In New Zealand, nursing is a highly desirable career due to its stability and rewards. Because of the assistance they give patients, nurses are quite satisfied with their work.

Nursing has a wide range of academic specialisations, and nurses support patients at their most trying times. Empathy, effective communication, as well as an understanding of medical theory and practice, are necessary skills.

Moving to New Zealand as a Registered Nurse

A significant portion of the nursing workforce in New Zealand is composed of nurses with overseas qualifications. The long-term talent deficit list for all areas includes registered nurses with a focus on aged care. If a position is listed as having a talent shortage, it implies the administration is proactively enticing qualified candidates for the position to relocate to New Zealand. The webpage for Immigration New Zealand has a complete list.

If you are a licenced nurse from another country, your nursing degree must be comparable to a New Zealand Bachelor of Nursing degree. Apply to CGFNS.  The Credentials Verification Service for the Nursing Council of New Zealand (CVS-NCNZ) before registering.

This procedure serves to confirm your identity, confirm the accuracy of your education and job history, and confirm that you meet all NCNZ standards. Request that CGFNS deliver your assessment to the Nursing Council once it is finished. You'll get a mail encouraging you to finish the registration application procedure after a few days.

The Nursing Council will evaluate your request in light of the seven registration requirements. You will be required to submit a statement of fitness for registration and to complete a criminal background check when a judgment about your enrollment has been reached.

Before registering, you might need to finish a Competence Assessment Programme (CAP).

Requirements of English

Additionally, you must provide proof that you satisfy the English language criterion to The Nursing Council of New Zealand. You often have to pass an English language test. The IELTS and a few other exams are accepted by the Nursing Council of New Zealand. You must obtain an IELTS score of at least 7 in each category on the IELTS Academic test.

Adding to that, if you take the IELTS for nursing, you can use two separate exam sessions to fulfil the English requirement. But when your CGFNS report is presented to Nursing Council, these must have been completed within a year of one another and be less than three years old.

If you completed your primary education, secondary education, or post-secondary education in a country that speaks English, you are exempt from taking the English language test. They consist of:

?      United Kingdom

?      Ireland

?      Canada

?      USA

What Are My Prospects of Finding Employment?

The requirement for licensed nurses is anticipated to increase. The need for competent registered nurses is high and is expected to rise.

A Registered Nurse (Aged Care) has been added to New Zealand's list of skills in demand. Registered Nurse (Aged Care) The need for aged people is rising. As a consequence, the profession is listed as having a long-term need for talent by Immigration New Zealand. This is due to:

?      Ageing of the populace and rising demand for nursing care

?      The New Zealand Nurses Organization claims that senior nurses are retiring. By 2035, half of the nurses will be retired.

?      The 2019 Wellbeing Budget includes funds for nurses to engage in school-based initiatives and mental health, addiction treatment, and child wellbeing.

?      A nursing shortage on a global scale.

The need for elderly care nurses is especially outstanding. As a consequence, a registered nurse (aged care) is listed as having a long-term talent need by Immigration New Zealand. This indicates that the Government of New Zealand proactively encourages talented foreign registered nurses to serve in elderly care in New Zealand.

The number of licensed nurses increased from 55,000 in 2017 to 57,833 in 2019 (including 2,500 enrolled nurses), according to the Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Most newly-minted registered nurses get jobs within four months. Finding one's first job after graduation could take more time. According to the Nursing Education in the Tertiary Sector organisation, 85% of nurses who graduated in November 2018 were hired as registered nurses within four months after graduation.

The Nursing Education in the Tertiary Sector 2015 New Graduate Destinations Survey found that 74% of the 1,285 graduates in November 2015 were working as registered nurses by March 2016. Considering the increased average lifespan of the community and the elderly nursing staff in New Zealand, the long-term outlook for this career is positive.

As a recent graduate, your chances of landing a job are greatest if you:

?      Apply for positions through the Ministry of Health's voluntary bonding program or the Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE) programme.

?      Are willing to work as nurses in high-need sectors like elderly care, psychological health, or civic groups like Plunket.

?      Are ready to relocate to areas in New Zealand where there is a nursing shortage.

?      Website for Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE)

What is the Pay Like?

Registered nurses receive different salaries based on their education, expertise, and work assignments.

Nurses who are registered and work for district health boards :

?      District health boards typically pay graduate registered nurses $54,000 each year.

?      The typical salary for enrolled nurses with one to four years of experience is $57,000 to $63,000.

?      Enrolled nurses provide patient care under the direction of a registered nurse or nurse practitioner.

Licensed practical nurses employed by district health boards:

?      District health boards often pay graduate registered nurses $60,000 per year.

?      With three to seven years of experience, registered nurses typically make $68,000 to $83,000.

?      Senior registered nurses with additional qualifications and accountability often make between $85,000 and $136,000 annually.

Overtime pay is also an option for nurses.

What is the Future of the Nursing Profession in New Zealand?

The number of registered nurses has significantly grown during the past five years. Additionally, the New Zealand government anticipates a further rise in external icons. By 2023, there might be up to 56,650 nursing employees, up from 52,729 in 2013! The likelihood of finding employment as a registered nurse is fair for individuals looking to enter the field, but excellent for those with experience.

What Professions Are Available for Registered Nurses in New Zealand?

Registered nurses have a wide range of specialization options. For instance, nursing for children and adolescents, primary care, mental health and addiction, and intensive care. As an option, you might opt to pursue employment in education, research, health administration, and nursing. You can work anywhere in New Zealand if you pursue a career in this field of healthcare.

Conclusion

In New Zealand, the number of nurses is increasing. Within a year after graduation, the majority of nursing students in New Zealand land nursing positions. The fields of primary care, mental health, and addiction treatment have the strongest career prospects. In addition to cooperating with other medical professionals, families, whanau, Mori and Pacific Islander health care providers, and the community, registered nurses also operate alone. They work in a variety of settings, including people's homes, communities, primary health care facilities, elderly residential care facilities, and hospitals. They assign tasks to and supervise licensed nurses, medical assistants, and others.

If you are a nursing graduate looking for a job opportunity in New Zealand, or if you just want to check out the availability of the opportunities, simply visit the ‘Job’ section on our website, https://www.medfuture.co.nz/. MedFuture is ready to assist you in your journey of settling down as a registered nurse in NZ once you are ready. Here are some of the nursing opportunities we have available. Call us on 0800 633 388 for more information.

Additional Sources: District Health Boards/New Zealand Nurses Organisation, 'Nursing and Midwifery Multi-Employer Collective Agreement: 1 August 2020-31 August 2022', accessed November 2021.