Nursing students are final year students from Eastern Institute of Technology (EIT). All nursing students are encouraged to join the other students and live in the accommodation especially during the working week either at Gisborne or Wairoa to get the maximum benefit of the programme. Nursing students going to Gisborne can be placed either within one of the wards at Hauora Tairāwhiti or at a local General Practice. Nursing students based in Wairoa have split placements where 50% of the placement is based in a General Practice and 50% in a ward of the Wairoa hospital. As part of the TIPE programme students spend approximately 3 days a week in the nursing placement, approximately one day is spent observing and working with other health professionals, and one day is spent in class/activity time or working on your group community education resource
Comments from previous Nursing students on TIPE
What is the clinical placement like?
My placement was set at a GP medical centre. You will learn their computer system and how they manage their patients. You will have the opportunity to work autonomously within a supportive team environment. You will bring in patients, take vitals, assess patients needs, wound care, give immunisations and also assist the doctor in minor surgical excisions. I really enjoyed the variety that the medical centre had to offer and you never know what each day may bring as some days can bring in a case that involves urgent emergency response.
What was it like learning with, from, and about other health professionals?
I have learned so much from the other health professionals. TIPE, in my experience is an invaluable tool to carry into your nursing career. Both formally and informally I have gained new learning from the other professions. Formally I learned through observing other disciplines where I developed a greater insight into what each discipline had to offer and how collaborating with one another benefits the well being of our whānau (patients). Also, socially getting to know one another you informally learn new things about each profession which also fills up your kete (basket) of knowledge. or example, we learned a new technique for brushing our teeth from oral health students, which was new to us all! And if you want to know more you will have to join up to the programme to find out for yourself.
