overview

Professional Development and Recognition Programmes (PDRP’s) is a unique feature of New Zealand nursing and have existed here in a variety of forms for almost 20 years.
PDRP’s have been defined as a “Competence based programme that assesses nursing practice against competencies, recognizes level of practice and supports ongoing professional development.” (National Nursing Organisations, 2004, p24).

 

Since the Health Practitioner Competence Assurance Act (2003) and the requirement for competency based annual practicing certificates, the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) have approved PDRP’s for continuing competency purposes.

 

The NZNC ensures that approved programmes meet their standard requirements for practice hours, professional development hours and assessment against the competencies for scope of practice.  Each of the 21 District Health Board’s have a NCNZ approved programme with some expanding their programmes across the health sector in their regions. There are also other health care providers who have their own NCNZ approved programmes. Please see link for list of Council approved programmes www.nursingcouncil.org.nz.

 

The PDRP’s provide assessment and recognition for nurses at competent, proficient and expert level. Although each programme reflects the National PDRP framework and descriptors for each level, the criteria for theses level has been developed individually by each organisation. Please see the link to PDRP profiles.

 

This webpage has been established to provide PDRP information, resource and support for nurses undertaking PDRP, levels of practice and portfolio development. It also provides a point of contact for PDRP coordinators nationally.

The aim of the webpage is to be dynamic, with new resources and information being added and updated regularly.

Please use the enquiries page to contact us if you have any contributions or suggestions for the continued development of this resource.

 

Thank you to all the organisations who contributed their resources to this webpage

 

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¹Health Practitioner Competence Assurance Act (2003).