HealthInfo West Coast-Te Tai Poutini

Nurses

Nēhi

Nursing roles and responsibilities are always changing to make sure people get high-quality care and better health. The kind of job a nurse does depends on their level of training, qualifications and expertise.

What nurses do

Registered nurses

Most nurses in New Zealand are registered nurses (RNs). They work independently as well as with other medical professionals. They:

• assess health needs
• provide care
• advise and support patients
• supervise other healthcare workers, including student nurses and enrolled nurses (ENs)
• work in many healthcare settings. This includes hospitals, primary health organisations, general practices, rest homes, prisons and schools
• often specialise in one area.

Practice nurses

Practice nurses are registered nurses who work in your general practice or health centre. They work in your community to plan nursing care and deliver treatment. They can also provide you and your whānau (family) with health education.

Clinical nurse specialists

Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are expert nurses with special skills and knowledge in one clinical area. They usually have many years of experience and are often the main person you will talk to. They provide:

• clinical leadership and education to other nurses
• practical, educational and emotional support to patients and their whānau.

Clinical nurse specialists can prescribe some medications for conditions in their clinical area.

Nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners are highly skilled registered nurses with advanced education and clinical training. Nurse practitioners work in hospitals and the community. You may see a nurse practitioner instead of a GP. A nurse practitioner can refer you to a specialist and consult with a GP if necessary.

Nurse practitioners can prescribe some medications.

This video by the Ministry of Health’s acting Chief Nursing Officer Dr Jill Clendon tells you more about what a nurse practitioner does.

District nurses

District nurses (DNs) are registered nurses who work in the community. They:

• visit people who cannot leave their house
• provide follow-up care for people recently discharged from hospital
• give practical and educational advice
• provide wound management, catheter and continence care as well as medication support
• help take care of people, so they do not have to go to hospital or stay there too long
• specialise in different areas such as palliative care.

Plunket nurses

Plunket nurses are registered nurses with extra professional qualifications. They work with whānau with tamariki (children) up to the age of 5 to promote health and prevent illnesses.

Public health nurses

Public health nurses are based in the community. They have a broad range of roles supporting tamariki, rangatahi (young people) and their whānau. They visit schools and homes, providing support, education and connection to the health system. They are also involved in community vaccination programmes.

School nurses

School nurses provide on-site and free healthcare to students in secondary schools. They are experienced in all areas of youth health. This includes emotional wellbeing, physical and sexual health.

Enrolled nurses

Enrolled nurses (ENs) work in your community, homes and hospitals. They are supervised by a registered nurse or nurse practitioner. They:

• provide care
• give health education to the public
• help with nursing assessments, planning, implementing and evaluating care.

Qualifications

Anyone working as a nurse in New Zealand must:

• be trained as a registered nurse or an enrolled nurse by trainers accredited by the Nursing Council of New Zealand
• meet Nursing Council of New Zealand standards
• hold a valid annual practising certificate.

To renew their certificate every year, a nurse must prove:

• they have taken part in ongoing education and development each year
• they can do their job well
• they have worked enough hours as a nurse.

  HealthInfo recommends the following pages

• Access Community Health

  Access has nurses and support workers who visit people in their own homes. They provide nursing, personal care, rehabilitation and household help.

• Healthcare New Zealand

  Healthcare New Zealand offers services in the areas of specialist nursing and injury-related support. Also, long-term condition management, mental health and addiction support and specialist disability services.

• Plunket

  Plunket provides support services for the development, health and wellbeing of tamariki under 5.

Written by HealthInfo clinical advisers. Last reviewed September 2024.

Sources

Page reference: 655307

Review key: HISNY-105442