For nurses

As a health provider in an district with 21 per cent of people identifying as Māori (compared to 16 per cent total New Zealand), we have a specific commitment to cultural support for Māori and Pasifika nurses, and for all nurses to deliver culturally appropriate care.

Our cultural support team provides support for Maori and Pasifika students, new graduates and existing nurses. Read more about the team here

Health Workforce Directorate (HWD) funding supports postgraduate nursing study.

The next closing date for applications:  12 September 2025 (for semesters 1 & 2 of 2026)

For further information please read our HWD Postgraduate Funding online handbook information which covers many Frequently Asked Questions and includes necessary forms

Contacts

Dr. Rhonda McKelvie
Nurse Consultant/Research Fellow
Ph: 021 359 498
Email: rhonda.mckelvie@waikatodhb.health.nz

Nicola McKenzie
Coordinator
Ph: 021 241 5802
Email: Postgraduate@waikatodhb.health.nz

Our NETP and NESP entry to practice programmes are well-developed and highly regarded, and we work closely with organisations that train graduate nurses.

The Nursing Preceptorship course is for Waikato DHB employees and Waikato DHB funded workplaces who are supporting students and new graduate registered nurses.The Preceptorship course is run in conjunction with Wintec.  We work collaboratively with them to develop your skills, in providing clinical practice instructions to, and evaluation of, students and newcomers to nursing.  Check the course content on the Wintec website - under Preceptorship of Nurses in Practice

Preceptor Course Dates 2024 [DOCX, 30 KB]

How to apply

Complete a Waikato DHB Preceptor course application form [DOC, 70 KB] and get this signed off by your manager.

Please do not book directly with Wintec

Send the completed form to Nicola McKenzie at the PDU. 
nicola.mckenzie@waikatodhb.health.nz

Or by post to

Late applications may be accepted.  

• Applications will be processed by Nicola, and the applicant and their manager will be notified if there is no availability on the course.

• An email is then sent to the applicant 4 weeks prior to start date requesting them to complete the online registration form for Wintec.

• All course work will be accessed via an online module.

• The Professional Development Unit (PDU) will fund the course for DHB employees and DHB funded workplaces who are supporting students and New Graduate RNs  (e.g. aged care sector, iwi providers).

• No charge to service budgets will occur.

• Each course runs as a separate entity and therefore applicants who do not attend day 2 will not be offered an alternative date except in extenuating circumstances.

• Please ensure that you understand the requirement to commit to the assignment/study time plus the 2 study days  - which is required for successful completion of the course.

• Results are accessed via the MyLearning Portal at Wintec.  Present the results to your educator and you will receive a preceptorship badge.

We use the Productive Series: Releasing Time to Care programme to help front line staff spend more time on patient care, reduce waste and improve efficiency. This includes the Productive Ward, Productive Community Services, Productive Mental Health and more recently Productive Theatre series.

Professional Development and Recognition Programme for Nurses (PDRP) is a national professional development and career planning framework which Health NZ - Waikato strongly supports.

The knowledge and skills required in practice at different PDRP levels is integrated into Health NZ - Waikato Professional Frameworks for Nurses. PDRP is also designed to recognise nurses for their individual level of practice and their contribution to their service.

Health NZ - Waikato PDRP is available for nurses working for other providers outside the Health NZ - Waikato who hold a current Memorandum of Understanding with Health NZ - Waikato PDRP.

Please note: Important changes to PDRP

From Monday 4th March 2024 nurses will no longer need to provide peer review evidence for every competency in the Professional review section of the Comprehensive Performance Appraisal document. They will instead, require a supportive comment from a nurse peer, who is familiar with their practice, and can validate the nurses competence at the level they submit. This statement will be required after every Domain of competence

At the end of the performance review, the CNM/NM/ND will also provide a statement of support.

Please read the Guidelines for preparing your Portfolio before you start preparing your documentation, the changes are written there in detail. These new guidelines are now available

You will notice that the Comprehensive Performance appraisal document has had significant improvements made to it.

With portfolios already in the assessment process on that date, a process is in place whereby your Manager will be asked to complete a Certificate of Endorsement over-riding the peer review process. Your peer reviewer competencies will not be assessed and you will not be asked for further evidence from a peer, but maybe from your self-assessment if this is required.

Any queries, please contact prdpteam@waikatodhb.health.nz

Portfolios

It is optional for nurses to prepare a portfolio for PDRP, however portfolios are considered an essential tool in demonstrating professional accomplishments and documenting professional growth, and a pathway for future career growth and development.

For Waikato DHB employed nurses

• Please refer to the staff intranet or the PDU for further information.

For nurses employed by other health providers

Tui Medical Declaration form [DOCX, 69 KB] - for use by Tui Medical employees only

Definitions of practice levels

• EN levels of practice [DOCX, 135 KB]
• RN levels of practice [DOCX, 136 KB]

Documents required for each level

Generic

• PDRP Uploading and preparing your portfolio [DOCX, 532 KB] - Other providers
• PDRP Quickguide for uploading your portfolio  [PDF, 884 KB]- Health NZ Waikato
• PDRP Application form [DOC, 113 KB]
• PDRP Clinical hours [DOCX, 67 KB]
• Professional development record [DOCX, 86 KB]
• Nurse and NM Declaration Form [DOCX, 57 KB]
• Request for appeal form [DOCX, 54 KB]
• PDRP Transfer form - Internal [DOCX, 79 KB]
• PDRP Trasnfer form - External [DOCX, 102 KB]
• Health NZ - Waikato PDRP Manual 2024 [DOCX, 3.7 MB]
• Guidelines for writing RN SN peer manager narratives [DOCX, 25 KB]
• Guidelines for preparing your RN EN SN PDRP Portfolio Phase II [DOCX, 545 KB]

RN Competent

• Self assessment [DOCX, 68 KB]

RN Proficient

• Self assessment [DOC, 106 KB]

RN Expert

• Self assessment [DOC, 110 KB]

RN Senior Nurse (Education)

• Self assessment - Nurse Educator [DOC, 115 KB]

RN Senior Nurse (Management)

• Self assessment - Management [DOC, 116 KB]

Senior Nurse (Clinical)

• Self assessment - Clinical [DOC, 104 KB]

Professional supervision is a structured process to support professional and practice development. This is usually negotiated on a monthly basis for an hour with another health professional who has completed training to be a supervisor.  It can be one-on-one or sometimes as a group.

For nurses and midwives who identify as Māori, cultural mentorship is also an option. 

Professional supervision and cultural mentorship for employees of Waikato DHB can be accessed through the Nursing and Midwifery Professional Development Unit.  If you wish to access this please discuss with your CNM/ CMM who will then be able to provide you with the contact details of the Nurse Co-ordinators who facilitate these processes.

Within professional supervision options, there is an activity called Structured Reflection.  This requires a referral process and is initiated through the CNM/CMM to the Professional Development Unit.

Introduced in 2007, the Pebbles programme is a professional development programme for clinically-based registered health professionals provided by the Waikato DHB. Open to health professionals working within the DHB or contracted services. It introduces purposeful development strategies for health professionals to extend clinical leadership expertise and/or prepare for senior roles. The programme recognises and builds on the contribution health professionals make in the provision of safe, effective, quality, person- centred healthcare.

Aim
The programme utilises a Practice Development approach to:

• Develop the capacity to improve health outcomes for consumers through strengthening,  promoting and enhancing the participants leadership competencies and abilities (Huston 2008)
• Develop registered health professional capability to lead and manage change in clinical practice
• Support succession planning for registered health professionals.

The programme provides a supportive learning environment and is seen as a means of contributing to the development of health professionals working within clinical environments.  It is designed to promote clinical leadership for those wishing to remain in the clinical environment as well as those intending to move into formal leadership and management positions.

Expected outcomes for Registered Health Professionals attending Pebbles

• Be able to demonstrate how knowledge regarding political, global, population and organisational influences on healthcare practice will be utilised in own clinical and cultural practice
• Be able to demonstrate increased knowledge and skills to facilitate the gathering and dissemination of knowledge; teaching and communicating; and responding to and leading change processes
• Have the ability to articulate the patient safety and quality priorities of the organisation and demonstrate how these will be implemented in practice
• Be able to articulate how increased knowledge and understanding of leadership theory will be applied in own practice
• Further development of individual and collective leadership competencies such as communication and decision making, advocacy, empowerment, and partnership.
• Development of a provisional plan for own career and professional development planning

Prospective Pebbles candidates are required to:

• Be a registered health professional with at least three years clinical experience and not currently in an appointed senior position. Ideally practitioners will have been in clinical practice for less than 10 years, but consideration will be given for those outside of that time frame.
• Be employed by the Waikato DHB or employed in an area funded by the Waikato DHB.
• Demonstrate a commitment in own practice to developing leadership skills – e.g. is regarded for clinical expertise, engages in peer education, has completed preceptor training, leads/initiates/engages in quality projects.
• Be nominated by their Manager/Team Leader

Manager/Team Leader commitment

Release nominee for four full days over a four month period (one day per month for 4 months). Provide coaching for their nominee throughout the Pebbles programme and beyond.

Programme overview

The programme introduces participants to a wide range of information including leadership theories and methods, Practice Development, change management, evidence-based practice and professional responsibilities required for clinical leadership.  Early in the programme, participants will present to other members of the group about their area of practice.  They will also be provided with readings and support to enable them to complete a change project within their clinical area.  Participants will give a 15 minute PowerPoint presentation of their project on the last course day. 

The overall structure of the Pebbles programme aims to provide participants with an opportunity to reflect on their own practice and also to share and discuss common concerns and situations as well as the information contained in the course content.  Participants will be supported to consider leadership from different world views and how this may resonate with their own practice.

The programme aligns with the Waikato DHB strategy and priorities which include health equity for high needs populations, person centred care, and productive partnerships.

The programme is offered 3-4 times per year and is advertised through the CNM/CMM network, allied health leaders and ARRC providers.

For further information please contact:

Kate Yeo
Associate Director of Nursing: Virtual Health and Older persons
Ph: 021 220 6344
Email: katherine.yeo@waikatodhb.health.nz

Lyn MacLeod
Nurse Coordinator Practice Development
Ph: 021 759 508
Email: Lyn.macleod@waikatodhb.health.nz

Waikato DHB offers a variety of education and professional development opportunities for nurses. Most are delivered by or in partnership with nurse educators and coordinators from Professional Development Unit. All education initiatives delivered by the Professional Development Unit are open to external applicants from the nursing community in the Waikato region (such as Aged Care, Practice Nurses etc.), unless flyers/calendar specifies “target audience Waikato DHB staff only”.

Some of our education initiatives are also facilitated by the use of Telehealth, so that rural nurses can remain at their home base and interact in the education events using videoconferencing technology.

Clinical education calendar

We offer an online calendar to promote clinical education initiatives offered throughout the year. You can find out more detail about an education session by double-clicking on the name of the workshop in the calendar. If there are resources associated with the workshop (e.g., pre-reading, a workbook), these will be linked in the calendar. Please note the calendar is live and regularly updated as sessions get added or removed.

• Click here to access the calendar

Once you have selected an education day, sign-up on Nursing, Midwifery & HCSW Professional Development  through Ko Awatea Learn. If you do not have a Ko Awatea Learn login, please email learningdevelopmenthr@waikatodhb.health.nz and provide the following information:

• Full Name
• Email
• Role
• Organisation/Practice
• Location (Town/City)

*Please inform your Educator and Line Manager of your confirmed education booking for rostering and record-keeping purposes.  

Infusion and Related Therapies education

The Infusion and related therapy CNS Team offer a range of study days and online learning e.g. Central Venous Access Device, IV Link Nurse, Generic Medication Management and Intra-arterial Line Management.

Resuscitation education

The Waikato Clinical Skills and Simulation Centre facilitates the provision of many resuscitation courses. For guidance on what resuscitation course fits your needs please refer to the Waikato DHB Resuscitation Policy on the Intranet.

For any other queries regarding resuscitation education please email ResusAdmin@waikatodhb.health.nz

Online learning

There are many online learning modules on the Ko Awatea Moodle platform. In order to access these you have to have a DHB email address. This will be arranged for you once you are employed by the DHB.

Courses and conferences

There are many courses and conferences, provided by external organisations, which can be attended if the learnings from these are likely to result in an improved quality of care provided to the patient and approval is gained from your manager/nurse educator.

Enrolled nurses

In addition to the study days mentioned above, there is a specific course provided to enhance learning for Enrolled nurses.

Rural nurses

Nurses based in our southern rural communities at Tokoroa Hospital, Te Kuiti Hospital and Taumarunui Hospital can access our courses and learning opportunities, including through the e-learning Ko Awatea platform.
They also have some specific courses and study days:

• Co-ordinators Study Day for southern rural hospitals - Aimed to equip registered nurses with skills and knowledge to enhance their shift co-ordination in our southern rural hospitals
• Advanced IV Medications for southern rural hospitals - This study is a requirement for RNs in the southern rural hospitals to participate in to gain competency in the administration of advanced IV medications that are used in the southern rural hospitals.
• Telehealth, mobile health solutions study days for all rural nurses - These study days offer a range of different topics throughout the day which can be attended as individual sessions or participants are welcome to attend the entire day. Topics are chosen specifically to target learning needs of nurses working in both our rural hospitals and in the rural community.

The Nursing and Midwifery Education Fund provides fair and equitable access to education for all nursing / midwifery staff at Waikato DHB.

• What is the Nursing and Midwifery Education Fund?
  The Nursing and Midwifery Education & Development Fund was established in 1999. The fund continues to be part of the NZNO MECA. It comprises of fees generated from a series of student practice placement agreements and the funds negotiated as part of the NZNO MECA (1999)

• Who is eligible for funding?
  Registered nurses/midwives and enrolled nurses working in a nursing/midwifery role within Waikato DHB.

• Who administers the fund?
  The fund is administered by the Professional Development Unit and the decisions around funding sit with the Nursing & Midwifery directorate. Outcomes of these decisions are reported to the Group managers, Nurse managers & NZNO on a quarterly basis.

• What are the criteria for funding?
  Links to the Waikato DHB Strategy, Nursing & Midwifery Strategic Aims and Unit/service priorities

• The decision-making principles that will be used are?
  • Course/conference has been identified on cluster Learning Needs Analysis (LNA)
  • Evidence of preparation & planning in the application
  • Applicants who meet at least two of the above criteria
  • Applications that demonstrate a clear link to safe patient practice.
    
    
• What activities will the Fund consider?
  As a general guideline the kind of activities that the fund will contribute to is:
  • Course/Conference: includes registration fees, accommodation and travel assistance.
  • Research: applications for funding to support research projects.
  • Guest speakers: includes funding for guest speaker costs and associated expenses on issues applicable to clinical practice.
  • Venue: payment to secure an offsite venue for study, research, guest speakers, etc
  • Level 7 courses
    
    
• Pre approval
  Where a nurse/midwife intends to submit an abstract to a conference requesting financial support from the Nursing & Midwifery fund, a provisional pre approval of funding must be sought prior to submission. This will allow the Nursing & Midwifery fund to pre allocate funding prior to abstract submission. This (pre allocation) will only be awarded once the abstract has been accepted.
  
  
• What are my responsibilities?
  You are required to feedback and apply the learning in your service.
  
  
• How do I apply?
  Complete the Waikato DHB course and conference form. This form can be found on the Waikato DHB intranet using search. Forms should be approved / supported by line manager / service manager. All supporting documentation should be attached to application i.e. registration form, course outline etc.
  
  You need to remember that the sign off by managers and then the approval by the directorate can take some time so you need to start the application in plenty of time for all this to happen.
  
  Note all Course and Conference forms need to be at the travel office
  • A minimum of two weeks before the commencement of the course or
  • Two weeks prior to early registration discount date
  
  Submit application to:
  nursingandmidwiferyeducationfund@waikatodhb.health.nz
  or
  Administrator
  Professional Development Unit
  Percival Flats
  Waikato Hospital
  Ph: 021 241 5802 ext 95647
  
  Incomplete and / or unauthorised forms will be returned and not processed until fully completed.
  
  
• How/when will I know if I have been successful or not?
• The Nursing & Midwifery Directorate meet Monday fortnightly
• The directorate will approve or decline your application.
• Declined applications:
  • will be sent back  via email stating why the application has been declined.  This will be done within a week of the directorate meeting.
• Approved applications:
  • An email will be sent to you stating the amount approved within a week of the directorate meeting. 
  • A copy of this email is also sent to the authorising signatory on your application form.
  • A copy is sent to payroll.
  • A copy of your application is sent to the travel office to complete your registration, accommodation and travel bookings.
  • A copy is retained on file in the Professional Development Unit.
    
    
• Frequently Asked Questions
  Q: If I don’t get study leave approval from my manager can I still apply to the Fund?
  A: Only if you are attending in your own time.
  Q: How many times can I apply to the fund?
  A: There is no limit on the number of times that nurses/midwives can apply, but this will be taken into consideration.
  Q: Who is on the Steering Committee?
  A: Nursing & Midwifery Directorate