sparkywater

My wife is currently a Wound Care Specialist Nurse and also a Nurse prescriber working in the community in the UK. Does any one have any knowledge as to her employability in New Zealand. Unsure if these qualifications are transferable. Intending to come over in February 2008 to sus things out so any information would be great.

Boopy

She'll have no bother getting a post as Clinical Nurse Educator with the DHB's on surgical wards, or as a Distrct Nurse in the community. I don't think you'll be able to do anything with the nurse prescribing.
Having said that she'll be able to get a nursing post anywhere, they aren't so bothered about your skills, it's more about you and your personality.
Good luck.

donnaf

She will need a practising certificate to work here which you can apply for from the Nursing Council in NZ, it is time limited so she doesn't need it yet and her emloyer will probably reimburse the cost of it. As Boopy says she shouldn't have any problems, she may have to start of a bit further down the ladder but will work up pretty quickly. They do seem to reward hard work and experience in the nursing profession here. There is also a shortage of nurses here! Nearer the time she should send her CVs out to places she is interested in, my husband and I are both nurses and we did that and then had phone interviews. Happy to give your wife any advice if she wants it.
Is your suss out trip a general thin or just for your wifes employment?

sparkywater

We intend to do the grand tour of the North Island over two weeks taking in a few hospitals during the trip. Looking for a nice place to work and live, initial thoughts are Auckland northwards. Thanks for the offer of advice we will definately teake you up on it.

donnaf

If you are going to hit Wellington let us know, we'll meet up for a coffee if you have time and give the missus the low down on nursing in NZ

Frenchy

And if you get to Blenheim in the South Island I would love to help. We only did North Island on our recce and have ended up in sunny Marlborough, its lovely!!!!!

I was also a community nurse/ tissue viability nurse in UK with a senior teaching post within the clinical area as I also obtained my PGCE. I was involved in teaching wound care at degree level.Over here I work as a speciality nurse in diabetes, cardiology and respiratory. A VERY DIFFERENT SENIOR NURSE ROLE!!!!!! I got here in January and would say that I am only just feeling my feet at work.

I kept visiting the District Nurses and wound care nurses at first but in some ways I think I would have got frustrated with wound care here as I have to say its very different from UK!!!!!

I was also a Nurse Prescriber and again I think wound care wise the limitation of choice would have driven me crazy!!!! It is a shame to loose those skills but hey its all good experience.


Let me know if I can be of any further help and good luck!!!!

nickcharliepark

both nick and me are nurses they will bite your hand off for your skills . we were both g grades in england and we were employed at expert level in tauranga (need an active portfolio to prove it within the year but had no problem getting a job)

just think that some thing are different here in nz as i was a nurse practioner in the uk here you need a masters and various interviews in front of the nusing council here for the role, and in ed the dont have the 4 hour waiting deadline patients can be there for hours on end 15 is the most i have seen which did seem like a step backwards s the place i worked in england had sorted there problems out but getting used to it now and things are changing here towards that

Ted Logan

God !!!!!!!1 The place is full of English nurses. How do Kiwi's understand them.

Bellasmum

Your wife may find this helpful Sparky

http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/

Gill and Rob

Hello
I'm a nurse too !!! Would be more than happy to show you around Rotorua Hospital when you come over. You need to apply early to nursing council to get your registration. This can take 3-4 months to sort, and then you need to apply for an APC (Annual Practising Certificate), you need this to show you have current registration. This process is competency based. Most NZ employers refund the cost of the APC, but only after you are employed with them, they only cost $96 a year !!! (so you probably won't get refunded for your first one). They are issued quarterly, so you may get one for 3,6,9 or 12 months, depending when your birthday is and when you apply (I know ...confusing ).

Nursing is quite different in NZ, and it takes some adjusting to get used to "Kiwi Busy" compared to "UK Busy".

For a staff nurse, salary is based on years of experience, whereas the senior nurse positions are "scoped" and awarded a grade from 1-8. 8 being nurse practitioner of which I believe there is now 27 for the whole country.

Any further questions just as.

Gill

sparkywater

Thanks every one for your advice some really useful information. Wife said no one will answer that question its far to specialized. Thanks again and what a nice bunch you are.

danny.f

As my missus said-if you get to Welly-include us in your plans and I can show her round the Hospital,and coffee here is a must!

owen

I'm more afraid of not being to understand the kiwis!!

danny.f

Nice one Lanky!

If any one wants a job in Wellington Paeds-giz a PM, will get you sorted in no time!!

owen

Too windy for me, I'm gonna be a JAFA!!

Job in ICU Auck waiting for me and I'm waiting for reg, sick of waiting