International nurses ‘need faster pathway’ to NZ

Auckland University of Technology. She submitted her thesis, Internationally Qualified Nurses’ Perceptions of How the New Zealand Registered Nurse Competency Assessment Programme Enabled Transition to Clinical and Culturally Safe Nursing Practice in Aotearoa New Zealand, in July.

Clubb worked as a nurse in the UK and completed the bridging course to practise in New Zealand before pursuing her doctorate.

‘‘I found that the course content, length of time to enrol in and subsequently attend, and the high cost were all perceived as issues for the participants and that this may be now an obstacle for overseas nurses wishing to join the workforce in the present workforce shortage climate,’’ she said.

‘‘The clinical component was not seen to have a significant impact on their learning new skills and gaining knowledge of the NZ RNS’ workforce as many had expected . . . and there were minimal benefits recalled from their classroom experiences overall.’’

The study identified the time and cost of the bridging course as an issue, and concluded that it needs to be reviewed.

AUT’S Professor Eleanor Holroyd, an associate dean at the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, backs the findings.

‘‘Aotearoa is suffering from a severe shortage of nurses, with every likelihood that this will continue to increase. Recruitment of overseas nurses is one key current approach to manage this shortage,’’ she said.

The Government announced a raft of changes on Monday to ease the pressure on the health system to make it easier for health workers to get into the country.

The changes include easing the process for overseas nurses, providing up to $10,000 in financial support for registration costs, and setting up an immigration support service.