RAPHS provides clinical and professional support for nurses
Nurses comprise a significant proportion of the Rotorua Area Primary Health Services (RAPHS) membership and their contribution to primary health care in the Rotorua area is invaluable.
RAPHS supports their work in meaningful ways that bring long-term benefits not only to nurses’ professional standing, but to the patients they care for and the colleagues with whom they work.
Five experienced nurses are directly employed by RAPHS to co-ordinate clinical programmes, provide clinical and business support, drive Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI), and represent the interest of primary health care nurses at local, regional and national level.
Continuing Education and Competency
RAPHS invests considerable resources in the continuing education, clinical support and professional enhancement of our nurse members. We support nurses in all aspects of Continuing Education – from senior nurse assessments, to peer assessments and self-assessments – providing support such as attendance registers and certificates relevant to compliance with the Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act.
Encouraged and supported to further their education and training, RAPHS nurses undertake professional development with one in five studying towards formal post-graduate qualifications.
Other initiatives include:
- Peer Reviews and Group Clinical Supervision – facilitated by RAPHS Director of Nursing Jane and Continuing Nursing Education Co-ordinator Miranda.
- Practice Nurse Accreditation Workshops – this is a professional development and recognition programme for RAPHS member nurses, comprising four workshops and held three times a year. Participation in these workshops assists nurses towards Practice Nurse Accreditation Board of New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO).
- Practice Nurse Education Fund – supports nurses learning in self-identified areas of need (e.g. asthma, post-graduate study) and to attend professional conferences such as the Practice Nurse Conference.
- Lunchtime Seminars – once a month RAPHS provides lunch and a venue for RAPHS’ General Practice nurses to come together for an intensive seminar on a relevant topic. These lunchtime sessions build strong inter-practice supports.
- Practice Nurse Forums – these forums enhance communication and interaction between RAPHS’ General Practice members and community-based health care and social support services. Field officers from a huge range of organisations bring information and insight related to their area of expertise. Topics include arthritis, epilepsy, Te Utuhina Manaaktanga Trust, drugs and alcohol, post natal depression, alzheimers disease, green prescription, stroke, heart disease, parkinsons disease.
- Nurse Practitioner Qualifications – RAPHS encourages, facilitates and supports Practice Nurses undertaking study towards Nurse Practitioner qualifications.
Practice Nurse Orientation Manual
Specially designed and compiled by nurses, for use by nurses in General Practice in Rotorua, this manual is a valuable self-assessment tool, keeping knowledge in top shape for competency reviews and audits. The manual covers everything from diabetes management to cervical screening.
Professional Portfolio
This is a customised portfolio to house nurses’ certificates, audits and other professional documentation.
International Nurses Day Celebrations
In recognition of nurses’ contribution to RAPHS General Practices, RAPHS hosts an annual breakfast on May 12 to celebrate International Nurses Day.
Representation
Rotorua-based nurses Vicky and Ros are members of RAPHS Board of Directors, and represent primary health care/General Practice nurses on several professional bodies. RAPHS Director of Nursing Jane is a member of the National Expert Advisory Group on Primary Health Care Nursing.