How to get a nursing job in new zealand?

HealthStaff Recruitment hires registered nurses for many hospitals across New Zealand. The following information provides everything you need to start your working holiday in beautiful New Zealand. Your HealthStaff consultant will always be available to assist you.

The Process

To apply for a Working Visa for New Zealand, you must hold a qualified job offer for a position where no suitable New Zealand citizens are available. Since nurses are in high demand in New Zealand, they fall into a special category. The Government has classified nursing as a long-term skills shortage, so authorities do not check for available New Zealand citizens.

To work in New Zealand, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Obtain an offer of employment – Work with your consultant to secure a job.
2. Register with the New Zealand Nursing Council.
3. Obtain a police clearance and, in some cases, a medical check and chest x-ray.
4. Get a practising certificate from the New Zealand Nursing Council.
5. Apply for a working visa.
6. Obtain a work permit on your passport when you enter the country.

Obtaining Nursing Registration in New Zealand

To get a work permit, you must prove that you are registered with the New Zealand Nursing Council (NZNC). The following information applies to registered nurses. For midwifery registration, see the next section.

The NZNC assesses each nurse individually. For overseas nurses (excluding those registered in all Australian states except Western Australia), the process takes about 12 weeks if your paperwork is complete. You cannot apply for this in person. Once registered, the NZNC will send you application forms for the annual practising certificate, which takes approximately 7–10 days to process. You can apply for the practising certificate in person. The NZNC will issue you a receipt, and they will send the certificate to you after printing it. You can start working with the receipt.

Overseas nurses applying for registration must meet the following requirements:

• Registration with an overseas regulatory authority AND
• An equivalent international qualification OR
• A pass in an assessment of the Council competencies for Registered Nurses by an approved provider AND/OR
• Successful completion of a Council-approved programme for assessing competencies for Registered Nurses.

The Council requires verification of your overseas nursing registration directly from the regulatory authority where you hold registration. You must also provide an original Police Certificate, no more than six months old when the Council receives it, to prove you have no convictions.

Applying for Nursing Registration or Enrolment

Nurses who have gained registration or enrolment outside New Zealand must apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand for admission to the register or roll before practising in New Zealand. The Nursing Council has an overseas registration section to process applications from outside the country.

Assessments

The Nursing Council assesses each applicant individually and does not operate a system of reciprocal registration or enrolment, except under the Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (TTMR Act) 1998. Key considerations for registration include:

• The applicant has completed a nursing or midwifery programme similar in content and length to the equivalent programme in New Zealand and meets the Competencies for Registration/Enrolment.
• The applicant has practised as a nurse or midwife within the past five years.
• The applicant has provided the Nursing Council with evidence, obtained within the past two years, of their ability to speak and write in English if it is not their first language. Recognised tests include CGNFS, IELTS, OET, or a competency programme.

Applicants who do not meet the requirements for nursing registration may need to gain further experience or complete instruction through a Department of Nursing at a New Zealand educational institution. The applicant must arrange and inform the Nursing Council about these arrangements.

Nursing Registration for Applicants from Australia

The Trans-Tasman Mutual Recognition Act (TTMRA) took effect on 1 May 1998. Nurses registered in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory, Northern Territory, Queensland, and Tasmania can apply to the Nursing Council of New Zealand under the TTMRA. You can download application forms from the NZNC website or request them by mail. Nurses from Western Australia must follow the overseas registration process until the state joins the Arrangement.

Police Clearance and Medical Clearance

You must complete a police clearance in your home country to gain employment in New Zealand. Some employers may also require a medical examination. They will inform you of this requirement before you start work.