A course to teach medical students the best ways to engage with Māori patients will be adapted for new Masters of Nursing Science students.
Christchurch's Centre for Postgraduate Nursing Studies is developing a two-year Masters programme for people who already have a degree. At the end of two-years, successful students can apply for registration as a nurse in New Zealand hospitals. The course is pending Nursing Council approval.
The Christchurch campus is home to Australasia's the best indigenous health education course, as judged by international leaders in the field.
The course was developed by the Maori/Indigenous Health Institute (MIHI) and has been taught to medical student for more than a decade.
MIHI lecturer Dr Tania Huria says its course has already been adapted for practicing clinicians, such as psychologist, and Plunket nurses.
“Teaching nursing students will be really exciting as nurses are the health professionals who have perhaps the most contact with Māori patients and whanau. The feedback from those who have done our course is that it provides a very practical way to improve daily interactions with Māori.”