An evaluation of the Diabetes Nurse Internship programme offered by the Waikato Regional Diabetes Centre

Abstract or Summary

• The results of this evaluation demonstrate that the respondents believe the nurse internship programme to be a worthwhile programme. Overall, all the respondents were highly supportive of the programme. • Overall, respondents believed that the programme was working well. However, there were different perceptions concerning the goals of the programme. These perceptions changed over the period of the first rotation. • It was recognised by respondents that this was a new programme and additional to existing workloads (for Clinical Nurse Specialists [CNS]) and that some aspects of the programme would need review and adjustment as it progressed. • The management at Waikato Regional Diabetes Centre demonstrated flexibility and willingness to respond to changing contexts that affected the programme. • Respondents conveyed their appreciation of the cohesive team environment at the Waikato Regional Diabetes Centre which this researcher sees as a significant strength. • The management at Hillcrest medical Centre were supportive, and willing to negotiate workloads and programme requirements according to the practice needs as they could. • Respondents at Hillcrest medical Centre valued the support they received from the Waikato Regional Diabetes Centre and valued the ready access to resources related to diabetes care. • Practice nurses at Hillcrest Medical Centre not in the internship programme also experienced upskilling in the area of diabetes care as a result of the practice being involved in the programme. • The medical staff at Hillcrest Medical Centre and the Waikato Regional Diabetes Centre commented on the high standard of the interns’ practice and development over the course of the first nine months of the programme. • The aspect of the programme most valued by interns and CNSs was external supervision. Interns particularly valued this aspect which they believed assisted them to manage differences in expectations between themselves and CNSs and interpersonal differences that may have occurred.