The Nursing Council of New Zealand (the Council) is consulting with interested individuals, nurses, representatives of nurses, nurse educators, and others in health and education sectors (stakeholders) on the prescribed qualifications for the registered nurse scope of practice.

The Council is considering an alternative pathway to registration as a registered nurse - a preregistration master’s degree in nursing. It has been identified that the programme would appeal to graduates from health and other disciplines seeking to become registered nurses. Under the current prescribed qualifications a preregistration master’s degree in nursing is not identified as a prescribed qualification for entry to the registered nurse scope of practice.

A preregistration master’s degree in nursing is offered in a number of countries including the United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, and Hong Kong. The Council is considering whether it is appropriate to introduce a similar pathway in New Zealand at this time.

Click to read/download: http://www.nursingcouncil.org.nz/News/Consultation-on-qualifications-for-Registered-Nurse-scope-of-practice

Consultation closed on 29 August 2014