Question About Nursing in New Zealand

ayla2004, ASN, RN · Jan 12, 2012

From my own reading.

maternity care in NZ in midwife lead, that is bachloer prepared midwife who care for mum and baby from conception to 4=-weeks postnatal period. Not sure if nurses have any role maternity new zealand, it seems its like the UK, nurses do not cover maternity units.

http://www.midwife.org.nz/

StressedNZ · Jan 16, 2012

You could also go to Home - Nursing Council NZ

From my own reading.
maternity care in NZ in midwife lead, that is bachloer prepared midwife who care for mum and baby from conception to 4=-weeks postnatal period. Not sure if nurses have any role maternity new zealand, it seems its like the UK, nurses do not cover maternity units.
NZCOM - New Zealand College of Midwives

Leggings and Lattes · Jan 18, 2012

Thank you for the responses. I have been to both of those sites, but also by looking at various health board sites, it appears that there are in fact some RN's utilized in the maternity field. There is nothing clear cut. Also, I did just happen to notice something that I did not notice upon my last visit to the Nursing Council site. The requirements for internationally educated nurses are changing. Apparently the final semester must consist of:

"An extended clinical experience of 360 hours minimum is included in the final semester of the programme.

This must consist of full shifts of approximately 8 hours."

It would seem that international nurses may have a harder time getting certified to practice in New Zealand.

ceridwyn · Jan 19, 2012

People that get a nursing degree for the golden ticket and want to go to NZ will get around this new requirement, by going via Australian registration. So if you had any difficulties you could go that route as well, if you had any difficulties with that requirement.

Australia appears to register any nurse who can prove they are an RN in their own country - no rejections...only a short time ago, for months they allowed nurses to Register without any proof that they could speak english effectively and most had no clinical experience using english only.

I did hear the NZ nurses council was one of the entities to put in complaints about AHPRA's non english exemption, as you see we have transferable registration....registered in Australia then NZ council recognises this and vice a versa. (you still apply and fill out all the required forms though) and no english test as you are suppose to be able to speak english very well if registered in either country. (there is no national exam in Australia either.

This might make AHPRA look at putting in a few rules as well.

BTW midwives are usually the only ones allowed near a labour ward/delivery. RN's are however are allowed in nurseries and post partum on and off depending on how well staffed the unit is. This is for Australia but a NZ midwife did inform me same in NZ. Neonatal units however have RN's with post grad degrees in same or much experience and studying post grad.

Good luck with your move, NZ is a great place to visit.

Bringonthenight · Jan 29, 2012

Agreed with the other posters, Aus and NZ do not have L&D nurses, but midwives. However RNs and even ENs can work on regular wards in maternity just not in labor areas. Becoming a midwife involves an extra year of study ontop of the 3 year bachelor of nursing degree offered. Perhaps you could look into universities and apply for recognized prior learning or credit in a midwifery course? There are a lot of universities that recognize prior learning in the chosen field if evidence and documentation is provided which could take a substantial amount of subjects out of the 1 year course effectively shortening the course length. Have you thought about working as just an RN in a maternity hospital while you became a midwife? Is the move to NZ permanent?