NZNO mahi

Enrolled nurses must wait for new scope

By Kai Tiaki editors

June 1, 2021

Enrolled nurses (ENs) are not likely to have their scope of practice extended until next year, Nursing Council chief executive Catherine Byrne told the EN section at their recent conference in May.

Gwen Ahuriri
Gwen Ahuriri

Chair Robyn Hewlett said the delay was “disappointing” as it was something the section had pushed for many years.

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ENs are frustrated they must practise under direction and delegation of colleagues, research last year found, leading to its call to have the scope reviewed by the Nursing Council.

The new Te Rūnanga representative on the Enrolled Nurse Section, Gwen Ahuriri (Ngāti Porou) wears the korowai donated by former representative Lea Thompson (Tainui) in 2019. Ahuriri said she would like to see more Māori consider enrolled nursing as a career option.