Downes helps Fiji develop new degree

Elizabeth Downes served as a consultant to the School of Nursing, in the College of Medicine, Nursing & Health Science of Fiji National University to the review the current Post-Graduate Diploma in Nursing (Nurse Practitioner) curriculum and develop the new Masters of Science in Nursing degree. Downes had worked with the WHO in Fiji for 3 years previously to initiate the first NP program. The program is now led by former students who over the past 18 years have prepared over 100 FNPs for Fiji. In that time, the program expanded to other island nations including Tonga, Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands and Kiribati.

Fijian NPs teach through the use of Zoom technology and travel to the island nations to lead face-to-face courses and assessments.
The transition to the MSN follows patterns common throughout the world where NP education starts with a diploma-level RN getting a certificate as a NP then the programs transition to a BSN + certificate and then BSN + MSN. Presently, the program has a primary care focus and, like many other countries. Fiji is looking to expand the roles for Advanced Practice Nurses into the hospital setting.