Disapproved as a Second Courser at the NCNZ

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  1. Are all second coursers disapproved by the NCNZ?

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      Yes
    • 0
      No
    • 0
      Maybe
    • 1
      I don't know.
    • 0
      It depends and it is a case to case basis.

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Hello, I would like to ask here if anybody has applied to the Nursing Council of New Zealand as a Registered Nurse and was disapproved due to being a second courser? I received my decision letter from the Nursing Council of New Zealand in my email thru my agent. She already told me in advance the other day about some of the letter's content. When I read the disapproval letter their reason was because it was not clear to them why I have a shortened program and finished the nursing degree by only 2 years and 9 months.

I have also searched on the internet about some Filipino Nurses way back in 2008 that was being disapproved by the council due to being second coursers. Actually prior to 2008 it was reported by an article that they still accepted second coursers without any problem. The reasons for disapproval was because they only took up nursing within 2-3 years. I have the same problem and I also agree with them that it is unfair for us not to be assessed fairly. We also went to school and made our practicum just like any regular student nurses. The only difference is that we have some subjects that are already credited so the shorter number of years it took for us to finish.

My friend and colleague whose already in NZ the other week advised me to just reply and make the letter of appeal to the council. She had a CAP classmate there with a similar situation as mine. A former nursing classmate of mine also in NZ told me she has nurse friends there who did the same and were reconsidered.

The New Zealand Nursing Council gave an option for me to appeal within 6 weeks from the date of their letter and provide additional evidence to prove I am fit to practice according to their standards. I also went to a lawyer to help me draw a letter of appeal for reconsideration as well as further evidence for my appeal.

Is there a possibility I might be reconsidered just like their friends or it depends as it is a case to case basis for second coursers?

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Maybe NZ is concerned re clinical experience being obtained AFTER graduation and are not concurrent with your theory, and clinical experience is lacking.

It is not really unfair......just because it happened last week, does not make it common law and to continue fpr eternity, it is really of no consequence that second courses from your nursing group where excepted last year, last month, last week, it is your assessment and they have deemed it lacking in some way.

Did you provide previous study records and what credit was given to your nursing degree?.

If you have not, how can they agree that the credit given on your past study is agreeable to shorten your nursing degree.

Did you do lots of subjects, such as folk dancing and swimming, national service, as part of your previous study, that is not really considered, university standard of subjects in New Zealand? and therefore would not be considered as credit for a nursing degree.

Any country, can assess an overseas nurse applicant how they wish. If they believe it is not up to the standard of their local nursing degree.

I would appeal to the NZ board and show evidence why you think you should receive a positive outcome.

Good luck.

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Maybe NZ is concerned re clinical experience being obtained AFTER graduation and are not concurrent with your theory, and clinical experience is lacking.

It is not really unfair......just because it happened last week, does not make it common law and to continue fpr eternity, it is really of no consequence that second courses from your nursing group where excepted last year, last month, last week, it is your assessment and they have deemed it lacking in some way.

Did you provide previous study records and what credit was given to your nursing degree?.

If you have not, how can they agree that the credit given on your past study is agreeable to shorten your nursing degree.

Did you do lots of subjects, such as folk dancing and swimming, national service, as part of your previous study, that is not really considered, university standard of subjects in New Zealand? and therefore would not be considered as credit for a nursing degree.

Any country, can assess an overseas nurse applicant how they wish. If they believe it is not up to the standard of their local nursing degree.

I would appeal to the NZ board and show evidence why you think you should receive a positive outcome.

Good luck.

@ceridwyn: Thanks for the comment. Yes I did provide everything the council asked for. All of it up to the last detail. I also provided them my CV complete with my Certificate of Employment from a 150-bed capacity tertiary gov't hospital here in the Philippines as well as certified copies of my trainings and seminars attended. They acknowledged it but they also stated that it does not override the fundamental concern with my application.

My last chance is to prove and show additional evidence that I am fit for their standards. God willing...

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hi. im just new here. i also received the same letter from the ncnz. we're on the same boat. where did you finished your BSN degree? what are thing you submitted? are you still on appeal?

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The nursing council care about that nurses that come into New Zealand have the same level of qualifications of those who have been taught in New Zealand. Some countries do not have the same levels and teaching that New Zealand does. Sorry

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Hi there I was just starting my application and was browsing the web when I came up with this thread. I am also a second courser and also is dreaming to be a NZ nurse. I am also from the Philippines as well... How did your application go? Did the council approved your second application? Hope all goes well..

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Hi there imang... How did your appeal go? Can you plead pm me.. I am also a second courser... I think we all have the same concerns... :(

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Hello elmokong and imang. I'm very sorry for the uber late reply. Yeah I know it's already 2013! LOL! I was very busy applying again to other countries in the Middle East for back-up. This is the only time I have logged in again to my account. I did not know that their were already additional comments in the thread I have posted last year since I only got one comment that time so I did not pay anymore attention to this topic.

Anyway let's move on to the main subject. The second time I sent my appeal last November 2012 and additional requirements last February 2013 they always moved the schedule to make the final verdict if they want to accept me or not. I got my news last July 15, 2013 from my representative in NZ that the council have decided to finally decline my application for registration. I have not seen the letter yet so I do not know the exact details of why. My rep has not yet sent it to my email.

I believe the reason why they rejected me are the same reasons they stated in their first letter. The NCNZ nowadays are getting stricter. First of course the shortened BSN program I took at St. Paul University Surigao. Yes it is a known university, a branch of SPU in our province. Second, they are not lenient to second coursers in general as what I have researched before. There were already many applicants like us who had the same problem. Third, they require a detailed Syllabus (authenticated copy) of our subjects from our first course up to our second course (BSN). The sad part is not all of the syllabus I submitted was detailed (like Course Outline) since I had transferred schools before. Each school and department have different policies in releasing Syllabi/Course Outline. I cannot argue with that and I don't have the power to change that. So what was given to me detailed or just outline I have no choice but to accept and pass it to the council as it is. Then I included a CHED Memorandum Order copy from its website regarding policies about second coursers and about general education subjects that need not be repeated once enrolled to another B.S. degree for additional evidence. There are PDF downloadable memos of CHED in their website just about everything. Well I did my best and passed everything they wanted for the second time around and prayed for it. I guess they were still not satisfied with my appeal and they have the right to do so whatever they want. It is their council and it's their rules so we cannot do something about it.

I also believe that applying in abroad as a nurse is very difficult these days because of a lot of competition, the upgrade of the nursing profession, degree requirements that are suppose to be in parallel to their criteria, not to mention the time and energy consumed as well as the money spent. At the same time I have already prepared myself for whatever the outcome may be. After I submitted last February 2013 the following month I went to Manila to try my luck for Middle East. So I was not really that devastated when the second decision was made by the council. At least I have another option and later during my waiting period for the council's last decision I just had this intuition it might be negative and NZ is not really for me. Then there's also what they call a stroke of luck. :yes:

The world is so big for us to concentrate in only one country. My advise for NZ applicants (2nd coursers) is fight until the last breath.hehehe. You'll never know maybe you guys will get accepted and will be luckier than me they'll eventually change their minds but of course at the same time apply to other countries while your employment is still up to present. Please for the peace of your minds. :)

BTW, I heard from a friend there in NZ lately that the council now requires at least a minimum of 2 years hospital experience. Unlike before the time I applied last 2011 they only require a min of at least 450 hours of clinical experience. Hope this helps. Good luck guys.

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Specializes in Psych.

Hi Kujaji

It was very kind of you to update everyone about the progress of your application. You are correct that the NZ Nursing Council is raising the requirements for foreign trained nurses. Immigration NZ is doing the same as there is little (if any) real shortage of nurses in NZ.

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Hi Kujaji

It was very kind of you to update everyone about the progress of your application. You are correct that the NZ Nursing Council is raising the requirements for foreign trained nurses. Immigration NZ is doing the same as there is little (if any) real shortage of nurses in NZ.

Hello aklgap,

Yes I have to reply about the progress on my application for registration in the NCNZ so that second coursers like me will have an idea what it is like applying to a western country. I have joined another forum before relating to this same topic and people there just gave me vague and half hearted answers. No offense meant but it's like they don't wanna give definite answers and leave others to figure out for themselves even if they do know the answers. As long as I know the answers to the questions I will give answers and as long as I'm not busy I can check this thread. For those questions I don't have any ideas then you guys have to ask the NCNZ through email. Lol! :lol2: Don't be hesitant to email them they reply to applicants and entertain your concerns. New Zealanders are nice people.

As a nurse myself I am willing to answer questions regarding application for registration in the NCNZ for second coursers. I have been applying to them for almost 2 years and I know what it is like to wait that long.

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