Kai Tiaki Nursing New Zealand

Real nurses star in campaign to draw more Māori, Pasifika & men into nursing  

NZNO nurses from military to burns and plastic surgery feature in a new NZNO-Ministry of Health (MoH) recruitment drive to encourage more people into nursing -- particularly Māori, Pasifika and men.

The Aussies are doing it — can we train nurses for free here?

Nursing students say they would welcome free training in New Zealand, after the Australian state of Victoria this week announced a $270 million investment to train 10,000 nurses and midwives over the next two years.

Battle looms over incentive payments

A battle is looming over incentive payments for additional shifts to fill desperately under-staffed hospital wards. NZNO members are vowing to stop doing them completely for the week of October 3-9 in a national protest while Te Whatu Ora says there won't be any need for them after September 30 anyway.

Nurses around the country protest lower pay in primary health care

Health Minister Andrew Little promises pay parity "a priority" as protests held around the motu in support of primary health care (PHC) nurses.

NZNO puts out call for Pasifika nurses at Southland Polyfest

"What could be better than our rangatahi meeting proud Māori and Pasifika nurses?" NZNO students reach out to Pasifika community

Members nationwide gear up for week-long boycott of extra shifts

Nurses across the country are preparing to take a stand against dangerous short-staffing on hospital wards.

Members urged to turn out for primary health care nurses

NZNO members are being encouraged to turn up for a 'day of action'  being held around the country on Monday in support of pay parity for primary health care nurses.

Nursing Council eases written English test for overseas nurses

The Nursing Council is easing standards on the written English test for overseas-trained nurses, in an effort to reduce barriers.

Dunedin nurse takes short-staffing into her own hands with home-made poster

Tired of waiting for official unsafe staffing warning signs, Dunedin critical care nurse Debbie Robinson created her own very public display of just how dire short-staffing was in the hospital.

Stepping up and speaking up, across the ditch

NZNO's Maranga Mai! campaign has strong echoes across the Tasman in New South Wales, where nurses and midwives are fighting for nurse-patient ratios and "stepping up and speaking up" about the pressures they are under.

NZNO members silently protest to Andrew Little over ‘reneging’ on promised back pay

When Minister of Health Andrew Little took to the podium at NZNO's conference a group of five members made their own point, silently holding signs at the back of the room. Printed in purple, each sign held by members from the NZNO Central Regional Council simply stated the start date for back pay, as agreed … Continue reading "NZNO members silently protest to Andrew Little over ‘reneging’ on promised back pay"

12 candidates standing in NZNO board of directors elections 2022

Nominations were called for the NZNO Board of Directors on 17 June and closed at 12 noon, Friday 15 July 2022. As there were more than seven nominations received for the seven vacancies on the Board, an election is required. The following article contains the candidate profiles and photos of the candidates standing for the … Continue reading "12 candidates standing in NZNO board of directors elections 2022"

Maranga Mai! — rise up — is our plan to save the health system

Maranga Mai! – rise up – is a plan to save New Zealand’s health system, NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter tells conference delegates.

Thanks minister, but please put nurses on the fast-track to residency

NZNO is cautiously welcoming a raft of new health workforce measures and a global nurse recruitment campaign -- but says ultimately Aotearoa needs to grow its own health workforce.

Member voting opens on three remits ahead of September AGM

Members have until Sept 9 to vote on three remits relating to membership fees for students; supporting NZNO values and not bringing the organisation into disrepute; and proposed changes for NZNO members who belong to other unions.

NZNO rules changed to protect against racism, hate and clarity on dual membership entitlements

NZNO’s constitution will make it a disciplinary offence for members to “incite racism or hate”, following a vote announced at NZNO's annual general meeting (AGM) on Tuesday.

Free NZNO membership for nursing students ‘an example for Government’

Student members say NZNO is "leading by example" by granting free membership to nursing students.

NZNO board election results brings a mix of new and returning directors

The NZNO 2022 board election results bring mixture of current, former and new board members.

Nursing Council announces changes to competency testing for overseas nurses

Direct competency and clinical assessments, alongside cultural safety education, are among crucial changes for internationally-qualified nurses (IQNs) coming to work in New Zealand from 2024.

Why Whangārei’s ED nurses said ‘No’ to extra shifts

Exhaustion, frustration and anger have led emergency nurses at Whangārei Hospital to hand over responsibility for staffing gaps to those in charge.

Plunket nurses ‘stunned’ at zero per cent pay rise offer

Whānau Āwhina Plunket nurses seeking pay parity with Te Whatu Ora nurses say a zero per cent pay offer is "demoralising".

What you can do about unsafe staffing on your ward

NZNO members went on strike last year and won -- alongside pay increases -- an agreement that employers return to safe staffing levels.

Witch hunts and perfect storms — why nurses attack their own leaders

"Oppressed group behaviour" may explain why some nurses promoted to leadership positions find themselves undermined by former colleagues.

Sitting at the top table — he karanga ki ngā tapuhi Māori

Māori nurse, lecturer and researcher puts out a call for more Māori nurses to join roopu on growing the Māori nursing workforce.

The struggles facing student nurses in today’s world

Resilience is key as inflation heaps pressure on 'beautiful' but stretched nursing students

Te wero, our challenge, to grow our own workforce

The COVID-19 surge workforce -- of unregulated health workers -- could be an important source of new nurses.

The reality of ED — ‘noisy, overcrowded, unsafe and broken down’

A nurse practitioner spells out the reality of working in an overcrowded, noisy, and ill-equipped ED, where tired nurses are rationing care while dealing with abusive, distressed patients.

With assisted dying now a reality, what do nurses need?

Nurses need clear policies and guidelines to give them confidence when dealing with assisted dying requests.

Cardiovascular disease — tackling medication adherence

Managing patients’ CVD risk, medication non-adherence, and improving communication with patients: This article has particular relevance to primary care nurses, including those specialising in long-term conditions, and to cardiac care educators.

Introduction to biological medicines

Biological medicines are being increasingly used to treat a range of conditions in New Zealand. Nurses need to understand what they are, how they are used and possible side effects in the patients they care for.

Maranga Mai! Education — what needs to change?

About a third of Aotearoa’s nursing workforce is comprised of overseas-trained nurses, nurse vacancies are into the thousands and an estimated one in three nursing students are dropping out — with even higher rates for Māori and Pacific1. In the first of a series exploring Maranga Mai!, NZNO’s campaign to fix the nursing crisis, Kaitiaki … Continue reading "Maranga Mai! Education — what needs to change?"

Maranga Mai! Registration — what needs to change?

As Aotearoa New Zealand faces down a nursing shortfall of thousands, changes are afoot to how overseas nurses are registered here. In the second part of a series exploring Maranga Mai!, NZNO's campaign to fix the nursing crisis, Kaitiaki looks at what needs to change in the registration process.

Self-advocacy: An important skill for students on clinical placement

To gain the most from clinical placements, nursing students need to know how to communicate confidently with their preceptors - about what they do and don't know.

Nurse prescribing — the way of the future

Growing numbers of nurse prescribers are improving access to medicines.

Biological medicines: Transitioning to Amgevita — a biosimilar of adalimumab

Most patients taking the biological medicine adalimumab are transitioning to a "biosimilar" version of the drug called Amgevita. This article explains why this is happening, and how nurses in primary care can help smooth the transition.

AUGUST crossword

Print out this crossword grid (see PRINT tab at bottom right of page), and use the clues below.

SEPTEMBER crossword

Print out this crossword grid (see PRINT tab at bottom right of page), and use the clues below.

Ode to Shortland Street

I wrote this poem in honour of the Government's latest recruitment plan for nursing, and read it out at a recent delegates' meeting. I thought the wider membership might like to read it too:

Fast-tracking overseas nurses will only ‘steal’ them from other countries

I enjoyed your articles in the latest journal. I would like to comment on Mary Longmore’s article regarding fast tracking residency for nurses.

Community prescribing takes off in Midland programme

Thank you for the article by Kathy Stodart in July, highlighting the positive impact of nurse prescribing, and the registered nurse prescriber in community health role (RNPCH).

Nurses look like ‘fools’

Regarding the letter written by Sam Mojel (May 11, 2022), it was EXACTLY what I was thinking and questioning. 

Respiratory nurses breathe in ‘relief’ as symposium finally gets off the ground

A palpable sense of relief and satisfaction was felt at the end of the NZNO College of Respiratory Nurses online respiratory symposium on bronchiectasis -- a long-term lung condition where the airways are damaged.