Source: NorthTec
Earlier this month NorthTec|Te Pūkenga held a hui for current Māori nursing students to meet qualified nurses, build relationships, and hear from guest speaker, Chief Nurse for the Ministry of Health Lorraine Hetaraka.
Nearly 50 Māori nursing ākonga and qualified nurses attended the event held at NorthTec|Te Pūkenga marae Te Puna o Te Mātauranga on the Raumanga campus.
The first of many intended to be held at the beginning of each semester, the hui was hosted by NorthTec|Te Pūkenga’s Nursing Department.
“The aim is to implement a model of support for learners,” says Chris Sapwell (Ngati Manu Ngapuhi), NorthTec kaiako and senior lecturer for nursing and hui organiser. “This support comes not only from NorthTec tutors and support staff but also from graduate and qualified nurses who work across Te Tai Tokerau in many different areas of nursing.”
The hui helps build tuakana teina (older sibling younger sibling) relationships between current Māori nursing ākonga and Māori nurses in the industry to offer support and encouragement to developing nurses.
“We were privileged to hear from the Chief Nurse, Lorraine Hetaraka (Tapuika, Ngāti Pikiao, Ngāiterangi, Ngāti Ranginui, Ngāti Kahu) about her journey from student nurse and young mum to Chief Nurse, and her vision for the future of Aotearoa’s nursing workforce,” says Mrs. Sapwell.
Qualified nurses in attendance also shared their stories and strategies for completing their learning while balancing parenthood, work, student loans, the increasing cost of living, and the usual life challenges and expectations of whānau.
The hui also allows students across the three year groups to get to know each other and support each other in their studies. Time was taken to inform ākonga about formal support services available and to hear the latest research or themes in nursing in Aotearoa.
During the three-year Bachelor of Nursing or the 18-month Diploma of Enrolled Nursing, learners are expected to attend between three and six hui, giving them connections to the workplace and mentors to support them during their early years in the workplace. Ākonga also had the chance to meet with prospective employers and future colleagues and to understand more about roles after graduation.
The Nursing Department at NorthTec is grateful for the support of the office of the Chief Nurse and Lorraine Hetaraka for her time and inspiration for both the current nursing workforce and the next generation.
February 2023 is scheduled for the next hui.
