Marlborough Boys’ College
Registered Nurse Tapuhi Whai Rēhitatanga
Registered nurses assess, treat and support people who are sick, disabled or injured, in hospitals, clinics, rest homes, and nursing homes.
Nurses need to be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand and have a current Annual Practising Certificate.
Registered nurses may do some or all of the following:
- assess patients
- plan and carry out nursing care in partnership with other health professionals
- monitor patients' conditions and record changes
- give patients immunisations, medicine and intravenous (IV) drugs
- advise patients and help them to manage their own health
- visit and educate patients, families and community groups about health and preventing accidents and illness
- delegate work to enrolled nurses and health care assistants
- give further education to trained nurses and other staff
- do health-related research and evaluations.
Enrolled nurses care for patients while a registered nurse or nurse practitioner supervises them.
Nurse Practitioner
To become a nurse practitioner you need to:
- work as a registered nurse for at least four years
- complete a Master's degree that is accredited by the Nursing Council
- pass a Nursing Council of New Zealand assessment.
- Nursing Council of NZ website - how to become a nurse practitioner
Plunket Nurse
To become a Plunket nurse working in child health development and community-based nursing you need to:
- gain a Plunket nurse role
- complete a Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing (Level 8) while working in the role.
- Plunket website - how to become a Plunket nurse
- Whitireia New Zealand website - Postgraduate Certificate in Primary Health Care Specialty Nursing
Practice Nurse
To become a practice nurse you must have a:
- current cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) certificate
- certificate of competence in vaccinations or cervical screening, if you are performing those duties.
- College of Primary Health Care Nurses website - primary health care nursing
Physical Requirements
Registered nurses need to be reasonably fit, as they may have to spend long periods on their feet, and sometimes have to lift patients.
Useful Experience
Useful experience for registered nurses includes:
- work with children, families, the elderly or people with disabilities
- social work or counselling
- community support work
- work in hospitals or health promotion
- teaching.
Personal Qualities
Registered nurses need to be:
- good at communicating
- skilled at problem solving
- organised, with excellent time management
- able to work well under pressure and stay calm in emergencies
- able to keep personal information confidential
- kind, patient, tolerant and helpful
- able to relate to people from a range of cultures and backgrounds.
Skills
Registered nurses need to have knowledge of:
- how to assess and monitor patients' conditions and symptoms
- the human body and its diseases and illnesses
- nursing methods for different illnesses and injuries
- the effects of different medicines and treatments
- how to advocate on behalf of patients
- different cultural beliefs about health and medical treatment.
Conditions
Registered nurses:
- usually work eight- to 12-hour shifts, including nights, weekends and public holidays. Nurses who work in the community or at medical centres usually work a set 40 hours a week
- may work in stressful situations, and be in contact with distressed people, diseases and body fluids
- may travel locally to visit clients.
Subject Recommendations
NCEA Level 3 is required to enter tertiary training. Useful subjects include maths, English, biology, chemistry and physics.
Related Courses
Registered Nurses can earn around $68K-$84K per year.
Chances of getting a job as a Registered Nurse are good due to a shortage of people interested in this type of work.
Pay for registered nurses varies depending on their qualification, experience, duties and responsibilities.
Enrolled nurses working for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ
- Graduate enrolled nurses working for Te Whatu Ora usually earn $68,000 a year. ($70,000 from 1 April 2024.)
- Enrolled nurses can earn $71,000 to $81,000. ($73,000 to $84,000 from 1 April 2024.)
Registered nurses working for Te Whatu Ora Health NZ
- Graduate registered nurses working for Te Whatu Ora usually earn $74,000 a year. ($76,000 from 1 April 2024.)
- Registered nurses usually earn $79,000 to $104,000. ($82,000 to $107,000 from 1 April 2024.)
- Senior registered nurses can earn $111,000 to $158,000. ($114,000 to $163,000 from 1 April 2024.)
- Nurse practitioners can earn $133,000 to $158,000 ($137,000 to $163,000 from 1 April 2024).
Registered nurses can also earn overtime.
Source: Te Whatu Ora, 'Te Whatu Ora - Health NZ and New Zealand Nurses Organisation, Nursing and Midwifery Collective Agreement 31 March 2023 - 31 October 2024.'
Registered nurses may progress to become:
- charge nurses, who manage wards
- clinical nurse educators, who provide further education to trained nurses and staff.
With further training, registered nurses may progress to become nurse practitioners. They diagnose and treat patients, prescribe medicine, and may run their own health clinics.
Registered nurses usually specialise in a role such as:
- Aged Care Nurse
- Aged care nurses provide nursing care for elderly people.
- Community Health Nurse
- Community health nurses provide nursing care and education in fields such as disease control, health promotion, and caring for refugee families or people with low incomes.
- Critical Care and Emergency Nurse
- Critical care and emergency nurses care for patients after surgery, and when injured or acutely ill, in intensive care units and emergency departments.
- Mental Health and Addictions Nurse
- Mental health and addictions nurses care for patients with emotional or mental problems and addictions. They may specialise in crisis assessment or telephone triage – assessing patients over the telephone.
- Perioperative Nurse
- Perioperative nurses care for patients before, during and immediately after surgery, assist surgeons and anaesthetists, and monitor patients' recovery from anaesthetic.
- Plunket Nurse
- Plunket nurses work with parents and caregivers. They advise on childcare and parenting, and assess the health and development of children under five.
- Practice Nurse
- Practice nurses work in general practitioners' surgeries and medical clinics. They may assist with immunisations, vaccinations and wound care, and provide general health advice.
Years Of Training
3 years of training required.Enrolled nurse
To become an enrolled nurse you need to:
- complete a Diploma of Enrolled Nursing (Level 5)
- pass an assessment by an approved provider
- pass an examination for enrolled nurses.
Enrolled nurses care for patients while a registered nurse or nurse practitioner supervises them.
Registered nurse
To become a registered nurse you need to :
- complete a Bachelor of Nursing, or other Level 7 or 8 qualification approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand
- pass an assessment by an approved provider
- pass a Nursing Council of New Zealand examination for registered nurses.
Registered nurses also need to register with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
- Ministry of Health website - nursing qualifications and providers in New Zealand
- Nursing Council of NZ website - becoming a registered nurse
The Vulnerable Children Act 2014 means that if you have certain serious convictions, you can’t be employed in a role where you are responsible for, or work alone with, children.
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