Media Release:

Nationals Bonding Measures Not a Long Term Solution

The New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) is welcoming the Government’s announcement of a bonding scheme for some graduate nurses but is concerned the proposal is limited only to graduates working in theatre, intensive care and cardiothoracic nursing.

NZNO president Marion Guy said, “While this is a good start to addressing the problem of student debt driving graduates out of New Zealand, it is too narrowly targeted. The fact is we have a real problem retaining our graduates right across the spectrum of nursing. We would prefer to see the scheme open to every graduate who establishes their nursing career in New Zealand, not just a targeted few.”

The chairperson of the NZNO National Student Unit, Michelle Wipiiti is concerned that the policy does not go far enough “Student debt is a tremendous concern to student nurses and to those recently graduated. There is merit in what the Government has proposed but more needs to be done to ensure that more young people are attracted to the nursing profession and establish their nursing careers in New Zealand. Nurses should not have to incur significant debt in order to deliver care to our communities. Helping graduates pay off debt is appreciated but we also have to make it possible for nurses to train without taking on a huge personal debt in the first place.”

Marion Guy said, “NZNO is very willing to work with the Government to build a comprehensive nursing workforce strategy that will help ensure New Zealand has the health workforce it needs.”

ENDS

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