Nurse Entry to Practice (NETP) / New Entry to Specialist Programmes (NESP)

Te Whatu Ora Taranaki warmly welcomes applications for our Nurse Entry to Practice (NETP) and New Entry to Specialist (NESP) Programmes. The Taranaki nursing team is proud of the high-quality nursing care provided to the Taranaki public and welcome new graduate nurses to join the strong and supportive team of nurses. As a nursing team we value innovative nursing care that uses evidence-based knowledge and care delivered with compassion.

The NETP and NESP Programmes accommodate nursing graduates both within the hospital and primary care settings. The aim of the programmes is to provide graduate registered nurses support and professional development to facilitate their transition during their first year of practice. Upon completion of the programmes, nursing graduates will meet competencies and standards of practice in order to progress to competent level on the Professional Development and Recognition programme (PDRP) determined by the Nursing Council of New Zealand and Te Whatu Ora Taranaki.

Recruitment

Te Whatu Ora Taranaki currently recruits nursing applicants who have completed and passed their New Zealand state final examinations, from around New Zealand. We aim to have two intakes per year commencing in January and September. Numbers are dependent on vacancies within clinical areas - we consider each nursing vacancy as it arises for its suitability as a NETP/NESP nurse position. Successful applicants will be informed of their clinical area prior to commencement as per the ACE process. The positions are a permanent contract to Te Whatu Ora Taranaki with FTE ranging from 0.8-1.0.

Recruitment in other health organisations are led by that organisation but is facilitated by Te Whatu Ora Taranaki. You may be contacted by multiple organisations for an interview due to this process. Recruitment for these positions remains through ACE therefore you need to stay in the ACE talent pool.

Eligibility

If you are a New Zealand (NZ) trained registered nurse who has completed a Bachelor of Nursing in NZ (or are about to), we invite you to apply via Advanced Choice or Employment (ACE). To be eligible to apply to ACE the following criteria applies:

NETP applicants:

• either be a NZ or Australian citizen or hold a Permanent Resident Visa or a Returning Resident Visa
• be in the final year of a Bachelor of Nursing (BN) degree approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) leading to registration as a RN or be awarded a BN degree approved by the NCNZ leading to registration as a RN no longer than 24 months before starting on a NETP/NESP programme
• you must have completed your BN degree in NZ and have passed your state final exam no more than two years prior to starting on a NETP/NESP programme. You therefore have up to four opportunities to apply via ACE provided you still meet all eligibility criterions each time you apply
• you must have not practiced as a NZ RN continuously (full time 0.8FTE or more) for longer than six months before starting on the NETP programme.

NESP applicants:

• applicants must be a New Zealand citizen or hold a New Zealand permanent resident visa
• applicants must meet the requirements of the Health Practitioners Competence Assurance Act 2003 (HPCA Act) and have a current Nursing Council of New Zealand Practicing Certificate
• applicants must be supported by their organisation to take part in the programme
• existing nurses new to mental health will normally be working full-time or at least 0.6 full time equivalent (24 hours a week) within publicly funded mental health and addiction services
• new graduate nurses must be working a minimum of 0.7 full time equivalent (28 hours a week)
• participants must meet the training provider's criteria for eligibility to study at this level

Please indicate and be specific in your cover letter which area/specialty you are applying for.

Orientation / clinical workload sharing

Our priority at Te Whatu Ora Taranaki is to ensure new graduates feel supported and welcomed. New graduates are welcomed with a Whakatau at the beginning of their orientation. An introduction to the region and the new graduate programmes is facilitated in the first week. Following on from this week graduates will be orientated to their clinical area by their senior clinical nursing team and preceptor. It is anticipated that graduates will complete clinical workload sharing within 6 weeks of starting their clinical placement.

Preceptorship 

NETP/NESP registered nurses will have preceptor support for the duration of the programme. Preceptors are experienced registered nurses who have undertaken relevant Preceptor training. Preceptors will work closely with the NETP/NESP registered nurse to assist them with the application of knowledge, clinical reasoning and skill development providing constructive feedback, and facilitating critical and reflective practice to enable further practice development. 

NETP/NESP registered nurses will share a clinical load with their preceptor/s up to a total of 30 clinical days.

Post graduate opportunities

Te Whatu Ora Taranaki offers a post graduate paper within the NETP programme and the NESP programme includes two papers resulting in a post graduate certificate (in Mental Health) with the completion of the programme.

Professional development and recognition programme (PDRP)

The Professional Development Recognition Programme for nurses (PDRP) is a professional development programme designed to recognise and reward nurses for their individual level of practice and their contribution to nursing. Te Whatu Ora Taranaki supports NETP/NESP registered nurses to complete their PDRP portfolio as part of their programme. New graduates enter the PDRP as beginning practitioners however at the end of their NETP/NESP programme will have demonstrated competent nursing practice - the next level on the PDRP.

Accommodation

There is a hostel at Taranaki Base Hospital available for staff and students. Please contact Graeme Watts for further information graeme.watts@tdhb.org.nz

Download our hostel brochure here (PDF 440 KB)

Contact

We welcome your enquiries and have a dedicated NETP/NESP coordinator who has oversight of the new graduate nurse clinical placements and can assist with your queries. You are welcome to visit and experience first-hand the friendly nursing team.

For further details on the NESP programme please visit the Te Pou website: www.tepou.co.nz/initiatives/new-entry-to-specialist-practice-mental-health-and-addiction-nursing/47

For more information please contact:
Nicki Hughes
NETP/NESP Coordinator/ Nurse Educator
Nicola.hughes@tdhb.org.nz
Phone: 06 753 6139 ext 8999
Mobile: 027 261 6526

The following areas are likely to recruit NETP/NESP graduates for September 2024:

NETP
Older People’s Health and Rehabilitation / Stroke Ward
General surgical
Orthopaedic
Medical
Paediatrics
Neonatal Unit
Rural hospital (Hawera Inpatients)
ICU / HDU
Emergency Department
Operating Theatres
Maternity
Surgical Outpatients
Day surgery/PACU 2
Primary Care
Aged Residential Care

NESP
Te Puna Waiora (Inpatient unit)
Primary Care – Tui Ora

Start date for 2024: late January

Last updated: Tuesday, August 8, 2023