DNSS Accreditation Process
On behalf of the Accreditation Board I would like to thank you all for the feed back on the new accreditation process.
We had a great response from about 40 + people. It brought to our attention that a few items had not been addressed. These have now been amended. The one area that brought the most confusion was around the level 8 paper. It has now changed to....
(a) Successful completion of one level 8 education programme with a focus on diabetes (*See Special Considerations)
* Special Considerations
Any of the following are considered as equivalent to item (a):
- Previously accredited as a Diabetes Nurse Specialist with the DNSS NZNO
- Previously accredited/credentialed on a diabetes framework in another country
- Completion of an overseas post-graduate programme with a focus on diabetes, which is equivalent to Level 8 (programme descriptor required).
This should cover all those who were grandparent and those from over seas.
There was no consensus over the job title, but this might be taken care of by the NZNO and DHB agreement on titles.
We hope that once the process has been finished that it can be taken to Nursing Council and can be endorsed by them. This will mean a voluntary validation at 30 months after accreditation. Once endorsed a nurse who is accredited will be exempt from audit by nursing council.
For those of you needing to apply for reaccreditation in 2007, please be assured that the process will be offered before your accreditation lapses at the end of 2007.
The development of a Nursing Practice Development programme: Diabetes Care by Helen Snell and the multitude of other frameworks available to nurses by which they can demonstrate their level of competence has led to the belief that the accreditation process no longer needs to provide the pathway by which nurses can progress to a level of expertise in diabetes. Therefore, accreditation becomes an endorsement of that expertise at one level only.
Helen is happy for us to use the NPDP that she has developed and a copy can be down loaded (see below).
Best wishes,
Kate Smallman
Diabetes Nurse Specialist
Accreditation Board (Chair)