The Māori Student Nurse Experience of Cohorting: Enhancing Retention and Professional Identity as a Māori Nurse
Authors: Zambas Shelaine I , Dewar Jan , McGregor Jenny Tokomauri 
Published: May 2023

Despite decades of work by tertiary providers to increase the Māori nursing workforce, there has been little change in the numbers of Māori nurses graduating from schools of nursing. The call for more culturally responsive teaching and learning strategies saw one tertiary provider implement Māori student cohorts for labs and tutorials in year one and two of the Bachelor of Health Science Nursing programme. This research explored the student experience of the cohorts using a hermeneutic methodology within a Māori-centred approach. Students in year two and three of the programme who had participated in the cohorts were invited to join focus groups to share their experiences. Data from the focus groups was analysed using van Manen’s approach with a Māori lens. The themes of whanaungatanga (connection), tikanga (correct practice), wānanga (learning conversation) and manaakitanga (ethic of care) emerged from the data. Cohorting was identified as a culturally responsive teaching and learning strategy. It provided a safe space for learning in what is a predominantly western monocultural system. It was not suffient on its own however. Cohorting of Māori students needs to be supported by teaching practices which include tikanga Māori, wānanga as a formal teaching strategy and the overt demonstration of manaakitanga to ensure it meets the needs of Māori nursing students. When integrated into programmes of study, Māori student cohorts have the potential to not only support retention, but also the development of the student’s professional identity as a ‘Māori’ nurse. TE REO MĀORI TRANSLATION Ngā wheako o ngā tapuhi Māori mō te urutomo ā-rōpū: Te whakapiki i te purutanga kaimahi me te tuakiri ngaio hei tapuhi Māori Ngā Ariā Matua Ahakoa te huhua o ngā mahi i roto i ngā ngahuru tau a ngā kaihora mātauranga matua, he iti noa ngā panonitanga o te tokomaha o ngā tapuhi Māori e tohia ana ki ō rātou tohu i roto i ngā kura tapuhi. Nā ngā karanga mō ētahi rautaki whakaako urupare ki te ahurea, rautaki ako pērā hoki, i tahuri tētahi kaihora mātauranga matua ki te whakatinana rōpū ākonga Māori mō ngā mahi pūtaiao, akoako hoki i ngā tau tuatahi, tuarua o tā rātou hōtaka Tohu Paetahi Pūtaiao Hauora mō te Mahi Tapuhi. I āta tūhura ēnei rangahau i ngā wheako o aua rōpū, mā te whakamahi tikanga whakamārama, i roto i tētahi ara whakaaro ao ki te Māori. I pōwhiritia ngā ākonga i te tau tuarua, tuatoru hoki o ngā rōpū kia piri mai ki ētahi rōpū arotahi, ki te whakaatu i ō rātou wheako. I tātaritia ngā raraunga mai i ngā rōpū arotahi mā te whakamahi i te ara a van Manen me te whakamahi i tētahi aronga Māori. I puta ngā tāhuhu o te whanaungatanga, o ngā tikanga, o te wānanga, me te manaakitanga, i ngā raraunga. I tautohutia te whakarōpū hei rautaki whakaako, ako hoki ka urupare ki te ahurea. Nā tēnei rautaki ka hua he mokowā haumaru mō te ako, i roto i tētahi pūnaha nō te hauāuru o te ao, te nuinga o ōna tikanga. Ko te karanga kia kaua e mutu noa i reira. Me mātua tautoko ngā mahi whakarōpū i ngā ākonga Māori mā ngā tikanga whakaako kei roto nei ngā tikanga Māori, ko te wānanga hei rautaki whakaako ōkawa, me te putanga nui o te manaakitanga, kia tutuki pai ngā hiahia o ngā ākonga Māori. Ina tuia mai ki roto i ngā hōtaka akoranga, he whai pito mata ngā rōpū ākonga Māori hei tautoko i te purutanga ākonga, me te whanaketanga o te tuakiri ngaio o te ākonga hei tapuhi Māori. Ngā kupu matua: te whakarōpū; ngā tikanga whakaako urupare ki te ahurea; taketake; tapuhi tohu paetahi; tuakiri ngaio; purutanga ākonga