Plunket should re-employ former nurses.

I am writing in response to the story on the Plunket Society's new competence assessment programme (New Plunket assessment programme, Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand; March 2007, p8).

Plunket's national education manager Linda Polascheck was quoted as saying the new programme would enable Plunket to employ nurses whose practising cerificates had lapsed.

Where do fully trained Plunket nurses fit into this new programme? I tried to return to Plunket nursing but was turned away because I had been out of the service for five years. My annual practising certificate was current and I had gained practical experience to add to my Plunket skills, as I had had four children of my own. Previously, I had worked as a Plunket nurse for seven years, leaving to go on maternity leave.

I was shocked to learn I would have to retrain. I wonder if Linda Polaschek has considered reemploying experienced, mature Plunket staff and offering an orientation programme to update them on any changes? Many of us had to move on and nurse in the community in other areas.

My Plunket well child health certificate certainly set me up for my parenting but, as far as employment goes, it was a waste of money and resources to now be told it has expired. The Plunket Society needs to find a way to bring back their previously trained nurses, without asking them to totally retrain.

Ruth Kayes, RN, Plunket nurse, Auckland Linda Polaschek replies: It's great that Ruth Kayes is keen to come back and work with Plunket and yes, we do have a process to enable nurses who have extensive experience in community well child nursing to become Plunket nurses without completing a formal programme of study. We often use this with health visitors, and nurses who have had more than five years out of Plunket employment are also eligible. It involves a comprehensive learning needs' assessment, with an individualised learning plan.

Often, though, returning Plunket nurses are keen to take up the opportunity of completing the postgraduate certificate in primary health care specialty nursing (provided in partnership with Whitireia Community Polytechnic), which Plunket supports their new nurses through. The nurses view this fully-funded education programme as a positive opportunity. In this age of fast-changing information and evidence-based practice, it can be helpful for nurses to be involved in masters-level study to build awareness and skills to nurse today's families effectively.