February 04, 2014
MIT seeking to boost Maori nurse numbers
Manukau Institute of Technology wants to get more Maori entering nursing.
Lecturer Evelyn Hikuroa says its nursing facility has had a support programme for Maori students for several years, but it is now putting more effort into recruitment.
She says providing pastoral care alongside clinical and academic support is important, because students can disengage with the course when external factors become overbearing.
She says MIT will work closely with Counties Manukau District Health Board to recruit and retain Maori nurses.
It is also looking at ways to keep rangatahi Maori at school longer on tracks which can give them the entry criteria for tertiary study.
Ms Hikuroa says increasing the Maori nursing workforce is seen as a way to improve health service to Maori, although Maori approaches to care, underpinned by the principles of aroha and manaakitanga, can be beneficial to all patients.
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