CTA Funded Nursing Scholarship 2009

Post Graduate Nursing Education Information

Tairawhiti District Health distributes the Clinical Training Agency (CTA) Post Graduate Nursing Education funding by way of Scholarships to individual nurses.

The CTA Funded Nursing Scholarships are limited in number; and are contestable by all nurses (hospital, private, and non-governmental sectors) across the Tairawhiti region.

Who can get a CTA Funded Nursing Scholarship 2009?

To be eligible for CTA funding you need to:

• be registered as a nurse under the HPCA Act 2003 with a current APC; and

• be employed as a registered nurse, in a position that is paid by the DHB; and

• be a New Zealand citizen or have a residency permit; and

• have your employers support to meet the course requirements; and

• meet the entry criteria of the education provider.

It is really important that you discuss and gain the support of your employer/manager before embarking on the study. This needs careful consideration - if you are going to be away for 8 or 9 study days how is your work going to be covered?

If you don't know whether or not you meet the entry criteria of the education provider please apply for your scholarship anyway, but note this uncertainty on the form.

In order to apply for the CTA funding we need to know all the possible course and associated costs - once we have a funding agreement with the CTA it is very complex to alter for late applications.

Please refer to the Policy relating to CTA funded Postgraduate Education for Registered Nurses on the intranet.

Which courses can I study?

The course you choose to study needs to:

• Lead to a post graduate Certificate; a post graduate Diploma or a Masters, and

• Integrate theory and clinical practice, and

• Acknowledge the cultural characteristics of New Zealand, and

• Be accredited and NCNZ approved

Most courses offered by Schools of Nursing around the country are going to meet these criteria. If your study is outside Nursing check out the requirements carefully.

If your course is in the second semester (July to November 2008) you need to apply NOW � there is no application round for the second semester.

Primary Health, Rural Health and Long Term Conditions

If you are working or studying in Primary Health Nursing, Rural Health Nursing or with Long Term Conditions please clearly identify this on your application form. The CTA has specific funds available for these areas of nursing practice.

M�ori Support Funding

In 2009 the CTA will be offering M�ori Support Funding to enhance the likelihood of M�ori trainees successfully completing CTA funded training programmes. This funding is open to nurses who are an eligible trainee enrolled in a CTA funded training programme AND who have whakapapa and cultural links to wh�nau, hapu and iwi. If you wish to access / or learn more about this funding stream, please contact Robyn (Extn 8220) in Nursing and Quality Services for the documents

More applications than funds?

If there are more applications than funds available, all applications will be prioritised according to the CTA Specification requirements. Nursing education opportunities are prioritised based on the following criteria:

• DHB workforce development needs;

• District Annual Plan and District Strategic Plan priorities;

• The Workforce Action Plan;

• Locally provided education; and

• Support to continuing current education pathways.

Think about these points when you complete your application, especially the �Your Career Path� section.

Accepting a Scholarship

If your application for a CTA Funded Nursing Scholarship 2009 is successful, part of accepting the scholarship is undertaking to:

• supply a range of information required by the CTA; and

• comply with monitoring required by the CTA, and

• agree to be bonded for the period of your course, so that you will repay (pro-rata) the scholarship if your employment is terminated or you fail to complete, or withdraw from the course.

How to apply

1. Discuss your study plans with your manager and gain their support for your plans.

2. Complete the CTA Funded Nursing Scholarship 2009: Application for Post Graduate Study support form. Fill in every box, and if you need another sheet of paper, please use it.

3. Make sure your Service Manager has signed your application.

4. Drop your fully completed application into:
Nursing and Quality Services (ward 10)
Tairawhiti District Health,
Private Bay 7001,
GISBORNE

before November 20 2008.

Late applications will not be accepted.

Other funding streams

For NZNO members have a look at the scholarships and grants offered by the NZNO at: www.nzno.org.nz/Site/Members/scholarshipgrants.aspx You will need your member number to login.

Also check the BreakOut database. www.fis.org.nz/index.php?app=BreakOut Access at Internal Affairs Department and Tairawhiti REAP