Presbyterian Support Otago was very pleased to sign a Memorandum of Understanding this week with the Southern District Health Board, to pilot an Older People’s Health Nursing Development Programme.
Over the next two years a small number of Registered Nurses working as part of our teams in Enliven care homes in Dunedin for a six month period.
The joint programme is a great way to strengthen the synergy and work that already exists between the two organisations. Two Registered Nurses will be seconded to work in our care homes at a time, for a six-month period, before the next two nurses begin their placement.
The programme supports the development – both professional and academic - of motivated registered nurses already working in older people’s health who have the potential to be future clinical leaders or managers.
PSO Enliven Director, Maurice Burrowes, is keen to see the two organisations working more closely together, “We’re really pleased to give Registered Nurses from the SDHB an opportunity to gain experience in the aged care sector, and to share knowledge and experience with our teams. The programme will raise the profile of nurses working in the important area of gerontology.”
Southern DHB Nursing Director, Sally O’Connor, is pleased with the opportunities that the programme will bring for Registered Nurses, “This is about creating new leadership pathways for our nurses, and enables them to have a broader view of older persons health and an understanding of how everything joins together.”
As part of a Southern DHB Older People’s Health Nursing Development Programme, nurses Regina Chand and Warinthon Baker (Mew) are the first two SDHB nurses to spend six months on placement in Dunedin - Mew at Ross Home, and Regina at St Andrews Home.
Mew and Regina had a chance to meet the team leaders they will work with this week, and are excited about the opportunity ahead of them. They are both completing Masters studies, so their placement will add to their experience.
“I’ve always loved working with older people, and I put my name forward for this role as I wanted to explore more about this aspect of nursing,” said Regina.
Mew agrees, “I’m really forward to working at Ross Home and having an opportunity to gain some new skills.”
Welcome to the team Mew and Regina – we’re thrilled to have you on board!
Pictured above are Yvette (St Andrews), Regina, Isabel (Ross Home), Mew and Jenny (Ross Home)