Update 5: June 2005: Refocussing the project and broadening opportunity
Refocussing the project and broadening the opportunity
Early 2005 saw a reappraisal of project progress, and as two key people were no longer available to it, the formation of a Steering Group to provide continuity and oversight. Robin Williams, who had been involved in an earlier dialogue that prompted the application for Innovations funding and had acted as Project Sponsor, resigned from her position at West Coast DHB. Michele Barber, who as Project Leader had been with the project since it was awarded funding, had taken an acting role at Professional Practice Coordinator.
The Steering Group saw that the work around defining a new role had been completed, and that a key question needed to be resolved: Would it be implemented by the nurses in Reefton? The community-based nurses in Reefton were asked whether they supported the concept, and whether they saw themselves personally trying the new role. The concept was generally supported, and although some saw themselves trying the new role, it was clear that the project would not be able to proceed with the whole team. The work done by this group of nurses in developing a position description to working document stage was recognised as significant, and work that would provide a foundation to offer a wider opportunity to trial the role.
The material developed to date was brought together. Specific feedback on the position description was sought from the professional leaders who'd agreed to be 'Friends' of the project, and also key nurses locally. Sessions were run in Hokitika, Westport and Greymouth to discuss the opportunity with local nurses and anyone else who would be interested in hearing about it. An advertisement for a 'primary health care nursing opportunity' ran nationally in late June.