New Postgraduate Studies in Emergency Nursing Begin at Fiji National University
Fiji National University (FNU) has commenced the delivery of the country’s first-ever Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Emergency Nursing) programme.
This in collaboration with the Australian based National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC).
Eleven in-service nurses including a Tongan student are currently enrolled in the programme. It is offered through FNU’s College of Medicine and Nursing and Health Sciences (CMNHS).
Dean CMNHS, Dr William May, acknowledged the collaboration and support in delivering the programme.
To maintain skills and knowledge balance, Dr May highlighted the need to upskill the nurses to be on par with nursing service demands now and in the future.
“The new postgraduate studies in Emergency Nursing that we are now offering is to develop the nurses and have broad-based training in Emergency care,” said Dr May.
“In the past, the development of nursing has been neglected in terms of upskilling and specialising in the area that our industry and stakeholders have identified. Therefore, the University has introduced this programme together with other postgraduate programmes in nursing to upgrade professional qualifications and improve patient care standards in Fiji and the region.”
According to Dr May, through the Australian Government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) funding, NCCTRC has arranged academics for the programme delivery.
“Four academics specialising in the field of Emergency Nursing are currently teaching from Australia (virtual teaching) due to COVID travel restrictions, and hopefully the borders open soon so they can deliver some face-to-face components of the programme,” said Dr May.
The senior academic mentioned that presently there was only one nurse in Fiji who has a master’s in emergency nursing and the College is thankful to the Ministry of
Pioneer students of the Postgraduate Diploma in Nursing (Emergency Nursing) at the Fiji National University’s Pasifika Campus.
Health and Medical Services for allowing him to assist in teaching these pioneer students.
The NCCTRC has also sponsored 50 per cent of the Fijian students’ tuition fees while the Tongan student’s study is fully funded by NZAid.
Dr May added that the University is working closely with NCCTRC to develop and deliver the country’s first Master of Nursing (Emergency Nursing) programme by next year.