New Zealand is facing a significant nursing shortage over the next decade. We need to begin growing a sustainable, home-grown and highly skilled nursing workforce if we are to maintain the high quality of nursing care we all deserve. We’re educating some of the nurses needed to fill that gap and we need to support them to gain experience and stay in New Zealand.

The nurse entry to practice programme is a structured support programme for newly graduated nurses. The programme provides each new graduate nurse with support and mentoring in their first year of practice.

The Minister of Health, Tony Ryall needs to fund a one year nurse entry to practice programme for 100% of new graduate nurses, now – it’s the only way to get the nursing workforce we want in years to come.

Here’s what Sarah and Nic* have to say:

“I just hope that by speaking out I can help other new grads and nursing students because I would never wish for anyone else to experience the amount of disappointment I have in the last six months.”

 “I was never ever told throughout my degree that there were limited NEtP positions.”

 “New grads like me are being forced into unsuitable jobs...”

 “I am seven months down that track after gaining my nursing degree with no job or job prospects that are visible. I need a NEtP position.”

You can find out more about the New Zealand Nurses Organisation campaign to support our new grads here: www.nzno.org.nz/newgrads

* At the nurses’ request we haven’t used their real names.