Fourteen rural nurses and nurse academics from around New Zealand gathered in Wellington recently to discuss ways to better support and represent nurses in the rural sector.
Nurses from the New Zealand Rural General Practice Network (NZRGPN) and Rural Nurses New Zealand (RNNZ) hosted the meeting in Wellington on March 22. Those attending included academics from Otago Polytechnic School of Nursing, University of Otago Department of General Practice and Rural Health, Massey University School of Nursing, Rural Nurses New Zealand Working Group, the New Zealand Nurses Organisation and Mobile Health.
NZRGPN Chairperson Sharon Hansen said topics discussed included establishing a rural training pathway for nurses, both face-to-face and online; clinical support and supervision for isolated rural nurses; sustainable national solutions to rural nursing challenges and access to funding support.
The meeting was co-chaired by Ms Hansen and RNNZ Chairperson Rhonda Johnson.
“The NZRGPN and RNNZ are looking forward to working together in a partnership for the benefit of rural nurses New Zealand-wide,” said Ms Hansen.
The meeting agreed that a representative from the RNNZ working party will be co-opted onto the Network Board.
“I am delighted to have the opportunity to have a voice at the NZRGPN Board table and that this would make it possible for RNNZ to achieve its vision of a connected NZ rural nursing workforce with supported access to education and supervision,” said Ms Johnson.
“Delegates at the NZRGPN’s upcoming National Rural Health Conference in Auckland (April 5-8) will be updated on progress during a concurrent session I will be hosting.”
A RNNZ working party was formed in Wellington in July 2017 following an expressed desire for an increase in connection, support, and visibility of the NZ rural nurse at the NZRGPN’s National Rural Health Conference, earlier that year.
The March 22 (2018) meeting was called to discuss the vision and mission of the RNNZ working party and how their vision could be achieved in collaboration with key groups and individuals currently involved in supporting rural nurses NZ-wide.
