More than 90 per cent of Otago Polytechnic nursing graduates from November last year are employed, reports head of school Ian Crabtree.
In a press release Otago Polytechnic said 92 per cent of the 90 graduates from November 2017 were known to be employed by February 2018.
The ACE job clearinghouse report showed that Southern DHB took on 53 new graduates for 2018 and neighbouring South Canterbury took on 13. National statistics are not yet available for how many November graduates nationwide have gained positions. As at late November 57 per cent of ACE applicants had been offered new graduate places.
Crabtree said 81 per cent of the employed graduates were on NETP (nursing entry to practice) programmes and 13 per cent on mental health NESP (new entry to specialist practice) programmes. The remaining six per cent were in primary care including one employed directly in residential aged care. He said the majority of the Otago graduates had gone to positions through the Southern or South Canterbury district health boards but a couple had gone to North Island DHBs. None had gone overseas this year and only one the previous year, said Crabtree.
