Fellows of College of Nursing Taskforce - Meeting Notes 27 March 2026
- 5 days ago
- 4 min read
Attended: Jenny Carryer, Sue Adams, Andrew Jull, Wendy Blair, Sandy Bayliss, Jocelyn Peach, Helen Snell, Rachel Webster, Sandra McDonald, Maree Sheard
Apologies: Catherine Cook, Nicolette Sheridan, Josephine Davis, Mark Jones, Jill Wilkinson
DNA: Sue Gasgoine, Jill Clendon, Chelsea Willmott
Discussion
A. Clinical Safety
Discussion of the need to reframe how cultural safety is being perceived politically. Politicians cannot describe how nurses practice using cultural safety principles. How the importance of cultural safety is articulated by the profession needs to emphasise how this ensures nurses meet community needs. Likely to be an issue in the coming election. Concern for the potential for political intervention into the Code of Conduct. Suggestion that Medical Council is similarly under pressure. Todd Stephenson MP has spoken about the MCNZ Code of Conduct statement. Likely involve all health professional groups.
Action:
Develop networks with other professional groups [MCNZ Marilyn Head Policy Analyst, Allied Health, College of Midwives, others]. Jocelyn Peach, Kate Weston, Sandra McDonald to act.
B. Specialist Nurse Practitioner
Concern expressed that some Health New Zealand districts may not be supporting the number of nurses preparing for specialist practitioner practice. The funding for NP managed by primary care has been distributed for PHC. It is not clear whether all the funding has been used for PHC and whether any funding was allocated for specialist NP intern roles and whether the funding has been used. Concern that lack of support for specialist NP roles would impact service roles e.g. neurology, rheumatology. Helen emphasised that specialist NP roles are important boundary spanner roles. Numbers thought to be 124 PHC, 37 other and 24 mental health.
Action:
Request for a succinct briefing paper by Helen Snell, Rachel Webster, Jenny Carryer, Sue Adams.
C. Labour policy funding GP’s and not specifying NP
Andrew has spoken to key people to discuss the issues that may influence policy. Kate and Chelsea had previously raised the issues with Hon Dr Ayesha Verrall. Plan to follow-up more formally. Contact Dr Gary Payinda to discuss concerns. Discuss with Mark Jones when he is recovered.
Action:
Plan formal approach -?
D. Funding – New Graduate funding
Sue spoke to an article she had read in The NZ Doctor regarding new Graduate student appointees. Incomplete clip referred to – need to clarify. “General practices have filled 69 of the 147 places filled to date. The 400 new graduate nurse places under government’s primary and community care incentive scheme. Rural employers, which receive the biggest dollar incentive under the scheme have signed up to 20 new graduate nurses or the 2025/26 intake. Overall, 917 of the 1650 graduate nurses …”. Investigate where roles filled/not filled and where dollars are unused. What are the barriers to full utilisation [applications, desire, distribution]. NCNZ asked Jenny what we thought about how the clinical practice experience of current NPTP students is playing out.
Action:
Gather information in time for next meeting – Jocelyn Peach, Sue Adams, Sandra McDonald
E. RN Prescribers
Jenny is to speak with Kath Byrne regarding the push for a Nurse Prescriber scope. She will discuss the implications and legacy concerns, using examples of the confusion already arising and the devaluing of the Nurse Practitioner role. Helen suggested that Jenny should speak to Jane McKee at Massey University as she has a view.
Added afterwards: Jenny met this week with Cath B, Annette H, Jill Clendon and Nick Davis re: “RN prescribing scope of practice.” Jenny understands entirely why they need a separate scope and raised the issue that once all RNs are prescribing at a beginning level as always intended, the identification of the designated prescribers needs clarity especially from NPs. I stressed the tendency of employers already to dismiss the value of NPs as opposed to RNs who prescribe. We reached an agreement that identifying the scope as RN (extended prescribing) could work. It is too long to risk being used in full and if abbreviated would become RNEP which removes the confusion with NPs. It is not perfect but certainly better. It also aligns with what some overseas jurisdictions are doing.
Action:
Jenny to discuss thoughts/suggestions at the next meeting.
F. RFP and Nurse Practitioner programme
Discussion regarding outcome of the NP RFP process. It is understood that not all positions were filled in primary care. It is not understood how much of the money was available for specialist nurse practitioner applicants. There is concern that there is no oversight about the whole programme and pipeline. PHC are focusing only on 2026 interns. No support systems in place for the 2025 graduates that had previously been in place by the Universities offering NP programmes. Sue spoke to the article they had written to show the need for the whole pipeline. Helen and Sue expressed frustration that there was no listening or learning from experience.
· Nursing Praxis Adams, S., Komene, E., Bareham, C., Barkley, S., Willmott, C., Crawshaw, A., & Davis, J. (2025). Evaluation of the Aotearoa New Zealand Transition Programme for Nurse Practitioners in Primary Healthcare. Nursing Praxis in Aotearoa New Zealand, 41(1), 105–117. https://doi.org/10.36951/001c.144221
Action:
Gather information and prepare communication to decision makers about Nurse Practitioner development and support. Seek Chelsea input. Helen Snell, Sue Adams, others
G. Communication on nursing concerns
Jenny and Andrew had submitted an article to Stuff, which was accepted but has never been published.
Action:
Plan to ask the editor if we can rework it slightly to make more current. Andrew working on the other piece with newsroom.
H. Concern about slashing of school nurse budget
Jenny has working on this issue for years. The nurses in this area of practice important for youth health who may not have contact with usual PHC providers. Funding is through Ministry of Education, and it is unclear who can be influenced on strategy.
Action:
Gather information and make contact through the special interest group – Jocelyn Peach, Maree Sheard, Wendy Blair, Sandy Bayliss
Actions
A | Jocelyn Peach, Kate Weston, Sandra McDonald |
B | Helen Snell, Rachel Webster, Jenny Carryer, Sue Adams |
C | ? |
D | Jocelyn Peach, Sue Adams, Sandra McDonald |
E | Jenny |
F | Helen Snell, Sue Adams, others |
G | Andrew |
H | Jocelyn Peach, Maree Sheard, Wendy Blair, Sandy Bayliss |
Comments