The New Zealand Nurses Organisation has revised its messaging after Health NZ accused it of spreading “incorrect” information.
On Wednesday the NZNO put out a statement suggesting Health New Zealand was stopping graduate nurse hiring, amidst a critical nursing shortage.
It quoted Chief Executive Paul Goulter saying “this move will be incredibly disappointing for nursing graduates and shows a lack of commitment from Te Whatu Ora to grow and develop New Zealand’s nursing workforce.”
The press release caused significant anxiety among student nurses, prompting many to contact Chris Lynch Media.
But Health New Zealand said the New Zealand Nurses Organisation put out “incorrect” information.
Nadine Gray, Chief Nurse, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora, told Chris Lynch Media “there is no pause on the recruitment of graduate nurses by Health New Zealand.
“Any statements saying otherwise are incorrect.”
“The graduate process is still underway, applicants have expressed their preferences and matching is happening across the sector.
Nadine Gray, Chief Nurse, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora,
“We are continuing to employ graduate nurses, focussing on the areas where we have vacancies.
It is important to remember that the health sector in New Zealand is bigger than just Health NZ, Graduates may also be employed in primary/community care, aged residential care or public health.”
Chris Lynch Media contacted a communications representative at the NZNO on Thursday morning and was told “no comment” and instructed to send an email.
However, they did not respond.
When Chris Lynch Media contacted the NZNO on Thursday night, New Zealand Nurses Organisation Media and Communications Advisor Karen Howarth said that it was Health New Zealand lying.
However, she declined to provide further details and hung up the phone, despite being given the opportunity to clarify NZNO’s position.
At 4:30 PM, the NZNO released another statement with different messaging, saying, “New Zealand Nurses Organisation have voiced concerns about Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora restricting the employment of graduate nurses into their workforce due to budget constraints.”
They appeared to have conceded that their initial press release was overstated by saying “Health NZ Te Whatu Ora states that the number of graduate nurses they employ will depend on the number of available vacancies. They acknowledge that in some nursing specialties, there are currently more graduate expressions of interest than there are likely to be vacancies. However, graduates may also find employment in primary care or aged residential care.”
In the press release, Student Nurse Shannyn Bristowe said New Zealand nursing students study for three years with the expectation they will be able to get a good job with the structures in place to become the nurses they want to be.
“My wero (challenge) to the Government is ‘He aha te mea nui tea o? He tangata he tangata, he tangata! What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people!”
“It is disheartening, nevertheless that we see this Government put budgets and tax rebates before the health and wellbeing of the people. Have they lost touch with reality and who they are meant to lead.”
NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter
NZNO Chief Executive Paul Goulter said that Te Whatu Ora have a budget in place, and they cannot go past that budget cap on recruitment.
“Nursing graduates will now be less likely to gain employment. Previously, hospitals would employ New Zealand trained graduate nurses as they came out of their degree programmes.
“It’s one thing to say that graduates may also be employed primary care or aged residential care, but the problem is that there are very few positions in those areas, they are lower paid, and these roles may not have the structures in place to support and develop graduate nurses as they transition during their first year of practice.
“We need to grow and develop New Zealand’s nursing workforce. Restricting the employment of graduate nurses into the Te Whatu Ora workforce is a serious risk to the future of that workforce.”
Claims that Health New Zealand are freezing the hiring of graduate nurses into the hospital system are incorrect. pic.twitter.com/h7c0Pis8t3
— NZ National Party (@NZNationalParty) June 19, 2024
However, Health Minister Doctor Shane Reti said “I am incredibly concerned at claims that health New Zealand is no longer recruiting graduate nurses.
“This is not the case. Health New Zealand has assured me there is no pause on the recruitment of graduate nurses.
“The graduate process is still underway. Applicants have expressed their preferences, and matching is happening across the sector.
“It’s also important to remember that the health sector in New Zealand is bigger than just Health New Zealand. Graduates also get positions in primary and community care, age residential care and public health.
There’s a lot of misinformation circulating on this, and it will be causing unwarranted anxiety and concern for our hardworking nursing students. I would like them to know that we value their work and health New Zealand will continue to support graduate nurses into the right jobs” Doctor Shane Reti said.
