Solutions Offered For Some Nursing Students
Waiariki Institute of Technology has been urgently working with the Nursing Council, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, and Immigration New Zealand to agree solutions for affected students and recent graduates of its Bachelor of Nursing programme of study for registered nurses (“RN programme of study”), who have faced difficulties in gaining registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand.
Current students of the RN programme of study will complete a new Nursing Assessment and Clinical Reasoning II paper within their studies. Those who graduated recently but were unsuccessful in gaining registration with the Nursing Council will also have an opportunity to complete a new simulated clinical assessment block course.
The Nursing Council has agreed that applicants holding the Waiariki Bachelor of Nursing completed via the RN programme of study, and who have successfully completed one of the new additional courses will meet the Council’s requirement of educational equivalency.
These agreed solutions will assist around 400 students who are currently studying or have graduated from the Waiariki RN programme of study during the past five years.
Waiariki Institute of Technology acting chief executive Keith Ikin said it had been a difficult time for affected students.
“We acknowledge the huge stress this has created for our students and their families. We have responded by making every effort to support our international students to be successful in their programme of study,” Mr Ikin said.
The institute, NZQA and Immigration New Zealand met with students in Rotorua last Friday when solutions were announced. The Nursing Council of New Zealand was not available to attend.
Waiariki is also working with the Nursing Council, NZQA and Immigration New Zealand to develop options to assist international nursing students who have not completed the RN programme of study. These options will be discussed with students in detail at a further meeting on Friday, 27 July with the Nursing Council, NZQA, and Immigration NZ.
Waiariki has been working hard to develop solutions to assist affected students, Mr Ikin said.
“Waiariki has been involved in identifying solutions and advocating consistently for and on behalf of students.
“We are grateful for the formal agreement which will enable some 400 students to apply with confidence for registration.”
Waiariki’s nursing courses have always been, and remain, accredited and gazetted by both NZQA and the Nursing Council of New Zealand. Graduates became aware there were issues with their overseas qualifications from late last year when the Nursing Council started declining their applications for registration.
Waiariki has been engaging with the Nursing Council since early this year to discuss the issue, has sought legal counsel and continued to push for its students’ rights, Mr Ikin said.
Waiariki has also made its legal counsel available to affected students.