Message from the Chief Executive/RegistrarTēnā koutou katoa Recent times have been challenging for nursing. Workforce shortages compounded by living with COVID-19 have been difficult for us all. And over recent months we have also had the regular seasonal stresses that winter brings to our health system, and to nurses as both professionals and people. On a brighter note, since our last pānui both Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand and Te Aka Whai Ora Māori Health Authority have been established and begun working to shape a new health system. Meanwhile, we continue to monitor and enhance our current processes, and have been discussing with Immigration New Zealand and Te Whatu Ora how to reduce duplication in the documents we all require. I would also like to acknowledge the Minister of Health’s recent announcement of financial support for nurses
completing competence assessment programmes (amongst other initiatives). Ngā mihi nui Catherine Byrne Nursing Council acknowledges passing of Queen Elizabeth IIThe Council acknowledges with sadness the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, Aotearoa New Zealand’s Head of State. In addition to her constitutional role, the Queen was a patron of many nursing and health organisations across the Commonwealth including the Royal College of Nursing and the Queen’s Nursing Institute. The Prime Minister’s official statement can be found here. Congratulations to new Graduate NursesThe Council congratulates and welcomes the 599 new graduate nurses who recently joined the Register after successfully passing the Council’s State Final Examination. We would like to acknowledge your achievement and thank your families/whānau and the nurses in practice and education who have supported you. Council hosts Pacific Nursing Leaders FonoOn 27 July, the Council hosted a fono to explore the position, challenges, and opportunities for Pacific nursing. Bringing together a group of leaders in Pacific nursing and health, Council members, and the Council’s leadership team, conversation on the day was purposefully wide-ranging. Areas discussed included current and future Pacific demographics, how the Council gathers and reports data on and for Pacific nurses, education and pathways to registration, the ethics of recruitment, and the need to change narratives around Pacific nursing. This is the first fono the Council has held, and we intend it to mark the beginning of ongoing talanoa, engagement, and actions. It provides us with a starting point for addressing how we work with Pacific nurses and for Pacific communities, and how we can build our capability. But it is not meant as a one-off event, and we will continue to host fono and undertake other work that allow us to be more responsive, more open, and more accountable in how we approach Pacific nursing. Back: Tania Mullane, Pauline Sanders (Council member), Aiolupotea Matafanua Hilda Fa’asalele, Linda Aumua, Abel Smith, Eseta Finau, Tofilau Talalelei Taufale. Front: Fuimaono Dr Karl Pulotu-Endemann, Dr Margaret Southwick, Ngaira Harker (Council chair). Not pictured: Iosefa Paituli (Council member), Dr Deb Ryan, Safaato’a Fereti, and Noreen Tully. New Recruitment Campaign and HubKiwi Health Jobs – a new centralised recruitment hub for health – is now up and running, and the KHJ team welcome all new nurses to the Register. Aotearoa New Zealand’s health sector is collaborating to increase our nursing capacity and fill positions across the system through a new nursing recruitment campaign. If you’re a new graduate who hasn’t yet gained employment, want to know more about the campaign, or would to like to find out how KHJ can provide guidance and support in areas such as immigration then please contact the team at info@kiwihealthjobs.com or apply now. New approaches for assessing International NursesIn April and May this year, the Council consulted on changes to our assessment and registration of internationally qualified nurses (IQNs). The Council has considered these, and recently announced several decisions as a result. In mid-August, we announced a refresh of our English Language policy. This set a new writing score standard, clarified our policy on some issues, and made the different pathways for showing competence more visible. Our new guidance for IQNs also provides a clearer explanation of why we have these requirements. Further information on this refresh is available on our website. On 5 September we announced Council’s decision to adopt a new model for assessing the competence of internationally qualified nurses who apply to register here. This model shifts our emphasis from gathering and evaluating documentary evidence to directly assessing a nurse’s competence through a conceptual exam (based on the Council’s State Final Examination) and a clinical test (an OSCE). All nurses will also need to complete education that introduces them to key features of nursing in Aotearoa New Zealand, including Te Tiriti o Waitangi, cultural safety and kawa whakaruruhau, and our culture, structures, and expectations of nursing practice. As part of this, the Council will also be introducing a clear dedicated pathway for international nurses to register as Enrolled Nurses. We intend to introduce this new model at the beginning of 2024, and over the next 15 months will be working with experts, the sector, and stakeholders to implement a robust and comprehensive delivery system for the new model. The news item announcing this decision is available on our website and we will be providing regular updates on our progress toward the new model. Updated access criteria for antiviral COVID-19 treatmentsOn 18 July, the oral COVID-19 antiviral medicines nirmatrelvir with ritonavir (Paxlovid™) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio®) were reclassified from prescription-only medicines to restricted (pharmacist-only) medicines, enabling registered nurse prescribers in primary health and specialty teams to write a prescription for those patients who meet Pharmac’s criteria. For more information about the update please visit the Pharmac website. Registered nurse
prescribers in primary health and specialty teams will need to determine in collaboration with your prescribing mentor or team if it is within your area of practice and competence to prescribe and for which patients. More complex patients will need to be assessed by an authorised prescriber. For guidance on prescribing click here. An information and training webinar on supplying/prescribing these oral COVID-19 antiviral medicines and using the COVID Clinical Care Module (CCCM) was recorded and is accessible free of charge on the Pharmaceutical Society NZ website.This training is recommended but not mandatory. Queries can be sent to covidcareinthecommunity@health.govt.nz. Updated guidance for RN PrescribersNursing Council has updated its guidance for registered nurse prescribers in primary health and specialty teams and diabetes health. This update provides clarity that these RN prescribers may prescribe ‘pharmacist only’ (restricted), ‘pharmacy only’ and ‘general sales’ medications. A classification database is available from Medsafe. Update on Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal DecisionsThe following Health Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal Decisions are now available. The full decision relating to this case on the Tribunal at www.hpdt.org.nz |