Clinical Connect Peer Education Programme endorsed for 2026.
Nurses and nurse practitioners participating in the Clinical Connect Peer Education Programme will be able to earn recognised professional development hours for the full programme experience from 2026, following formal endorsement by the College of Nurses Aotearoa and Nurse Practitioners New Zealand.
This endorsement marks an important milestone for Clinical Connect and the nursing and nurse practitioner community it supports.
The endorsement recognises the quality and professional standards of the Clinical Connect programme and formally acknowledges the time and commitment nurses and nurse practitioners invest in preparing for and participating in sessions.
Michael McIlhone, Director of Nursing & Allied Health at Pegasus explains:
“Clinical Connect has always been built on high quality peer learning, and this endorsement recognises the strength of that approach.”
Importantly, the endorsement also provides professional recognition for the nursing and nurse practitioner community whose expertise, experience, and engagement are central to Clinical Connect.
From 2026, nurses and nurse practitioners attending Clinical Connect topics will receive 3 hours of professional development per topic for completing pre-reading, reviewing session handouts, and attending the session. This means that up to 12 hours per year can be awarded through Clinical Connect. These hours will be automatically recorded, removing the need for participants to self-verify preparation time.
Nurse and nurse practitioner Group Leaders can be awarded up to an additional 8 hours of professional development per year through their participation in and leadership of Clinical Connect sessions.
As part of the changes associated with the endorsement, all nurse Clinical Connect meetings will increase in length from one hour to one and a half hours from 2026.
At this stage, endorsement has been granted specifically for the Clinical Connect Peer Education Programme. Pegasus Health says this provides a strong foundation for ongoing collaboration with the College of Nurses Aotearoa and Nurse Practitioners New Zealand and supports future opportunities to explore endorsement of other education offered across the organisation.
Register your interest.
Nurses and nurse practitioners are invited to register their interest in Clinical Connect and be part of a nationally endorsed peer education programme in 2026. https://forms.office.com/r/ax2zxwvR1u