Win-win-win: Collaboration advances critical care practice

• Published in: Contemporary nurse : a journal for the Australian nursing profession 2002-10, Vol.13 (2-3), p.223-228
• Main Authors: Spence, Deb, Fielding, Sandra
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: advanced nursing practice; Attitude of Health Personnel; Certification - organization & administration; collaboration; Cooperative Behavior; Critical Care; Critical care medicine; Curriculum; distance learning; Education, Distance - organization & administration; Education, Nursing, Continuing - organization & administration; Education, Nursing, Graduate - organization & administration; Humans; Interinstitutional Relations; Interorganizational relations; Interprofessional Relations; Medical technology; Needs Assessment; New Zealand; Nurse Clinicians - education; Nursing; Nursing Education Research; Nursing specialties; Nursing Staff, Hospital - education; postgraduate education; Program Development - methods; Program Evaluation; Regional Medical Programs - organization & administration; Students, Nursing - psychology; Study and teaching (Graduate); Universities - organization & administration
• ISSN: 1037-6178; 1839-3535
• DOI: 10.5172/conu.13.2-3.223

Against a background of increasing interest in education post registration, New Zealand nurses are working to advance their professional practice. Because the acquisition of highly developed clinical capabilities requires a combination of nursing experience and education, collaboration between clinicians and nurse educators is essential. However, the accessibility of relevant educational opportunities has been an ongoing issue for nurses outside the country's main centres. Within the framework of a Master of Health Science, the postgraduate certificate (critical care nursing) developed between Auckland University of Technology and two regional health providers is one such example. Students enrol in science and knowledge papers concurrently then, in the second half of the course, are supported within their practice environment to acquire advanced clinical skills and to analyse, critique and develop practice within their specialty. This paper provides an overview of the structure and processes of an eighteen month, distance education course focused on developing advanced practice in the context of critical care nursing.