Enrolled nurse scope of practice
Enrolled nurses in Aotearoa New Zealand reflect knowledge, concepts and worldviews of both tangata whenua and tangata tiriti.
Enrolled nurses uphold and enact ngā mātāpono – principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, based on the Kawa Whakaruruhau framework and cultural safety, promoting equity, inclusion, diversity, and rights of Māori as tangata whenua. These concepts also relate to Pacific peoples and all population groups to support quality services that are culturally safe and responsive.
Enrolled nurses are accountable and responsible for their nursing practice, ensuring that all health care provided is consistent with their education, assessed competence, relevant legislative requirements, supported by relevant practice standards, and is guided by the Nursing Council of New Zealand’s standards for enrolled nurses.
The enrolled nurse works in partnership and collaboration with individuals, their whānau, communities, and the interprofessional healthcare team, to deliver equitable person/whānau/whakapapa-centred nursing care, including advocacy and health promotion, across the life span in all settings.
An enrolled nurse’s practice is informed by their educational preparation and practice experience and may include a leadership or coordination role within the healthcare team.
Enrolled nurses partner with people receiving health and/or disability support services to initiate and monitor care through nursing assessments, care planning, implementation and evaluation of care.
Enrolled nurses must work with access to, and seek when appropriate, guidance from a registered nurse or other registered health practitioner.*
*A health practitioner is a person who is registered under the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 – for example, a nurse practitioner, midwife or medical practitioner. For the avoidance of doubt in other legislation where nurse is defined, this scope of practice includes general nursing and nursing functions.
To find out what qualifications are needed to become an enrolled nurse, please click here.
If you are an internationally qualified enrolled nurse, and want to become registered in Aotearoa New Zealand, please click here.