[elleann]

I am just SOOO happy right this minute. I just got word that my New Zealand Nursing Registration has been granted!!!! It's like a giant hurdle overcome - both mentally and practically.

With an active registration, I can apply for nursing jobs ... get an offer, get a work permit ... book air tickets, give notice at work ... and then have a quiet heart attack from sheer terror at the enormity of all the changes that will be coming our way.

Next hurdle is Get a Job Offer! :) I'm going to be looking in Wellington first so any Welly RNs - would love to hear from you!

Wheeee!
Linda

[printman]

Congratulations Linda!

My wife is two months into the process (all forms submitted, just waiting). We would be interested in hearing your time line for acceptance. How long from the time everything was submitted did you gain acceptance? Any hiccups along the way? Again congrats and good luck!

Mike and Cara

[ColoradoClan]

Hi, I am new to the site. I have a question I hope someone can answer. I am an RN from the US. My degree is an Associates of Applied Science in Nursing, and I have worked for the past 3 1/2 years in the operating room. Does anyone know if this is an acceptable degree for NZ standards, or do they only recognize bachelors of science in nursing from the US. I sent off my application for registration just the other day, and I have a telephone interview scheduled for next week for a position in Auckland!

[elleann]

Hi Mike!

I couriered all my docs over mid-August and my referees posted their letters around the same time. The South African Nursing Council took forever to do my verification and transcripts - I had requested them in late June, but they were eventually couriered over in early September (a testimony to the number of nurses here wanting to leave the country!)

Then I received a letter back from NZNC with three queries: one was their mistake (they mistook originals for photocopies!), a second was the SA Nursing Council's mistake - they quoted an incorrect verification number! - and the third had to do with a new requirement that all SA nurses provide an IELTS result in hardcopy. (I posted about that saga on another thread - http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/showthread.php?t=21162

So I cleared those three issues up by 5th October - emailed back and forth to do so. I also emailed them to verify that they had in fact received all the referees letters, as I have heard of people waiting and waiting and not knowing that some things were missing. I've been watching the mail for a letter about the actual registration - the NZ Council seems to like hard copy! - but I got impatient so I dropped them an email query this evening, to which they replied that my registration had been approved and gave me the number. Also said the letter and certificate of registration had been posted (not sure when) and that when I got it, I should return the form for the Annual Practicing Certificate and pay the fee.

So all in all it was just over two months for me. It is a good idea to email them and follow up now and then, I think, but without badgering them unnecessarily. Good luck to your wife - where are you now and where do you want to go in NZ, btw?

Linda

[elleann]

I can't answer your question unfortunately, but I know the NZ Council will review all your training transcripts to ensure that your level of training is acceptable. If there are areas of deficit, I think they will tell you and you will have the option of catching up in those areas. I think. ;)

Good luck.
Linda


Hi, I am new to the site. I have a question I hope someone can answer. I am an RN from the US. My degree is an Associates of Applied Science in Nursing, and I have worked for the past 3 1/2 years in the operating room. Does anyone know if this is an acceptable degree for NZ standards, or do they only recognize bachelors of science in nursing from the US. I sent off my application for registration just the other day, and I have a telephone interview scheduled for next week for a position in Auckland!

[ColoradoClan]

thanks elleann. Perhaps there are other U. S. RN's out there who are familiar with this.

[andrewp]

Awesome news Linda. Good luck with the Job hunt now.
:cheers

[JandM]

:nice1

[willow]

i was in the same situation as you a few months ago, it was a huge hurdle to get over receiving my nurse reg in nz. it is still a long haul though, so keep positive!

we began the process in april 2008 and submitted our ITA on 22/9/08, with no job offer. I am a specialist public health nurse and want to keep within that area, we are heading for nelson and their district health board just calmly say give us a ring when you arrive, there will be a job for you! i applied for quite a few jobs in nelson within public health, but they want me over there first. luckily, we had enough points to allow for that.

i would advise to look on the district health board websites as all of the jobs that agencies have are on there any way, however i have heard some really good reports on the forum about two nursing agences tonix (ithink that is how you spell it) and geneva. just do a search and they will come up.

good luck and well done!

[elleann]

Thanks, willow! That is great to hear and very encouraging!

I have been keeping an eye on all the job boards while waiting for my reg to come through including the dhb ones. I'm also in contact with Geneva who seem to be very professional and supportive. So I'll be sending in a lot of applications over the next few days - my experience is mainly long term care with some primary health care thrown in. I'm planning to go the work permit route so as to get in as soon as possible - hopefully in time for my daughter to start school in Welly in February - and will then apply for PR afterwards.

That's the plan for now, anyway! :-)

[Hagabel]

That is great, congrats!
I am a UK trained RN but US working RN and I saw nothing in the reg application that said that an Associates would not be successful or aprroved. As long as you graduated from an accredited School of Nursing or college I do not forsee any problem.
My training the UK was more like a diploma in the US. I have applied for nurse reg but waiting!
Good luck.
What part of the US are you in?
:exit

[ColoradoClan]

Hagabel, I'm in Colorado.

[Red Devil]

Hi Linda

... congratulations on gaining nursing registration in NZ. My OH was over the moon when she received the news of her registration in July. Like others have said, I'd really recommend signing up with an agency. From the word 'GO' Rachel signed up with Tonix Health Recruitment and has regular contact with Annie O'Donnell. She has been a huge help and sorted Rachel out with her position at Christchurch Hospital (commencing March '09).

Best of luck with everything :nice1

Simon

[Mrs B]

I've also been in touch with Annie at Tonix. She said that if she had a dollar for every U.K nurse that wanted to be a practice nurse in Christchurch that she would have a very healthy bank balance!
The interesting thing about that is that in the U.K we can't get experienced practice nurses for love nor money. Sure... lots of nurses would like to. Family friendly hours, good money and autonomy but I suppose that what Kiwi nurses also want.
Am thinking about sending my C.V to gp practices directly...

Well done on your nurse reg. It's a big thing and I know how much it means to you... Big pat on the back and lots of thoses bananary things! :bluebanana:bluebanana:bluebanana

[printman]

Hi again,
I thought I would ask here since there seem to be a few UK nurses perusing this thread. I've seen the term "practice nurse" a few times and was wondering exactly what that means. Possibly it's the equivalent of a nurse practitioner here in the US? Thanks in advance.

Mike and Cara

[IanW99]

Hi again,
I thought I would ask here since there seem to be a few UK nurses perusing this thread. I've seen the term "practice nurse" a few times and was wondering exactly what that means. Possibly it's the equivalent of a nurse practitioner here in the US? Thanks in advance.

Mike and Cara

A practice nurse works in a doctors surgery, or as they say a GP (general practitioner) in the UK for doctor, hence practice.

Practice nurses work in general practitioner (GP) practices providing assessment, screening, treatment, care and education to patients from all sections of the community, from infants through to the elderly.

Ian