Nursing in New Zealand

Reforms in the 1970s disestablished the original hospital-based schools and moved these into the tertiary education sector, namely polytechnics and universities.

[1] Today all nurses in New Zealand are educated to degree level via a three-year, two semesters per annum, program, with an approximate 50/50 mix of theory to practice.

Recently, attempts were made to reintroduce the title enrolled nurse with this causing some disagreement between trade unions, the registering body, and health providers.

Recent legislation (the 2003 Health Practitioners Competency Assurance Act) sets standards for both scope of practice and requirements in terms of ongoing development.

[4] This is expected to accentuate after the end of the COVID-19 pandemic leads to borders reopening between Australia and New Zealand, although the picture is complicated by the possibility of two-way brain drain, with skilled workers (including nurses) moving between each nation.