To become a registered nurse in New Zealand, one must complete a Bachelor of Nursing degree from an approved program, obtain registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, and earn an Annual Practising Certificate. Registered nurses work in hospitals, primary care organizations, and communities providing care and supporting health management. There is high demand for registered nurses in New Zealand, as the population ages and retires, with projections estimating a shortage of 15,000 nurses by 2035 if current trends continue.

2. ■ How to become a registered nurse
Registered nurses use nursing knowledge and judgement to:
• assess health needs;
• provide care for health consumers in a range of settings from
hospitals to communities; and
• advise and support people to manage their health.
Registered nurses work independently and in collaboration with
other health professionals, families, whānau, Māori and Pacific
health care providers, and communities. They practise in a wide
range of places including hospitals, communities, primary health
organisations, patients’ homes, and aged residential care. They
also perform general nursing functions, and delegate to and
direct enrolled nurses, healthcare assistants and others.
Registered nurses may practise in a variety of clinical contexts
depending on their educational preparation and experience.
They may also use this expertise to manage, teach, evaluate and
research nursing practise. Registered nurses are accountable for
ensuring that all the health services they provide are consistent
with their education and assessed competence, meet legislative
requirements, and are supported by appropriate standards.
Entry requirements
To study to become a registered nurse people need to meet
university entrance requirements, and have a certain number
of credits – usually in English, mathematics, and science (biology,
physics or chemistry).
Qualifications needed
Entry to the nursing professions requires a Nursing Council-
approved Bachelor in Nursing (NZQA Level 7 programme) from a
polytechnic, institute of technology or university. To work as a
registered nurse you also need to have a:
• Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand
• Current Annual Practising Certificate.
Registered nurses are also required to take part in continuing
professional development to maintain their competence.
Cost of study
Bachelor of Nursing
$21,000 over three years
Average costs in 2015 for a domestic student. Costs vary between
institutions. Further costs include student levies, administrative fees,
materials, textbooks, accommodation, clinical experience costs (including
additional travel and accommodation, indemnity insurance, uniforms, and
vaccinations), and Nursing Council state final exams.
Rents vary from place to place. Estimated market rents by re-
gion, city and suburb are available on the MBIE Tenancy Services
website.
The StudyLink website provides general budget advice for
students, and the Sorted website provides help with detailed
budget planning.
→ Tenancy Services: www.tenancy.govt.nz/rent-bond-and-bills
→ StudyLink: www.studylink.govt.nz
→ Sorted: www.sorted.org.nz/calculators/money-planner
Where to study
There are 17 schools in New Zealand offering a bachelor’s degree
in nursing. A list of providers can be found on the Ministry of
Health website.
→ Ministry of Health, nursing: www.health.govt.nz/our-work/
nursing/studying-nursing-new-zealand/schools-nursing
There are also schools with bachelor’s degrees in nursing
designed for Māori and Pacific students (eg Whitireia Com-
munity Polytechnic, Manukau Institute of Technology, Te Whare
Wananga o Awanuiarangi). Information on scholarships and sup-
port for Māori and Pacific students and current health workers
wanting to develop a career in the health sector is available at:
→ Kia Ora Hauora: www.kiaorahauora.co.nz
Registration
Registered nurses need to be registered with the Nursing Council
of New Zealand (NCNZ) and have a current annual practising
certificate.
→ The Nursing Council of New Zealand, registration:
www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/Nurses/Register-as-a-nurse
Completed qualifications
In 2014, 1,750 students completed a bachelor’s degree in nurs-
ing, a 0.9% a drop from 2013. Overall, the number of students
who completed a bachelor’s degree qualification in nursing has
increased steadily from its level in 2007.
In the year ending March 2015, 1,832 of 1,975 candidates with
Bachelor’s degrees in nursing passed the state final registration
for the Registered Nurse Scope of Practice1
.
1 Nursing Council of New Zealand Annual Report 2015
REGISTERED NURSES JOB PROSPECTS
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FEES
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INCOME
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JOB PROSPECTS New Zealand has a growing nursing workforce. Most nursing graduates
get a nursing job in New Zealand within one year of graduating.
There is also strong demand for mid-level registered nurses, and for
registered nurses in specialty areas.
Longer term, the prospects for this occupation are looking better given
the increased life expectancy of the general population and ageing
nursing workforce in New Zealand.
At a glance
SOCIAL & COMMUNITY SERVICES

3. Source: Ministry of Education
■ Income and employment prospects
Income
New graduates with a bachelor’s degree in nursing earn about
$47,000 a year. Those with three to five years’ experience can
earn between $54,000 and $64,000. Senior nurses with more
responsibilities can earn from $67,000 to $110,000.
Median earnings after qualification completion
One year Three to five years
$47,000 $54,000 to $64,000
Source: Careers New Zealand/District Health Boards/New Zealand Nurses
Organisation Collective Agreement
New graduate registered nurses in a district health board (DHB)
start on a salary of $47,000 per year, and can earn up to $64,000
after three to five years. Designated senior registered nurses
(Levels 1 to 8) can earn between $67,000 and $110,000, depend-
ing on position, seniority and experience.
Income of registered nurses in DHBs with one to five
years’ experience
$47,000 to $64,000
Source: District Health Boards/New Zealand Nurses Organisation, ‘Multi-
Employer Collective Agreement 1 March 2012-28 February 2015’, 2014.
Voluntary bonding scheme
The Ministry of Health runs a voluntary bonding scheme for nurs-
ing graduates who agree to work in hard-to-staff communities
and/ or specialities. Graduates who are part of the scheme are
eligible for incentive payments for up to five years, intended to
help them repay their student loans. For more information see:
→ www.health.govt.nz/our-work/health-workforce/voluntary-
bonding-scheme
Employment and skill shortages
Nursing employment
Current number of registered
nurses*
Projected number of registered
nurses by 2035**
2013 2014
Population
growth scenario
Ageing
population
scenario
48,406
49,769
up 2.8%
54,660 63,960
*Nursing Council of New Zealand Annual Reports 2014 and 2015
**BERL (2013), New Zealand Nurses: workforce planning 2010-2035,
Wellington.
From 2013 to 2014, the number of registered nurses rose by 2.8%
to 49,769. The demand for registered nurses is likely to continue
to grow, as older nurses retire and the New Zealand population
increases. According to an analysis of the nursing workforce
from 2010-2035 commissioned by the Nursing Council of New
Zealand, the changes in New Zealand’s population size and
structure will see a nursing shortage of 15,000 nurses by 2035.
Some specialist registered nurses are on Immigration New Zea-
land’s long-term skill shortage list, including those specialising in
aged care, critical care, and emergency, medical, and periopera-
tive care. If a job appears on the skill shortage list, it means the
government is actively encouraging skilled people in the role
to come and work in New Zealand. A full list is available on the
Immigration New Zealand website.
→ Immigration NZ, skill shortage list:
skillshortages.immigration.govt.nz
Where to find job vacancies
The number of online job vacancies for registered nurses in-
creased (up 13.4%) from September 2014 to September 2015.
This compares with an overall increase of 1.9% for all vacancies
over the same period.
New nursing graduates can apply for positions through the
Advanced Choice of Employment (ACE) system on the nursing
entry practice (NETP) or mental health (NSEP) programmes in
public hospitals or community settings.
Nursing vacancies are advertised through public media such as
the Trade Me Jobs, Kiwihealthjobs and Seek websites. Positions
are also advertised on individual DHB websites.
→ Trade Me Jobs: www.trademe.co.nz/jobs
→ Seek: www.seek.co.nz
→ Health vacancies www.kiwihealthjobs.com/
Career path
There are many areas for registered nurses to specialise in.
Examples include aged care, primary care, mental health and
addiction, intensive care, and child and adolescent nursing.
Registered nurses can also choose to develop careers in nursing
practice, health management, research, and teaching.
Experienced registered nurses may progress within an expanded
scope of practices and to positions such as clinical nurse special-
ist or clinical nurse manager. There are also options to continue
with postgraduate study up to and including doctorate level.
A further level of registered nurse is nurse practitioner, requiring
at least four years’ experience in a specific area of practice and
the completion of a clinically-focused master’s degree.
■ Other information
Links
More information on registered nursing professionals is available
on the Careers New Zealand website.
→ Careers New Zealand: www.careers.govt.nz
→ Ministry of Health, studying nursing: www.health.govt.nz/our-
work/nursing/studying-nursing-new-zealand
→ The Nursing Council: www.nursingcouncil.org.nz
→ Plunket Society: www.plunket.org.nz
Numberofstudents
completingqualification
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Bachelor's Degree
SOCIAL & COMMUNITY SERVICES
REGISTERED NURSES
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