UK Graduate nurse - how much experience needed to work in New Zealand

gwenith, BSN, RN · Dec 29, 2005

Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately our New Zealand colleagues are only here occasionally but when they do pop in they usually do thier best to try and answer any New Zealand questions. Be patient - it might take a while but you will get an answer.

sammybabie · Dec 31, 2005

Hi everyone, I'm a final year UK nursing student due to complete training Sep 06. I was hoping someone could tell me how much post reg experience I will need before I can register in NZ. I've spoken to several people working at the NZ nursing council but they havent really answered my question. I'm planning to emmigrate in Dec 06 with my husband and 11 year son. My husband has already secured a job working in Pahiatua near Palmerston North where I'm hoping to secure work. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Hello and good luck in your final year. As soon as you have qualified in the UK you can apply to register in NZ. Experience isn;t needed to register, however, most newly qualified nurse in NZ do a "sort of 4th year", on what is known as a New Grad Programme. These are offered by most hospitals and there is often a lot of competition for a place. We had 50 applicants for 17 places. They run for approximately 1 year, usually January to JAnuary.

Why not contact PN hospital and ask about their new grad programme for Jan 07. There is also a new programme coming in called NETP {Nurse Entry To Practice} and I'm sure one of the conditions is that you need to be a NZ Citizen.

UK trained nurses are highly regarded in NZ and I'm sure you will find employment eventually.

SB

aishah951 · Dec 31, 2005

Thanks sammybabie,

I'm glad someone was able to help, I seemed to be hitting a brick wall. I'm actually really excited about coming to NZ, and altough I've not visited before, I've done quite a lot of research plus my husband lived in Invercargill for 4 months after he'd finished Med school, so all in all I feel as if I'm not coming completely blind. I'm also a little concerned as to whether I'll be clinically supported (currently 6 months perceptorship period in the UK) if I'm not able to secure a Grad place. As you can probably appreciate I'm a little nervous :confused: about qualifying and although I'll have 3 months post reg experience I'm guessing I'll still feel very green by the time I come out to NZ. I've already begun contact with the HR department so hopefully I'll be able to secure a job. If not I guess I'll be working on the hobby farm my hubby wants . Have you ever been to PN? what's it like? any extra info or bits of advice would be greatly appreciated.

aishah951

sammybabie · Jan 8, 2006

Thanks sammybabie,
I'm glad someone was able to help, I seemed to be hitting a brick wall. I'm actually really excited about coming to NZ, and altough I've not visited before, I've done quite a lot of research plus my husband lived in Invercargill for 4 months after he'd finished Med school, so all in all I feel as if I'm not coming completely blind. I'm also a little concerned as to whether I'll be clinically supported (currently 6 months perceptorship period in the UK) if I'm not able to secure a Grad place. As you can probably appreciate I'm a little nervous about qualifying and although I'll have 3 months post reg experience I'm guessing I'll still feel very green by the time I come out to NZ. I've already begun contact with the HR department so hopefully I'll be able to secure a job. If not I guess I'll be working on the hobby farm my hubby wants . Have you ever been to PN? what's it like? any extra info or bits of advice would be greatly appreciated.
aishah951

Hello

No never been to PN. I have just been checking and you need to have trained in NZ to apply for the NETP programme. NZ hospitals are very experienced with having overseas nurses. Some of the wards I cover are like the United Nations !!! You may find nursing in NZ "easier" than in the UK. It is quite common for a system of "patient allocation" to be in place, this means that you are given 4-5 patients for whom, you give total care. Drug names are different and they tend to use both generic and trade names, but it doesn't take long to get used to them. In general you will find nursing here a much more relaxed environment. There is a big drive to complete the Professional Develpment and Recognition Programme {PDRP}, there is $'s attached to achieving levels 3 and 4. Also it sets you up with a competence portfolio for applying for your annual practising certificate {APC} each year.

Don;t worry, you're UK trained YOU will be fine.

Any more questions, just ask or send me a private message.

SB

Grace Oz · Jan 9, 2006

One thing you'll need to know about for working in New Zealand is; SHEEP!:rotfl:

Interested Party · Jan 9, 2006

Hello UK Graduate!

Can I suggest that you contact the hospital directly. Their website address is www.midcentral.co.nz Pahiatua is about 25 minutes drive to MidCentral District Health Board (otherwise known as Palmerston North Hospital) covers the Manawatu Region (correct me if I am wrong here.... it's been awhile). On MidCentral's website they also advertise jobs. If I am not mistaken the new grad programme intake is only once a year and that is at the beginning of the year. In NZ, the polytechnics are not the tertiary provider for Bachelor of Nursing Degree, there are lots of other Universities which offer the same programme:) ......................... Anyway, do check out the hosp's website and email them with any queries. PM me or post any other questions you may have. Take care.

Interested Party

aishah951 · Jan 9, 2006

Thanks interested party

since my first posting I've managed to establish contact with the hospital and things are looking quite good. I'm hoping to secure a position on the graduate nurse programme which apparently runs twice yearly. Apart from that I'm still trying to figure out whether to apply for residency or a tempory work visa. It's all a little complicated seen as I qualify in Sep (this is when the grad programme starts) but won't get my registration till Nov. I've also established contact with an old pal of mine who went out to NZ a few years ago and was in the same position I am in. Apparently she went out there and worked for a few months as a nursing assistant/health care assistant whilst waiting for her registration to come through. I'm going to look into this option and discuss my options with the grad coordinators fairly soon. It all seems to be happening so quickly.... I didn't think NZ had nursing assistants???