients have unmet or poorly met needs.