10. DARIEN FENTON (Labour) Link to this
to the Minister of Health
In what ways is the Government supporting a greater role for nurses in health care?
Hon PETE HODGSON (Minister of Health) Link to this
New regulations mean that from tomorrow qualified nurse practitioners will be able to prescribe a range of new medications. This move not only encourages the professional development of the nursing sector but is also a key part of the Government’s work to provide timely, flexible, high-quality health-care for all New Zealanders.
Quite a lot. Apart from the 3-year undergraduate degree that nurses must undertake, they then also should undertake a 2-year masters degree in the scope of practice for which prescribing rights are sought, followed by several years of clinical practice. Some non-doctor professionals, such as midwives, already prescribe. There is only one prescribing nurse in New Zealand at the moment, but about 100 nurses are now preparing to apply when the regulations change tomorrow.
Sue KedgleyIs he concerned that by July of next year most full-time primary health-care nurses will earn around $160 less than district health board nurses for a 40-hour week, and what specific steps is he taking to bring about pay parity for those primary health-care nurses who are paid through the public health system, so that there is not a mass walk-out of primary health-care nurses next year?