Reports highlight depth and breadth of nurse-led health care

Two reports on nursing services in NZ will provide greater insight into the diverse work nurses now do, according to Victoria University researcher Dr Jackie Cumming.

“These reports show the diverse range of school nursing services in NZ and progress towards generally increasing the role of nurses in community health care, but they also raise a number of issues NZ must address if we are to make the most of our nursing services,” says Dr Cumming, the director of the Health Services Research Centre at Victoria University.

Released late in February, the reports were authored by researchers in Victoria University’s Health Services Research Centre within the School of Government, with colleagues from Auckland University.

“They are part of a suite of reports that the centre is leading which aim to shed light on how key aspects of our primary health care sector are working,” says Dr Cumming.

Nursing Services in New Zealand Secondary Schools, authored by researcher Sue Buckley, investigated the range of nursing services provided to young people in NZ secondary schools.

It found that about three quarters of secondary schools have a nursing service for students but there is a considerable range of services provided to students across schools.

The type of services provided to students appeared to be based on the needs of the students and were not directly related to a school’s decile range or whether the nurse was employed by the school, a District Health Board or a local Primary Healthcare Organisation (PHO).

“Nurses in schools are well-linked to other health services and most principals appeared to be satisfied with the level of health services available at their schools,” says Ms Buckley.

“Some feedback indicated the need for professional support and oversight for school-employed nurses, as well as gaps in provision of services, particularly when nurses are not available during school holidays.”

The report also found that most nurses in schools have broad professional experience and all indicated they are motivated to undertake further training.

The second report, Nursing Developments in Primary Health Care 2001-2007, was authored by Auckland University researcher Mary Finlayson and investigated nursing developments in primary health care over recent years, focusing in particular on practice nurses within general practices or PHOs.

Researchers found there has been substantial growth in the depth and breadth of nurses’ roles over the past seven years.