Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand

After writing a concerned letter, NZNO's emergency nurses met Minister of Health Shane Reti earlier this year, to discuss the realities of working on the frontline.

Jobless nursing graduates feel ‘heart-broken and abandoned’

Blindsided, abandoned and heart-broken -- these are the feelings of some of our newest nurse graduates who missed out on hospital jobs -- many of whom are heading to Australia.

Nursing Council drops 40-plus RN competencies in favour of six standards

The Nursing Council has listened to nurses and dropped a proposal to make registered nurses (RNs) meet 41 separate competencies and enrolled nurses (ENs) 29, after an outpouring of concern over the workload.

Three out of five nursing students to get hospital jobs, Te Whatu Ora figures show

Te Whatu Ora says it has employed 334 of the 535 mid-year nursing graduates who applied into supported entry roles -- leaving 166 facing uncertain futures in the general talent pool.

‘We are family’ — residents rally around nursing staff after bosses propose cutting 400 care hours

Upset residents and their families and friends turned out to support staff striking over a proposal to cut 400 care hours a week at a Wellington aged care facility.

Nursing students share pain, tears and laughter with heads of school

There wasn't a dry eye in the house recently as nursing tauira (students) spoke of their struggles, exhaustion and despair.

‘We work just as hard’ — community nurses strike for the same pay as hospitals

About 150 Access Community Health nursing staff went on strike around the country on this week, demanding the same pay and conditions as their Te Whatu Ora colleagues.

‘My God you’re influential — use it’. Call to action for nurses, kaiāwhina and midwives to push for safe staffing

The real-life stories of nurses, combined with hard evidence on the harm caused by poorly staffed hospitals, are crucial to getting safe nurse-to-patient ratios legalised here in Aotearoa, nurse leaders heard.

New Zealand can lead the world in culturally safe nurse-to-patient ratios

Māori nursing leaders want Aotearoa, New Zealand, to be the first in the world to introduce culturally safe nurse-to-patient ratios, alongside clinical.

Mid-year nurse graduate job matching ‘still underway’ — Te Whatu Ora

Te Whatu Ora says its job-matching process for 535 mid-year nursing graduates is "still underway" and it cannot provide figures for another couple of weeks on where new nurses are going to be working.

Cancer nurses welcome multi-million medicine deal — but warn of flow-on workload

Cancer nurses say the Government's decision to fund 26 cancer treatments is great news -- but it must also resource oncology teams to care for higher number of patients.

From far north to deep south, nurses and kaiāwhina call for change

Nurses and kaiāwhina who jumped aboard the country-wide safe staffing bus tour say public support has been "amazing" -- and want the Government to invest in safely staffed hospitals.

‘They have trampled on the mana of the future workforce’ — students in uproar over reports of hiring freeze

Confused, demoralised and "absolutely gutwrenched" -- these are the feelings of nursing tauira (students) after hearing Te Whatu Ora may be freezing mid-year graduate recruitment a week out from hiring decisions.

Two mental health nurses employed after four months’ international recruitment

After four months and more than 740 expressions of interest, just two new mental health nurses have so far been employed from overseas this year through a new Te Whatu Ora international recruitment campaign.

Time to ‘get serious’ as pay equity claim for health’s lowest paid women workers lodged with ERA

After two years of limbo, thousands of care and support workers this week lodged a claim for equal pay with the Employment Relations Authority (ERA).

Nurses and health advocates honoured in King’s Birthday list

A specialist cancer nurse, a nurse educator and a Māori health advocate are among those honoured in the King's Birthday list this month.

Minister considering mental health nurses’ views after damning NZNO survey

Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey says he will consider mental health nurses' proposals to increase and support their workforce after meeting with NZNO leaders.

Emergency nurses share woes with health minister

After writing a concerned letter, NZNO's emergency nurses met Minister of Health Shane Reti earlier this year, to discuss the realities of working on the frontline. As rallies over unsafe staffing in EDs continue, they share some of their kōrero here.

Former Te Whatu Ora chair speaks up for nurses

Te Whatu Ora leaders say spending too much on nurses has pushed them into the red. Former chair Rob Campbell says nurses are part of the solution and must be supported with fair pay and safe staffing.

‘Wonderful’ aged-care nursing is undervalued, says long-time nurse

Long-time gerontology nurse Sally Fleming reckons working in aged care is extremely undervalued.

Nurses ‘under-used in antimicrobial stewardship’

Nurses should be more involved in antimicrobial stewardship, say members of an expert group working on new guidelines for antimicrobial practice.

Former army medic recalls distressing memories, with return to Timor-Leste

A Canterbury nurse who served as an army medic in the East Timor crisis, has just visited the now-independent Timor-Leste with her old comrades. She has distressing memories of the brutality of that conflict.

Nurse specialist wants to help other nurses caring for rare cancer patients

An Auckland nurse specialist describes her work with patients who have neuroendocrine cancer, after returning from an international conference on the rare and often slow-moving disease.

It’s cool to kōrero — June 2024

Puku -- belly, stomach

Medicines and older Māori — ‘It is through shared conversations that I understand’

How do kaumātua view the medicines service they receive and how could it be improved? What ethnic variations are there in this service? This educational course focuses on medicines and older Māori and is relevant to nurses in primary care, alongside pharmacists and GPs.

Migrant nurses’ experiences in the workplace — what support do they need to thrive?

To thrive in the workplace, internationally qualified nurses need professional development, protection from bullying and good communication skills, a New Zealand researcher has found.

JULY 2024 crossword

Instructions: Click on any cell to get started. Click on vertical / horizontal lines to change direction, or direction can be changed by clicking on Space / Enter key. Across and Down Clues can be toggle visible by clicking on the down / up arrows.

JUNE 2024 crossword

Instructions: Click on any cell to get started. Click on vertical / horizontal lines to change direction, or direction can be changed by clicking on Space / Enter key. Across and Down Clues can be toggle visible by clicking on the down / up arrows.

Please send letters for publication to: [email protected]. We reserve the right to edit letters for sense and length, and will not publish letters that are libellous, incite racial, sexual or religious hatred or constitute personal attacks. Shorter letters (under 400 words) are preferred. Please include name, address, nursing qualifications and phone number.