Alysha Clark
Nurse Practitioner, Manurewa Healthcare, Tāmaki Health
Master of Health Science in Advanced Nursing Practice
Postgraduate Diploma in Registered Nurse Prescribing
Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing Practice
She loves working with tāngata whaiora of all ages, says Alysha Clark who is a nurse practitioner at Manurewa Healthcare, a South Auckland general practice supported by Tamaki Health.
“I started out my nursing career in general practice and was lucky enough to receive funding to study courses in AUT’s Postgraduate Certificate in Advanced Nursing Practice as part of my nurse entry to practice programme. This really kicked off an urge to practise at the top of my registered nurse scope, and led me to pursue my master’s degree with a focus on becoming a nurse practitioner.
“I have a special interest in women’s health and love being able to support this from the primary healthcare level. The nurse practitioner training programme helped me build on my nursing knowledge, and introduced some aspects of the medical model into my advanced nursing practice. I’m now working as a nurse practitioner, which allows me to help increase patient access to primary care in the community, and I also work towards mentoring other registered nurses looking at prescribing or the nurse practitioner path.”
Building relationships
The people she met were one of the highlights of her studies, says Alysha who is of Māori and New Zealand European descent.
“One of the highpoints while studying at AUT was the ability to build relationships with colleagues and other students who were on the same pathway, including some colleagues outside of the Auckland area. This was most beneficial as we all moved through the courses together, and it was great to have others on the same page in terms of study, career path and support systems.”
She says she also appreciated AUT’s supportive environment and expresses deep appreciation for one lecturer in particular.
“The biggest shoutout goes to Helen Topia who is a nurse practitioner as well as one of the AUT lecturers. She was one of the biggest supporters throughout my whole postgraduate journey. Having Helen’s support as a colleague, mentor and lecturer through multiple courses made the process a little more seamless. She was always available for a chat to talk things through, and she also introduced me to Laura Painter, a nurse practitioner and Hauora NP Podcast host, who also played a huge part in my development in the nurse practitioner training programme.”
Advice for other students
Alysha, who completed her nurse practitioner training in 2024, has some great advice for others who are considering upskilling.
“There’s always time to change pathways and choose to study. It will never be too late, and if you think you might want to head down the nurse practitioner path, I highly recommend talking to the nursing team at AUT to see if this is right for you. AUT’s nurse practitioner programme opens so many doors.”
She wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the programme to other registered nurses.
“I’d recommend the nurse practitioner training via AUT to others, especially if you’re looking at ways to progress your career, practise to the top of your scope while also providing improved access to care for our tāngata whaiora. AUT has provided a great journey throughout my studies.”
