Nursing education in PICU
The role of the Nurse Educator in PICU
Our aim as PICU Nurse Educators is to promote excellence in child health through the provision of accessible and relevant educational programmes and clinical support, enabling the PICU nursing team to acquire, maintain and improve competence in practice. We are responsible for providing support and being a resource to nurses of all levels of experience for ICU specialist care, paediatric cardiac specialist care, and general paediatric conditions and care.
Orientation in PICU
From the time you start in PICU you will be supported and encouraged to continue your professional development. Our expectation is that all the children in our unit receive the best possible nursing care at all times. To facilitate critical thinking we encourage initiative and self-directed learning as an integral part of our unit culture.
Education in PICU starts with an orientation tailored to take into account your previous nursing experience, allowing you to work with designated preceptors while you orientate to the unit. Please see the links below to "orientation maps" which will guide you through your clinical workload sharing time, depending on whether you are a new graduate (12 weeks orientation period), new to PICU (8 week orientation period) or an experienced ICU nurse (4 weeks). There is a comprehensive Starship orientation programme and in addition to this we have some area specific competencies.
The Nursing Career Pathway Guidelines and Nursing Leadership Within PICU offer an outline of the learning and development opportunities and expectations within PICU for nursing staff.
PICU In-house Study Days
During the quieter times of the year we run in-house study days to meet staff learning needs in order to provide the best possible care to our patients.
PICU bedside teaching
The Nurse Educators spend some time working at the bedside with nurses once they have come off orientation, or when they are learning more advanced skills. This is an opportunity to ask questions and learn new skills with support from a senior nurse.
Post-Graduate opportunities in PICU
Post-Graduate Certificate in Paediatric Intensive Care
This programme offers the opportunites for registered nurses working with critically ill children and their families to advance their knowledge and skills in the area of paediatric intensive care nursing.
The programme forms an integral part of the nursing philosophy, vision and mission statements of Starship Child Health, ensuring the development and retention of high calibre, appropriately educated, skilled staff.
This is a collaborative endeavour between the University of Auckland and the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit, Starship Child Health and runs alternate years with the post graduate paper in Paediatric Cardiac Nursing. It is funded for New Zealand residents only.
Post-Graduate Paper in Paediatric Cardiac Nursing
This programme offers the opportunity for registered nurses working with critically ill children and their families to advance their knowledge and skills in the area of paediatric cardiac nursing. It is a 30 point paper that is the basis for a post graduate certificate or diploma qualification in health sciences (advanced nursing) focused in paediatric cardiac nursing.
This programme forms an integral part of the nursing philosophy, vision and mission statements of Starship Child Health ensuring the development and retention of high calibre, appropriately educated, skilled staff.
This is a collaborative endeavour between the University of Auckland and Starship Child Health and runs alternate years with the post graduate certificate in Paediatric Intensive Care. It is funded for New Zealand residents only.
Nursing Career Pathway
See pdf of the Nursing Career Pathway
Contact us
For further enquiries email: Amanda Wevers, Annette Wevers, Sarah Maggs, Jess Hart