Funding offered to help boost nursing workforce
Efforts are being made to encourage nurses who have left the health sector to return to the workforce.
Te Whatu Ora South Canterbury is calling for expressions of interest from nurses who would like to return to work and is offering support to help them regain their annual practice certificate.
South Canterbury’s Associate Director of Nursing and Midwifery, Anna Wheeler said a support package could be tailored to the needs of the individual.
“We want our health services to feel supportive. There may be nurses out there who haven’t practised for a year, five years or 15 years, and we want them to know that we have options to support their learning needs, to enable them to return to nursing.”
The support is funded through the national return-to-work nursing fund, which provides up to $5000 per nurse. Support could include a competency assessment programme through ARA Institute of Canterbury or a workplace training and orientation programme.
Anna Wheeler said a lack of confidence in their clinical practice could be holding some back and the support was aimed at removing that obstacle.
Returning nurses could even consider working in an area of the health sector new to them, if they wanted a change.
“Inpatient shift work settings, community work, whether it’s part-time or full-time, we have many options available,” she said.
“We want to remove any barrier to people enquiring,” she said.
- Further information on eligibility criteria for funding can be found here: https://scdhb.careercentre.net.nz/Job/Return-to-Nursing-Support-Fund/Timaru/11890
- To access the expression of interest please follow this link. https://scdhb.careercentre.net.nz/Job/Expressions-of-Interest-Return-to-Nursing-Support-Fund/Timaru/11890
