Northland nurses on strike in June where they, along with thousands of other colleagues nationwide, demanded better conditions. Photo / NZME
Northland nurses on strike in June where they, along with thousands of other colleagues nationwide, demanded better conditions. Photo / NZME
Enrolments in NorthTec's nursing degree have dropped by more than 12 per cent in the last three years.
A NorthTec nursing academic pointed the finger at a number of contributing factors, saying the drop needs to be turned around to help address the nursing shortage.
In 2019 enrolments for theBachelor of Nursing programme at NorthTec sat at 284. The following year saw a 6.5 per cent drop to 266 enrolments.
This year even fewer people signed up for the study pathway with 249 enrolments – down a further 6.5 per cent.
Dr Bev Mackay, NorthTec's nursing pathway manager, said multiple catalysts were behind the slump.
"We believe this is a result of several factors, including the Covid-19 environment, the high employment rate, and the negative publicity that nursing is receiving."
However, interest in NorthTec's Diploma in Enrolled Nursing Programme launched in February 2020 was high, Mackay said, with the first cohort having graduated in July.
The 18-month programme was the joint brainchild of NorthTec and the Northland District Health Board to address the workforce shortage.
"Nursing is struggling – more people are hearing about the issues with wages and workloads. Once upon a time we'd encourage our sons and daughters to go nursing but now the dialogue is, find something else that pays more and has better terms," she said.
"Workloads are too hard, I'd never want to see my child work under those conditions. Even though I'm a registered nurse myself and think it's an awesome career because of the difference you can make."
Northland nurses on strike in June where they, along with thousands of other colleagues nationwide, demanded better conditions. Photo / NZME
Improvements were needed alongside more incentive to attract student nurses, Governor said.
"It's looking at other options and what makes nursing more attractive. You used to be able to say, come nursing – it's well respected, you can travel around the world with it, it offers flexibility."
An NZNO National Nursing Student survey found in 2019 found financial difficulties were a key issue for students studying nursing or midwifery.
Nearly half of the total 878 participating students indicated clinical placements had created financial stresses – which included transport, limited opportunities to undertake paid work, and having to fork out for childcare.
One comment posted on the survey read: "had to spend $150/week for a three week placement ($450 total). I had to get a credit card to cover the cost of petrol and chose between lunch or dinner as I couldn't afford both…[sic]"
Around 37 per cent of students reported financial constraints had negatively affected their placement experiences.
"It would be great if we could offer a system similar to free apprenticeships, where people studying nursing could get their first two years free in their training," Governor said.
She hoped current pay negotiations between nurses, unions, district health boards, and the Ministry of Health (MoH) could be a step towards improving incentives to take up nursing.
Earlier this month, Health Minister Andrew Little announced the Government had approved funding for a pay equity claim for nurses. He expected it to add "hundreds of millions of dollars a year" to the current payroll for nurses.
