For the first Fiji Indian to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) in New Zealand in 2014, Dr Nazreen Hussain, says becoming an NP was never just about advancing her own career. It was about expanding the care she could provide to patients and helping strengthen access to healthcare for communities that need it most. It was about expanding the care she could provide to patients and helping strengthen access to healthcare for communities that need it most.
After earning her doctorate in Health Science, Nazreen’s contributions to the nursing profession were recognised with the 2026 Deborah Harris NP Award for Excellence in Education and/or Research, celebrating a career dedicated to clinical excellence, leadership, and improving health outcomes. But for Nazreen, recognition is only part of the story. She is equally passionate about ensuring the next generation of NPs has the support they need to thrive.
For registered nurses considering their next career step, Nazreen has a message:
“Becoming a Nurse Practitioner offers an opportunity to expand your impact, deliver care at the highest level of nursing practice, and help shape the future of healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand. And with programmes such as NPTSS providing dedicated support during the transition to practice, there has never been a better time to take the next step.”
NPs are playing an increasingly important role in New Zealand's primary care workforce. With the ability to assess, diagnose, treat, prescribe medications, and provide comprehensive patient care within their scope of practice, they are helping improve access to healthcare while delivering high-quality, patient-centred services. As demand for healthcare continues to grow, attracting and retaining more NPs is vital.
Having experienced the challenges of advanced practice firsthand, Nazreen understands that the transition from registration to independent clinical practice can be one of the most significant periods in a NP's career.
Over many years, Nazreen has supported graduate nurses through their Nurse Entry to Practice (NETP) programmes, supervised nursing and medical students on placement, mentored doctors in primary care settings, and guided fellow doctoral candidates on their academic journeys.
At The Fono, she continues to mentor nurses undertaking further study, and work with leadership to create pathways for nurses to advance into roles such as NP and registered nurse prescriber. This experience has given her an appreciation of the Nurse Practitioner Training Support Scheme (NPTSS).
NPTSS is game-changing for novice NPs
"As an advanced NP, I see the NPTSS as a game-changing initiative and an excellent support system for our new colleagues," she says.
"Transitioning into fully autonomous practice is one of the most challenging phases of an NP's career. Those first six months of post-registration practice can feel incredibly daunting as you shift into full clinical accountability."
This is where NPTSS is making a difference, as it is designed to support candidates throughout their practicum and for the first six months as newly registered NPs, or ‘novice NPs’.
As the novice NPs move into autonomous practice, the programme provides structured mentorship, professional guidance, and wraparound cultural support during a critical stage of their development. The support helps bridge the gap between academic preparation and the realities of everyday clinical practice, enabling new novice NPs to build confidence, capability, and resilience.
"For new NPs, having structured mentorship and wraparound cultural support during this exact window is invaluable," says Nazreen. "It bridges the gap between academic learning and real-world autonomy beautifully, giving tomorrow's NPs the solid foundation and confidence they need to succeed long-term."
Nazreen believes programmes like NPTSS not only support individual clinicians but also strengthen New Zealand's wider healthcare system. By investing in NPs at the beginning of their NP careers, the profession is creating a sustainable pipeline of highly skilled primary care clinicians who can make an immediate impact in their communities.
Her own success demonstrates what is possible when nurses pursue advanced practice pathways. Through her leadership, clinical expertise, and commitment to patient care, she has become a role model for aspiring NPs across the moto.