NEWS briefs including: New nurse leaders appointed/ About 200 nurses affected by migration changes/ New STI resource for health professionals
About 200 nurses affected by migration changes
The dropping of 11 nursing categories from the long-term skill shortage list may affect about 200 nurses currently nursing here on work visas. Immigration New Zealand said about 800 registered nurses were currently issued visas to work in New Zealand and about 200 of those were for nurses working in areas no longer on the LTSSL.Nursing categories dropped include mental health, surgical, child and family, community health, nurse researchers, nurse managers and nurse practitioners.
The registered nurse categories remaining on the list are aged care, perioperative, medical, critical care, and emergency. Other health occupations still on the LTSSL are physiotherapists, GPs, and clinical psychologists. The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has advised nurses, particularly with visas due to expire, to contact Immigration New Zealand to explore their options.Immigration NZ said options open to affected RNs include applying for an essential skills work visa, skilled migrant category residence or “work to residence” (accredited employer) if they are working for an accredited employer.
The changes to the LTSSL were made earlier this year by Immigration New Zealand after “extensive consultation” with stakeholders, relevant government agencies and analysis of labour market trends. Employers can still recruit migrants in categories removed from the list if they demonstrate ‘genuine attempts’ to recruit suitable New Zealand citizens or residents.
New nurse leaders appointed
Andrea McCance has been confirmed as director of nursing and midwifery for Capital & Coast District Health Board after acting in the role since former director Kerrie Hayes resigned late last year to take up a nurse leadership post in Canberra. Andrea McCance came to New Zealand in 2007 and was registration manager at the Nursing Council before becoming associate director of nursing for surgery, women’s and children’s health for Capital & Coast. Prior to coming to New Zealand she was director of nursing and midwifery at Eastern Health Melbourne. She holds post-registration qualifications in midwifery and cardiac care and a postgraduate diploma in organisational behaviour.
Dr Deborah Rowe stepped into the chair role of Nursing Council of New Zealand after former chair Margaret Southwick’s term ended. A nurse consultant and lecturer Rowe was appointed to the council in 2008 and has previously been deputy chair. She holds a joint appointment between Auckland District Health Board and the University of Auckland, recently completed her PhD, and also works as a neonatal intensive care nurse. Rowe (Ngāi Tahu) is also currently chair of the Māori Advisory Committee National Screening Unit, Deputy chair of the Ethics Committee for Assisted Reproduction, and is a committee member on other Ministry of Health Committees
New STI resource for health professionals
New sexual health guidelines and resources have just been released to help nurses and GPs better manage sexually transmitted infections.
The 2013 sexual health management packs have been developed by the Sexually Transmitted Infections Education Foundation (STIEF) in collaboration with New Zealand Sexual Health Society (NZSHS) and 6000 are to be distributed to health professionals. The foundation says 80 per cent of people will contract genital HPV in their lifetime and 30 per cent will get herpes and New Zealand also has one of the highest rates of Chlamydia in the OECD. To find out more or order a pack you can email: [email protected]
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