New Zealand’s healthcare system is facing a crisis as a significant number of ex-nurses are shunning underfunded healthcare and choosing alternative career paths. Nearly half of the country’s nurses are not currently working in the profession, with some opting for jobs in supermarkets or on road gangs instead of healthcare positions. This exodus of nurses has left the healthcare system struggling with chronic shortages.
Te Whatu Ora, an organization dedicated to supporting Māori nurses and health professionals, is actively trying to entice these former nurses back to the front lines to address the critical workforce shortage. However, many ex-nurses have expressed their reluctance to return, comparing it to going back into an abusive marriage. Amanda Homewood, a former nurse with nearly four decades of experience, made the difficult decision to let her nursing practising certificate lapse in order to prioritize her own health and well-being.
Homewood explained that she loved her years in nursing, but the underfunded healthcare system and the toll it took on both patients and staff pushed her to leave. She views the system as akin to a toxic relationship and believes that until it is fixed, she would not consider returning. It is a sentiment shared by countless other nurses who have been overwhelmed by the challenges they face in providing quality care amid limited resources.
According to the Nursing Council, out of the more than 70,000 nurses with current practising certificates, an estimated 4 to 5 percent are not actually working as nurses in New Zealand. This equates to around 3,500 nurses who could be filling the existing vacancies. The Nursing Organisation highlighted that many nurses are simply burnt out and have opted for less taxing jobs in sectors such as supermarkets. The allure of higher incomes and less taxing work is proving attractive to nurses who have grown disillusioned with the healthcare system’s demands.
Nurse-patient ratios have been suggested as a potential solution to attract nurses back to the profession. Queensland and California have implemented legally mandated ratios, providing nurses with a safer work environment and necessary support to deliver the best care possible. These measures have successfully enticed nurses to return to the profession in those regions.
To address the nursing shortage, New Zealand’s medical workforce is working on increasing the number of nurses through pay increases and training initiatives. The Return to Nursing fund provides financial support for nurses to obtain or renew their practising certificates. Additionally, foreign nurses who are residents or citizens can receive assistance with the cost of gaining registration in New Zealand. However, despite these efforts, the system still faces a shortage of approximately 4,800 nurses, as estimated by Te Whatu Ora.
Former nurses who have left the profession due to the strain and challenges they faced may still consider returning under improved conditions. However, it is crucial for the healthcare system to address the underlying issues such as funding shortages and workplace support to entice them back and ensure a sustainable and effective healthcare workforce.
