Certificate programme values nurses in practice: the graduate certificate programme at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology has found a niche market as it continues to attract students from throughout the country.

For the past six years, the Faculty of Health and Sciences at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology has been running a highly successful graduate certificate programme for registered nurses (RNs). Originally a graduate certificate in speciality nursing, comprising eight courses worth 20 credits each, the programme was developed into a graduate certificate in nursing practice in 2002. This was in response to nurses' requests for shorter, more varied papers.

This year, around 900 are enrolled in one or more of over 50 level 7 courses currently available, with nurses travelling from throughout the South Island and even further north to Daphne Manderson attend. The programme involves part-time study of 600 hours, comprising study days (between three and six days for each course) held at the faculty or sometimes Christchurch Hospital, plus independent learning and course work. Most students will complete the programme in three to four years, though it can be completed over six years. This semester, courses in operating theatre, leukaemia, haematology and pharmacology are being offered for the first time, with courses in paediatric oncology and new courses in aged care currently under development. Students can also elect to complete a certificate in seven different specialty areas, including wound care, cardiac nursing and surgical nursing. This requires that a minimum of 30 of the 60 credits are approved to the chosen specialisation. Each course varies between five and ten credits each.

Meeting the education needs of RNs

Original instigator of the programme and senior faculty lecturer, Daphne Manderson, says the programme has been developed to meet the education needs of a large group of RNs who would like to achieve a post-registration qualification but who do not wish to study at master's level. "Throughout most nursing schools in New Zealand, there is a very strong focus on master's and PhD programmes, with only a few institutions offering the odd paper or two at level 7. I believe we need to value nurses in practice who can't, for whatever reason, commit to master's level study. These nurses, many in their 40s and 50s, want to improve their nursing care and, as a result, increase their work satisfaction. They are highly motivated and a real joy to teach. These courses upskill RNs in the use of data bases and give them the opportunity to develop their technological literacy through searching out appropriate research. They are producing some really good work."

The courses have been developed collaboratively between the nursing service providers, in particular Canterbury District Health Board (DHB) and the Nurse Maude Association, and the school of nursing, with strong support from head of school Cathy Andrew. Providers, says Manderson, continue to request that the school develops further post-registration education at level 7. "These courses are meeting a real need, both for providers and for nurses." The courses or modules are designed around the issues that come up in clinical practice, including the psychosocial needs of patients and the learning needs of nurses. Clinical specialists working in those areas work closely with the nursing school to develop the courses. There is also "good buy in" from medical specialists and other health professionals, including physiotherapists and nutritionalists. "It's the largest collaborative work I have ever been involved in," said Manderson.

Senior lecturer in graduate studies and joint programme manager, Jane Hardcastle, observes that some nurses will enrol in one or two courses and then find they get hooked. "They discover they really enjoy the classes, find them relevant to their practice and appreciate the peer support they gain. A lot of the learning comes from nurses networking in the classroom. People are happy to share their experiences and they are good at asking questions. This ensures a fantastic teaching environment."

Burwood Hospital clinical nurse specialist Kaye MacDonald began the certificate programme (with a surgical specialty) in 2002 with a basic ECG analysis course. She will complete the programme later this year with a paper on acute pain management. As a hospital-trained nurse who had never done any written assignments, she has found the study manageable and relevant to her practice. "I have enjoyed the wide range of subjects I have been able to take, from a one-day course on the clinical supervision of nurses to high dependency papers, the pathophysiology of ageing, health assessment of adults and the complex issues of surgical nursing. Doing these clinically-focused papers has given me confidence in my abilities--I have even got a few 'A pluses' for my assignments--and I have been able to draw on this new knowledge when running my own education sessions in the special care unit at Burwood. I have learnt research skills, how to reference correctly and how to retrieve relevant information off the internet. Study can become contagious and even when I complete the programme this year, I doubt I will stop. But my interest wilt always be in clinically-focused courses."

Gaining competency requirements

MacDonald believes the programme is very attractive to nurses with family responsibilities and for people wanting to gain the necessary hours for Nursing Council competency requirements. "This study is achievable for most people, who see master's degrees as too daunting." The nursing school works closely with the Canterbury DHB, which is a member of the advisory panel, to ensure courses dovetail with the requirements of the professional development and recognition programme. Canterbury DHB post-graduate co-ordinator Nanette Ainge has been pivotal to ensuring this happens, says Manderson.

A number of students will use their annual leave to do the courses or attend during rostered days off. Some will be funded by employers prepared to release their nurses to attend the modules because of the benefits to both the nurses and the workplace.

Despite the enormous amount of administrative work involved in organising such a large number and variety of courses and students, Manderson says the faculty is as committed to its level 7 students as it is to its master's and PhD students. "Running these programmes takes a great deal of work, but it's so very rewarding for all the tutors involved."