HWD specifications
These specifications state that the WCDHB must allocate the funding according to:
- Prioritised workforce needs, identified by the DHB
- The District Annual Plan (DAP) and District Strategic Plan (DSP)
- Government priorities and national health policy
These documents can all be located on the WCDHB website.
Ministry of Health health targets
The health target areas help measure progress against achieving the government’s priority areas for health improvement, along with addressing inequalities across population groups, improving Māori and Pacific peoples’ health, and improving access for populations living with disabilities.
The current Health Targets identified by the government can be found at: https://www.health.govt.nz/new-zealand-health-system/health-targets and include:
- Child Wellbeing
- Mental Health
- Shorter Stays in Emergency Departments
- Improved Access to Elective Surgery
- Faster Cancer Treatment
- Increased Immunisation
- Better Help for Smokers to Quit
Therefore nurses working directly with the above health target groups will be prioritised to receive HWD funding.
Workforce needs
Prioritisation will also be given to nurses who:
- Have a current Professional Development and Recognition Portfolio (PDRP)
- Identify as Māori or as one of the many Pacific Peoples
- Are already on an established pathway and working to complete a postgraduate qualification within the tertiary provider’s timeframes
- Are approved to be working in, or toward, RN prescribing and/or Nurse Practitioner status
- Are working in, or toward, an expanded scope of practice via a credentialing process (i.e. Registered Nurse First Surgical Assistant)
- Are working in, or toward, an advanced nursing/senior nursing role where postgraduate qualifications are a requirement of the role, i.e.:
- Associate and/or primary Clinical Nurse Manager
- Clinical Nurse Specialist
- Duty Nurse Manager
- Rural Nurse Specialist
- Work within an environment of changing/alternate models of care which may include increased responsibility/working to the full scope of practice, i.e.:
- District Nurses
- Mental health and addiction services nurses
- Practice Nurses working under standing orders and/or within an integrated family health service model
- Work with priority populations, i.e.
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- Children and youth health
- Community, home-based, preventative, and primary care
- Long term condition management
- Mental health and addiction services
- Health of the older persons