This research explores how the Rural Health Interprofessional Programme (RHIP), an undergraduate clinical placement, influences Māori nurses’ identity and nursing practice. Although there are other professions on this clinical placement, this research explicitly explored the stories of Māori who were nursing students in the programme. The study conducted for this thesis paid particular attention to how the clinical placement on the RHIP programme connected with Māori and the influence it had on their identity and professional practice.

Significant changes have occurred in health and social services over the past ten years. The siloed clinical education of health professionals, however, had been unchanged until the RHIP. The RHIP approach focuses on ensuring that health professionals are collaboratively ready to work in health care delivery in Aotearoa New Zealand, in rural settings, with an emphasis on local Māori (iwi and hapū) communities.

Kaupapa Māori theory informed the design of this research. Data were gathered using whakawhiti kōrero with nine Māori participants who are registered nurses and had been on an undergraduate RHIP clinical placement. All participants were currently practising as Registered Nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand. Seeking the perceptions of Māori nurses who participated in the programme offers a contemporary perspective on what supports Māori identity in a clinical practice placement for an increased understanding of the needs and realities of Māori student nurses. The participants' perspectives provided a better understanding of an interprofessional clinical placement and the impact of this on them as Māori and subsequently registered clinicians. Most importantly, participants shared their stories and perceptions that illuminated common factors found in practices that strengthen Māori identity. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to identify the key themes.

The key findings from this research gave an understanding of the participants' perceptions of the RHIP programme and heartfelt insights into being Māori who are nurses working in interprofessional practice. It is essential to note this programme does not profess to use a Māori education model in its delivery framework. Instead, it uses a community-centred approach to interprofessional education in the rural setting, while simultaneously reframing the current models of siloed clinical learning and the notion of a one-size-fits-all approach. It offers knowledge of contemporary undergraduate placements from a Māori perspective and could be used to inform more effective clinical practice for Māori who are studying to be nurses.