Still no good news for new grad nurses

Still no good news for new grad nurses

A release from Health Minister Jonathan Coleman today, congratulating himself that more new graduate nurses are finding jobs sooner has student nurses and other NZNO members rolling their eyes.

NZNO associate professional services manager, Hilary Graham-Smith says, “In the July round only 285 out of 667 newly graduated nurses have found places on nurse entry to practice programmes. That’s not good enough.”

“It is a complete waste of resources educating nurses and then leaving large numbers of new graduates unable to find work in a clinical setting due to limited places on nurse entry to practice programmes. Nursing needs a fairer share of Health Workforce New Zealand funding to ensure more places are available on these programmes.”

The nurse entry to practice programme is a structured support programme for newly graduated nurses. The programme provides each new graduate nurse with the support and mentoring that assists them in their first year of practice.

“The programme means new graduate nurses get the benefit of growing and developing their skills as registered nurses with support and mentorship throughout their first year in the workforce. All new grads need that, not just a lucky few,” Ms Graham-Smith says.

“New Zealand is facing a significant nursing shortage over the next decade. We need to begin growing a sustainable, home-grown and highly skilled nursing workforce now if we are to maintain the high quality of nursing care we all deserve. We’re educating some of the nurses needed to fill that gap now and we need to support them to gain experience and stay in New Zealand.”

“The Minister of Health, Jonathan Coleman needs to fund a one year nurse entry to practice programme for 100% of new graduate nurses, now – it’s the only way to get the nursing workforce we want in years to come.”

ENDS

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