■ How to become a registered nurseRegistered nurses use nursing knowledge and judgement to:• assess health needs;• provide care for health consumers in a range of settings from

hospitals to communities; and• advise and support people to manage their health.

Registered nurses work independently and in collaboration with other health professionals, families, whānau, Māori and Pacific health care providers, and communities. They practise in a wide range of places including hospitals, communities, primary health organisations, patients’ homes, and aged residential care. They also perform general nursing functions, and delegate to and direct enrolled nurses, healthcare assistants and others.

Registered nurses may practise in a variety of clinical contexts depending on their educational preparation and experience. They may also use this expertise to manage, teach, evaluate and research nursing practise. Registered nurses are accountable for ensuring that all the health services they provide are consistent with their education and assessed competence, meet legislative requirements, and are supported by appropriate standards.

Entry requirements

To study to become a registered nurse people need to meet university entrance requirements, and have a certain number of credits – usually in English, mathematics, and science (biology, physics or chemistry).

Qualifications needed

Entry to the nursing professions requires a Nursing Council-approved Bachelor in Nursing (NZQA Level 7 programme) from a polytechnic, institute of technology or university. To work as a registered nurse you also need to have a:• Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand • Current Annual Practising Certificate.

Registered nurses are also required to take part in continuing professional development to maintain their competence.

Cost of study

Bachelor of Nursing

$21,000 over three years

Average costs in 2015 for a domestic student. Costs vary between institutions. Further costs include student levies, administrative fees,

materials, textbooks, accommodation, clinical experience costs (including additional travel and accommodation, indemnity insurance, uniforms, and vaccinations), and Nursing Council state final exams.

Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by re-gion, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Tenancy Services website.

The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for students, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed budget planning.

→ Tenancy Services: www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills

→ StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz

→ Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner

Where to study

There are 17 schools in New Zealand offering a bachelor’s degree in nursing. A list of providers can be found on the Ministry of Health website.

→ Ministry of Health, nursing: www.health.govt.nz/our-work/nursing/studying-nursing-new-zealand/schools-nursing

There are also schools with bachelor’s degrees in nursing designed for Māori and Pacific students (eg Whitireia Com-munity Polytechnic, Manukau Institute of Technology, Te Whare Wananga o Awanuiarangi). Information on scholarships and sup-port for Māori and Pacific students and current health workers wanting to develop a career in the health sector is available at:

→ Kia Ora Hauora: www.kiaorahauora.co.nz

Registration

Registered nurses need to be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) and have a current annual practising certificate.

→ The Nursing Council of New Zealand, registration: www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/Nurses/Register-as-a-nurse

Completed qualifications

In 2014, 1,750 students completed a bachelor’s degree in nurs-ing, a 0.9% a drop from 2013. Overall, the number of students who completed a bachelor’s degree qualification in nursing has increased steadily from its level in 2007.

In the year ending March 2015, 1,832 of 1,975 candidates with Bachelor’s degrees in nursing passed the state final registration for the Registered Nurse Scope of Practice1.

1 Nursing Council of New Zealand Annual Report 2015

REGISTERED NURSESJOB PROSPECTS

- +FEES

- +INCOME

- +

JOB PROSPECTS New Zealand has a growing nursing workforce. Most nursing graduates get a nursing job in New Zealand within one year of graduating. There is also strong demand for mid-level registered nurses, and for registered nurses in specialty areas.

Longer term, the prospects for this occupation are looking better given the increased life expectancy of the general population and ageing nursing workforce in New Zealand.

At a glance

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY SERVICES

Source: Ministry of Education

■ Income and employment prospectsIncome

New graduates with a bachelor’s degree in nursing earn about $47,000 a year. Those with three to five years’ experience can earn between $54,000 and $64,000. Senior nurses with more responsibilities can earn from $67,000 to $110,000.

Median earnings after qualification completion

One year Three to five years

$47,000 $54,000 to $64,000

Source: Careers New Zealand/District Health Boards/New Zealand Nurses Organisation Collective Agreement

New graduate registered nurses in a district health board (DHB) start on a salary of $47,000 per year, and can earn up to $64,000 after three to five years. Designated senior registered nurses (Levels 1 to 8) can earn between $67,000 and $110,000, depend-ing on position, seniority and experience.

Income of registered nurses in DHBs with one to five years’ experience

$47,000 to $64,000

Source: District Health Boards/New Zealand Nurses Organisation, ‘Multi-Employer Collective Agreement 1 March 2012-28 February 2015’, 2014.

Voluntary bonding scheme

The Ministry of Health runs a voluntary bonding scheme for nurs-ing graduates who agree to work in hard-to-staff communities and/ or specialities. Graduates who are part of the scheme are eligible for incentive payments for up to five years, intended to help them repay their student loans. For more information see:

→ www.health.govt.nz/our-work/health-workforce/voluntary-bonding-scheme

Employment and skill shortagesNursing employment

Current number of registered nurses*

Projected number of registered nurses by 2035**

2013 2014 Population growth scenario

Ageing population scenario

48,40649,769up 2.8%

54,660 63,960

*Nursing Council of New Zealand Annual Reports 2014 and 2015 **BERL (2013), New Zealand Nurses: workforce planning 2010-2035, Wellington.

From 2013 to 2014, the number of registered nurses rose by 2.8% to 49,769. The demand for registered nurses is likely to continue to grow, as older nurses retire and the New Zealand population increases. According to an analysis of the nursing workforce from 2010-2035 commissioned by the Nursing Council of New Zealand, the changes in New Zealand’s population size and structure will see a nursing shortage of 15,000 nurses by 2035.

Some specialist registered nurses are on Immigration New Zea-land’s long-term skill shortage list, including those specialising in aged care, critical care, and emergency, medical, and periopera-tive care. If a job appears on the skill shortage list, it means the government is actively encouraging skilled people in the role to come and work in New Zealand. A full list is available on the Immigration New Zealand website.

→ Immigration NZ, skill shortage list: skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz

Where to find job vacancies

The number of online job vacancies for registered nurses in-creased (up 13.4%) from September 2014 to September 2015. This compares with an overall increase of 1.9% for all vacancies over the same period.

New nursing graduates can apply for positions through the Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE) system on the nursing entry practice (NETP) or mental health (NSEP) programmes in public hospitals or community settings.

Nursing vacancies are advertised through public media such as the Trade Me Jobs, Kiwihealthjobs and Seek websites. Positions are also advertised on individual DHB websites.

→ Trade Me Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs → Seek: www.seek.co.nz → Health vacancies www.kiwihealthjobs.com/

Career path

There are many areas for registered nurses to specialise in. Examples include aged care, primary care, mental health and addiction, intensive care, and child and adolescent nursing. Registered nurses can also choose to develop careers in nursing practice, health management, research, and teaching.

Experienced registered nurses may progress within an expanded scope of practices and to positions such as clinical nurse special-ist or clinical nurse manager. There are also options to continue with postgraduate study up to and including doctorate level.

A further level of registered nurse is nurse practitioner, requiring at least four years’ experience in a specific area of practice and the completion of a clinically-focused master’s degree.

■ Other informationLinks

More information on registered nursing professionals is available on the Careers New Zealand website.

→ Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz → Ministry of Health, studying nursing: www.health.govt.nz/our-work/nursing/studying-nursing-new-zealand

→ The Nursing Council: www.nursingcouncil.org.nz

→ Plunket Society: www.plunket.org.nz

Num

ber

of s

tude

nts

com

plet

ing

qual

ifica

tion

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014

Bachelor's Degree

SOCIAL & COMMUNITY SERVICES

REGISTERED NURSES

watch just the job video