New neonatal nurse practitioner endorsed.
New Zealand's most recently endorsed nurse practitioner (NP) is neonatal nurse from Waikato District Health Board, Lee Carpenter. Carpenter has worked as a nurse specialist in the neonatal intensive care unit at Waikato Hospital for the last four years. She did the recommended clinical master's programme through Massey University's Albany campus and has taken the past year to get through the application process. "Once I got my portfolio together and submitted it to Nursing Council, the process was very quick. After 10 days' consideration, my application was approved."Carpenter believes being endorsed as an NP has validated what she already does as a nurse specialist. She is currently not employed as an NP as there is no position available in the unit. "I applied primarily for personal satisfaction and continue to contribute to the body of knowledge in this advanced practice role."
Carpenter is grateful to Auckland Hospital neonatal NP Bronwyn Jones for being her mentor and to her colleagues at Waikato for their support. "I love my nursing role. I like to feel I am making a difference to babies and their families' lives. We are a great team and we work together well. I also like to help other nurses continue their education and increase their skills."
Carpenter is an executive member of NZNO's New Zealand Association of Neonatal Nurses, which is presently working towards college status. She was one of around 120 neonatal nurses at last month's combined NZANN and Perinatal Society annual scientific meeting in Wellington.
Nurse practitioner employment programme to be established
Last month, the Ministry of Health recommended an NP employment facilitation programme, with a DHB focus, be established. This programme should reflect the intents of the Primary Health Care Strategy and the Disability Strategy. Updates on the implementation of the programme will be posted on the new website www.moh.govt.nz/nursepractitioner.
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| Title Annotation: | Lee Carpenter appointed as neonatal nurse |
|---|---|
| Publication: | Kai Tiaki: Nursing New Zealand |
| Article Type: | Brief article |
| Geographic Code: | 8NEWZ |
| Date: | Oct 1, 2006 |
| Words: | 310 |
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