Nurse Educator - Professional Development Unit: New Graduate Programmes

• Waikato Hospital, Hamilton
• 0.9 FTE, Full time
• Fixed term position

Are you truly passionate about educating and upskilling entry-to-practice nurses? Do you aspire to make a leadership contribution that influences workforce development, aiming to enhance health outcomes for our regional population? If so, we have an exciting opportunity that awaits you!

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

We are seeking experienced nurses with a genuine passion for developing newly graduated registered and enrolled nurses. Join our innovative team in the Professional Development Unit as a nurse educator, where you'll play a pivotal role in our new graduate programme.

The Professional Development Unit leads the coordination and delivery of three national nursing new graduate programmes in the Waikato: Nurse Entry to Practice (NETP), Enrolled Nurse Support into Practice Programme (ENSIPP), and New Entry to Specialist Practice (NESP). Following a review of our NETP curriculum, we are expanding our new graduate team to enhance learning and professional development for first-year-of-practice nurses. These exciting new positions will support the development of graduate practice across diverse clinical settings at Te Whatu Ora Waikato and our partner organisations in community, private, and primary health environments.

The primary purpose of these senior nursing leadership roles is to design, deliver, and assess education on NETP, while providing invaluable in-practice pastoral care, mentorship, and coaching for all new graduates. Your role will play a critical part in facilitating their career development and fostering their learning within the various clinical environments they are employed in. Additionally, building and maintaining excellent relationships with clinical stakeholders, including nursing managers, and providing them with programme-related advice and support, will be a key aspect of these positions.

About the Team/Service/ Location

At the core of the Professional Development Unit is our vision: "Leading Education for Quality Care." We are dedicated to advancing nursing and midwifery practice through workforce development, cultural and clinical education initiatives, all aimed at meeting the needs of the population and improving health equity.

We can offer;

• A supportive environment focused on development and growth through mentorship and professional supervision opportunities
• An exceptionally supportive and enthusiastic team who collaborate to deliver the Professional Development Unit’s vision of “Leading Education for Quality Care”
• Access to professional development and postgraduate study opportunities

About you

• To be considered for this role, we require candidates with the following skills and experience:
• Demonstrated ability to guide others in applying Te Tiriti o Waitangi to improve health outcomes and equity for Māori.
• Demonstrated ability to guide others in applying principles of cultural safety in practice.
• A minimum of five years' post-registration experience in nursing, with evidence of contemporary and agile clinical practice.
• A proven record of facilitating and assessing learning for individuals and groups in clinical practice.
• Expert level on PDRP or, at the very least, proficient with demonstrated ability to transition to an expert/senior level.
• Excellent communication, relationship management, and interpersonal skills.
• An adult teaching and assessing qualification, such as a preceptorship or adult education qualification.
• Evidence of successful study at a postgraduate level.
• Diverse clinical experience in areas such as acute, community, rural, and primary health nursing settings would be advantageous.
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth
• Experience in upholding Te Tiriti principals and frameworks, and the application of Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori approaches, particularly as they apply in healthcare settings.

Working for Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. The Equity Work Programme at Health NZ focuses on helping everyone in the health system think about equity when they do their work. It also promotes the cultural change needed for the whole system to reach equity in health outcomes.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations.

Our commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion

• We want to see the real you in your application and welcome the real you on board if you come and work with us. Skills are gained across many areas of our life, not just in formal employment. If you can demonstrate the skills listed in the ad, but the experience was gained through whānau life, community or mahi aroha (volunteering) we encourage you to apply and share your story with us in your cover letter.
• We particularly welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

Click here to view the position description.

If you a career aspiration and pathway in education and leadership, then we would love to hear from you!

How to Apply

Please click ‘Apply online’ or apply via our Waikato Careers Website by clicking here All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal - closing date 11 February 2025. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Noel Watson, Deputy Chief Nurse, Professional Development Unit, on 027 310 6074 or noel.watson@waikatodhb.health.nz