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Careers in nursing and midwifery
Considering nursing or midwifery as a career or returning to practice after a break?
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General nursing
General nursing offers a variety of clinical
areas where you will be able to learn a range of technical skills and
gain certification such as cannulation, venepuncture, central venous
lines, patient-controlled analgesia for many clinical practices.
You will also be able to gain a broad knowledge of the
latest equipment. Oxygen therapy, wound products, pain management,
diabetes management are examples of clinical treatments that you will
manage.
Ongoing nursing education is strongly encouraged with
opportunities to attend in-services, forums, conferences and to
undertake or further your post graduate studies.
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Kia ora, my name is Bana Puru, I am a Maori male nurse and lov’in it. Currently I work for the Waikato District Health Board/ Health Waikato/Waikato Hospital, and have been for the last three years. I work as a staff nurse in orthopaedics, helping people recover from broken bones.
Before I became a nurse, I had no idea of what nursing was all about. I was never exposed to hospitals, or never thought that I would be working in one. I always wanted to become a “rock star”, or be the best guitarist that ever lived. But during my years in college, my future aspirations, and dreams were all about to change.
 I began a Recreational Studies course in sixth form (year 12), and as a part of that course was to supervise teenagers with intellectual disabilities. From there on, I was offered a job to be with the teenagers as their “big brother”. I really enjoyed helping the people, especially when no-one from my realm school mates would. I felt happy, and cool about helping out someone that in some ways couldn’t help themselves. I thought about doing something in the future that would help others and that it would be cool to be known as a helper.
I hit a friend up about my ideas of helping others, and what I wanted to do for a job. He asked me if I had thought about nursing. I had no idea what nursing was, but it was something do with helping people. I thought about helping people and nursing, put the two together and said to myself “if that’s where I wanted to go, then that’s where I will be”. So here I am!
Nursing has been the best career pathway I have chosen, and the coolest job to have. Opportunities of a "life time" have been coming my way, and I've been out there grabbing it. If you love helping people, relate to people and have a passion make an impact on peoples lives-then nursing is the right place to be.
The best thing that’s happened to me during my nursing career
There are a few cool things that have happened to me during my career as a registered nurse. Firstly...getting a job is number one (yahoo). Secondly, being chosen alongside other colleagues to work in the Waikato DHB first pilot group called “Pebbles” (a Practice Development Focused Nursing Leadership course). As an extension to the Pebbles pilot group, I was offered a five week secondment position as a practice development facilitator, working alongside colleagues to initiate achievable outcomes in clinical practice. The other positive thing about nursing, is that if you’re good looking enough, handsome enough and smile a lot, you could end up being the “face of Nursing” in the newspaper or on billboards around your local town!!
The worst thing that’s happened to me during my nursing career
I cannot recall many negative things about my nursing career, but maybe one thing that stands out. The transition from “student-hood” to “staff-hood” was probably the worst thing. Yep, it’s a pretty scary world out there when you’re the only male nurse on the ward, and the rest of your colleagues (including your boss) are female nurses. This is what I call in nursing “breaking the ice”. However, once you get on the roll and flow with the rhythm of your mahi, then it all just falls into place. One thing I’ve learnt through my career on success is that ...it’s not about your wish bone, but about your back bone….
In all things be strong, vigilant and courageous, and always stay happy.
Norei ra, Kia Kaha, Kia Toa, Kia Mana, Tena Koutou, Tena Koutou, Kiaora Koutou Katoa.
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Midwifery
The
New Zealand midwifery system is a ‘woman focused’ model of midwifery
care underpinned with professional principles celebrating its
uniqueness.The New Zealand registered midwife works in partnership with her client
throughout the maternity experience. She applies her knowledge and
skills to provide effective and safe midwifery care that enhances the
health of the woman and her whanau and encourages their participation.
The
Waikato District Health Board is committed to bringing together
primary, secondary and tertiary sectors of midwifery services to
achieve good outcomes for women and their babies. More about Midwifery here at the DHB...Primary health care nursingPrimary
health care in its broadest sense encompasses population health, health
promotion, disease prevention, wellness care, first point of contact
care and disease/long term conditions management. It is about
working with local communities to improve access to comprehensive
health care with the aim of improving, maintaining and restoring
health, and identifying and reducing inequalities and barriers to
healthcare. Primary health care nursing focuses on the health
of populations, to improve connectedness and seamlessness of care for
patients across the care continuum. Primary health care nurses include
those working in mobile/outreach, community health, general practice,
well child/tamariki ora, occupational health, district, public health,
family planning/sexual health, rural, Maori, Pacific and community
mental health. Rural areas
Nursing in rural areas, whether in a rural
hospital or primary health environment, offers nurses a unique and
fulfilling experience. Nursing in these areas is not just a job -
nurses become an integral and valued part of the community they work
in.
Rural nursing enables nurses to practice holistically and be
connected to their communities as they care for patients and families
in hospital, community and home settings.
The nursing knowledge
and skills you will practice are extensively generalist, with
opportunities to specialise and to pursue areas of interest.
Find out more about our rural facilities...
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| Mental Health & Addiction Services
The service works collaboratively with other providers across the
sector to ensure that the range of mental health and addictions
services that are needed by both the existing and changing demographics
of the Midland region are available, acceptable and accessible to its
service users. This network consists of a range of providers that are
committed to working together to provide high quality service user
focussed services.
Such a network includes other Midland
region mental health services, Primary Healthcare Organisations, Iwi,
and other public and non government organisations (NGO's), mental
health service providers, service user groups, families and support
groups. This co-operative approach helps to build an environment
whereby comprehensive, integrated mental health care is delivered.
Salaries are set according to the New Zealand national Multi Employer Collective Agreements (MECAs).
Nursing students are welcomed and supported through their varied clinical placements.
Find out more about our Mental Health and Addictions Service graduate nurse programme
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Applying from overseas?
What you need to knowThere are several steps you need to go through to be eligible to work in New Zealand.
If you: - are not registered to practice in New Zealand
- are registered to practice in New Zealand but do not have a current Annual Practising Certificate
you will need to contact the Nursing Council of New Zealand to obtain your New Zealand Nursing Registration ( Phone +64 4 385 9589).
You will also need to contact New Zealand Immigration to find out further details about work permits, visas and residency applications.
You may also need to complete a competence assessment programme
for a short duration before you can get your Annual Practising
Certificate. These courses are run several times a year and can be
completed through the Waikato Institute of Technology or Waiariki Institute of Technology in this area.
Upon completion of your competency course, we would welcome your application for nursing positions at Waikato District Health Board. |
 As an overseas registered nurse I was attending Competency Assessment Programme of Waikato Institute of Technology in Waikato DHB from October to December 2008. This programme introduces nurses to common aspects of New Zealand regulations in nursing practice.
The importance of such a programme can’t be overestimated. Coming from different countries we have wide range of nursing skills, but of course our experience is based on different cultural patients groups and can’t be directly applied to New Zealand practice.
During this Competency Assessment Programme of Waikato DHB, I and my colleagues achieved the main goal of this education – got basic knowledge about the whole health system in New Zealand, approach to cultural safety and introduction into Maori culture. Hospital-based practice during this period gave an opportunity to feel confident in the hospital environment, apply our skills and knowledge for the benefit of Waikato DHB.
Having friendly and professional support from all participants of the programme allowed me to pass this period of adaptation stress free and smooth joining the team.
After the programme I applied for the position in Waikato Hospital mainly for two reasons: firstly, Waikato DHB provides great career development opportunities, for those who have high motivation. Secondly, I like Hamilton and its location that allow me to get anywhere on North Island in one day. This was important for me because I am fond of travelling. The climate in Waikato (no extreme cold or hot temperatures, less windy than in other parts of New Zealand) is also to be mentioned.
Anastasia Kostiukovsky
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Nurse Entry to Practice Programme
The Nurse Entry to Practice
Programme (NETP) is a NCNZ accredited programme. It is designed
specifically for new graduates of New Zealand registered
nursing degree courses to develop the knowledge and skills required to
progress from a new graduate registered nurse to a competent registered
nurse.
Read more about the programme...
Competence assessment programme
Waikato Institute of Technology (WINTEC) and Waiariki Institute of Technology offer a six week programme (approximately two weeks
theory and four weeks clinical). This is for registered nurses who have
not practiced for five years or more and are required to complete a
programme to gain an annual practicing certificate (APC), and for
overseas registered nurses who are seeking registration in New Zealand.
Waikato District Health Board offers scholarship support towards the
WINTEC programme costs for nurses who have been out of practice for
five years or longer.For more information contact recruit@waikatodhb.govt.nz
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Hi - my name is Teresa and I am a registered nurse. In December 2008 I
completed the Return to Nursing Competency Assessment Programme at the
Waikato Institute of Technology.
My clinical placement for this
programme was completed at Waikato Hospital in an acute surgical
setting, namely Ward 12. Upon completion of my course I was successful
in gaining a position in Ward 12 at the Waikato District Health Board.
I have been asked to share with you my journey from a clinical
perspective through the re-registration process and subsequent
employment within the DHB. |
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Having been absent
from the profession for nine years due to family and business
committments, I was hesitant to return to nursing. What will the
ramifications of shift work be on my family? Will there be any
flexibility with my shifts? Will I remember what to do? Has technology
changed so much that I wont be able to function? Will I be an effective
practitioner after so long away? Is there the support with in the ward
environment and within the organisation that I need? Do I have skills
that I can offer the nursing team and my patients? Is there scope
within the ward and the organisation to develop as a health care
professional?
Now I am four months into my employment with the
DHB. All my questions have been answered and all I can say is I should
have come back to nursing years ago! Not only did I feel those old
skills come back over the last few months but I also believe I brought
with me several new ones. I can notice a huge step up in my
communication skills and never let it be said but that good old life
experience goes a long way. The ward environment has been fantastic. I
had a very comprehensive orientation and although you cannot learn
everything in the three week orientation time frame, you do learn that
if you are unsure of any practice, procedure or situation that you have
an awesome team around you, so you can always find the answer be it from
your fellow nurses, the charge nurse, the duty managers or other
medical personal.
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| The DHB's committment to education has astounded me. Although I have
only been with the organisation for a short time, I have already
attended many study days to enhance my professional practice. The
charge nurse on my ward has been exceptional with rostering me around
my family needs where ever possible and although Ward 12 is an
extremely busy one, the fantastic staff and team members more than make
up for the sore feet and tired body at the end of each shift. The
personal job satisfaction, the wellness return of my patients, the
improvement in my professional practice, the organisational and
educational opportunities - all I can say is why did I leave it so long
to return!
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I finished my Nursing Diploma in 1993 and did eight years in the surgical field at different Hospitals in New Zealand and overseas. I had been out of work for the past seven years raising a family. My husband and I have three boys aged 5, 6 and 8 years. Our youngest started school in May 2008 and I did think a lot about what I was going to do for the rest of my life. Morning teas with my girlfriends didn't feel the same without pre schoolers in tow. I hummed and harred a lot, and decided to ring Wintec and apply for the "Back to Nursing" course, (Competence Assessment Programme). I felt really excited that after seven years I was doing something for me.
 I was lucky a girlfriend had told me she was doing the course which took away some of the anxiety that you feel when doing the unknown. Starting at Wintec on June 3rd was hard; I had left three sad little faces behind at home. They had to start after school care for the first time and Dad didn't make the same lunches as I did. So yes there was that guilt that working mums have.
The week and a half at Wintec was great. Twenty of us got to know each other really well. We covered theory work in preparation for clinical. I found all the tutors very welcoming, interesting and supportive. They were also very good at letting us share our views of what they were saying whether we agreed or not!
We were all assigned a clinical placement which was similar to the previous nursing experience we had had. For me that was on Ward 2, a general surgical ward here at Waikato DHB. We went to our wards to meet the staff and our preceptors that we'd be working alongside for the next four weeks. I found the basics of nursing hadn't changed. However I did feel rusty in medications, I.V Therapy and of course the policies are all new. My preceptor (all credit to her) had a huge wealth of knowledge and I learnt a lot from her. She never once made me feel incompetent (as lets face it time has moved on without us).
I found it so rewarding being in an adult world, getting to know my patients and their families, working within a team of nurses and other health professionals that have a high moral and ethics.
Our goal on clinical was to write down experiences and achieve competencies set out for nurses by the Nursing Council. They sound scary but really they are not and I found all the competencies are met with each patient. I never once felt pushed into doing something I didn't feel confident in.
However, for me at the end of six weeks there was an exhaustion I'd never known before which I'm sure that would come with any sort of learning. Doing the five days/week also proved to me with a young family that I needed a job that was flexible. I want to be able to go to the children’s school events and look after them if they are sick.
When I finished the competence programme I applied for a job on one of the general surgical wards (Ward 12) working part time. Ward 12's nurses are wonderfully welcoming, friendly and sociable. Ward 12's clinical nurse manager is a very supportive leader and with having children of her own she knows what family demands are like.
If there is anything I can offer you it's this. If you are pondering like I was - go ahead and start your career again and I'm sure you'll have a positive experience.
Kathryn Dodd
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Postgraduate study
Postgraduate study is supported by subsidised course fees, travel, and accommodation and study days.
Read more about postgraduate study programmes...
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