FOR CANDIDATES

Eligibility criteria for candidates

To be considered for the Nurse Practitioner Training Support Scheme (NPTSS), applicants must be entering their final practicum year of the Master of Nursing and meet the following entry criteria across the following areas:

Tertiary education providers set out eligibility criteria based on the following elements. Each provider will have its own set of eligibility criteria, including:

• Employee readiness: For example, have completed a minimum number of years full-time practice as a Registered Nurse within the last five years, in the area of practice that you will be registering

• Academic readiness: Have identified a clinical supervisor (a senior NP or senior doctor) who is willing to mentor the attainment of the advanced skills and competencies required for NP practice. See more under Employer requirements below

• Clinical readiness: Be educationally prepared to complete the master’s programme at the end of the practicum year or have already completed a master’s programme. Please verify your eligibility for master’s completion with your university of choice for the NPTSS

• Demonstrate a strong foundation of clinical skills and knowledge to support advanced practice.

The candidate must:

• Be a New Zealand citizen or permanent resident

• Have support from their employer and the employer must commit to supporting the RN to complete the NP training year.

• Have a permanent contract with the employer or for a period of at least 12 months from when the education period commences for the employer to gain funding support

• Be a registered nurse with a current New Zealand practising certificate and in good standing with the Nursing Council of New Zealand

• Hold appropriate indemnity insurance

• Provide a written agreement from your employer.

Employer requirements

Candidates must have a clinical supervisor (a senior NP or senior doctor) who is committed to mentoring you throughout the programme, and ideally the relationship should be an established clinical relationship of at least 12 months prior to starting the programme. The candidate will need to provide a written agreement from your employer confirming:

• A minimum of 430 hours of supernumerary clinical release time

• Availability of the clinical supervisor

• Release to attend university study days

• An ability to employ you as a Nurse Practitioner upon successful registration is preferred, though not essential.

Academic readiness

Candidates must be prepared to complete a master’s programme by the end of the practicum year or have already completed one. Confirm eligibility with your chosen university.

• Have completed the required prerequisite courses:

  • Advanced Health Assessment

  • Pathophysiology

  • Pharmacology.

• A ‘B grade’ average or higher is preferred, including any specific grade requirements for individual courses.