Student nurses need to be prepared for a new future as health professionals, according to The University of Queensland’s Professor of Nursing, Elizabeth Davies.
Prof Davies was speaking at the launch of the School of Nursing at UQ’s Ipswich Campus today. The School, which has 220 students enrolled in its popular undergraduate program, was officially launched by Education Minister Anna Bligh.
“ Nurses are increasingly playing a key role as part of the healthcare team, alongside doctors and other health professionals such as physiotherapists, speech therapists and pharmacists,” Professor Davies said. .
“Opportunities for undergraduate students to learn together will better prepare them for the future realities of practice.”
Professor Davies said trials in Queensland and other states were recognising the value of an expanded role for nurses. Nurse practitioners were highly skilled registered nurses who were able to initiate treatment, order investigations, prescribe some medications, admit to health care facilities and refer to other health professionals. They could provide new services to patients that were timely, safe and cost-effective,
“This expanded nursing role requires an extensive foundation of clinical experience and advanced knowledge, as well as an inter-professional approach. Our nursing program at UQ has been designed with these future needs in mind,” she said.
UQ students benefitted from the Faculty of Health Science`s close partnerships with teaching hospitals and its long-term relationships with a myriad of healthcare professionals.
“Students receive a substantial proportion of their theoretical and clinical teaching within our partner healthcare services, where they are educated by practising professionals,” she said. “To complement this clinical approach, students also attend lectures on campus at The University of Queensland, to take advantage of the University`s highly experienced educators and its many resources.
“Nurses today need to do more than apply general nursing knowledge. There is an ever-increasing need for nurses with specialist knowledge in the areas of Acute Care, Aged Care, Mental Health, Indigenous Health, Rural Health, Population Health and Community Health. Our nursing students will be able to focus on one or more of these key areas of need as part of their undergraduate education,” she said.
Media: For more information, please contact UQ Faculty Communications Officer Marlene McKendry, telephone (07) 33464713 or 0401 996847.
.jpg)
