Educating the nurse of the future: a review of nursing education in Aotearoa New Zealand

Overview     Purpose     Why now     The review     Reviewers     Review timeline     Review scope     Advisory group

Overview

The Nursing Council of New Zealand (the Council) has commenced a comprehensive review of nursing education to determine a future vision for nursing education in New Zealand.

The review aims to enhance flexibility for providers, allowing innovation to flourish.

The review will focus on the relevance of the current models, while also considering how nursing education is shaped and delivered, to ensure ongoing relevance and preparation of safe and competent nurses in the future.

Purpose

To develop a long-term vision and blueprint for nursing education in New Zealand and to understand the impact of implementing change.

Why now

  • To ensure the continuation of the preparation of safe and competent nurses.
  • The last major review of nursing education undertaken by the Council occurred in 2001.
  • Significant changes in population demographics and structural reforms in both health and tertiary education.
  • Expanding use of emerging technology and the implications of AI.
  • Increased commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable health outcomes.
  • Increased mobility of the health workforce and fiscal and workforce sustainability challenges.
  • Increased necessity of education providers to attract and retain staff with appropriate academic qualifications.
  • Robust research is undertaken to support the development of the discipline of nursing.

The review

The review panel will:

  • partner with Māori to ensure the review reflects the needs of tangata whenua (Māori) and Māori tauira (students).
  • engage with education and practice through online and in-person meetings to explore future opportunities for the delivery of nursing education.
  • review international and local health education models for relevance to the New Zealand context.
  • work with an advisory group to test emerging directions.
  • develop and test a 10-year blueprint for nursing education.

Reviewers

Portrait of Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms wearing a light‑coloured blouse, photographed against a plain background.

Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms

Adjunct Professor Thoms is a former Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer of the Commonwealth of Australia with a 40-year career in nursing, midwifery, and education leadership. She is a member of the International Council of Nurses Board and played a key role in Australia’s National Review of Nursing Education (2019) (Schwartz Review).

Portrait of Dr Candy Cookson‑Cox (Te Arawa, Kāi Tahu, Kahungunu) wearing a patterned top, photographed against a plain background.

Dr Candy Cookson-Cox (Te Arawa, Kai Tahu, Kahungungu)

Cookson-Cox has extensive experience in education and was fundamental to the implementation of cultural safety in New Zealand. She consults on a range of health and education matters.

The review panel thanks everyone who shared their views in meetings and online. Any updates on the review will be published on the Council’s website.

Review scope

This review is focused on the future, and therefore we are providing the tables below to clarify areas that are in and out of scope for this review.

In scope

Undergraduate and postgraduate nursing education that leads to registration in a nursing scope of practice

Links between different tertiary providers

Models of both education delivery and clinical learning including (potentially) blended models, rural/remote delivery, focused models

Articulation between programmes and qualifications

The relationship between practice and education providers, including the level of involvement with nursing education and development

New and emerging technology including AI and virtual reality

Articulation between programme completion, registration and first year of practice

Education staff preparation for academic roles and responsibilities

Consistency in clinical learning

What constitutes quality clinical learning, including high fidelity simulation

 

Out of scope

Models of online and in-person education for Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQN) applying to work in New Zealand

Nursing workforce strategy and planning

The State Final Exam

Current standards of education

Scopes of practice and standards of competence

Employer-provided professional development – PRDP

Employment conditions

Renumeration


Advisory group

The Council has established an advisory group, with broad stakeholder representation, that will support the review panel.

The advisory group’s membership is as follows:

Name

Area

Title

Organisation

Dr Cathy Andrew

Educator

Associate Professor and Executive Dean

University of Canterbury

Katheryn Butters

Practice

Leadership

Whāriki Ringa Kohikohi (Knowledge Broker)

Te Whāriki o te Ara Oranga

Nadine Gray

Leadership

National Chief Nurse

Health NZ Te Whatu Ora

Dr Karole Hogarth

Educator

Professor and Head of Nursing

Te Pūkenga – Otago Polytechnic

Sandra McDonald

Educator

Head of School Nursing

Te Pūkenga – North Tec

Alan Merritt

Governance

Director Accreditation Services

Australian Nursing & Midwifery

Accreditation Council

Dr Maree Sheard

Practice

Chief Nurse and Midwifery Officer

Northland Hospital, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora

Professor Nicolette Sheridan

Educator

Head of School Nursing

Massey University

Dr Michael Shone

Educator

Dean of Faculty – Health, Science and Sustainability

Te Pūkenga - Ara

Dr Rachael Walker

Practice

Educator

Nurse Practitioner and Associate Professor Nursing

Te Matau a Maui Hawke’s Bay, Te Whatu Ora and University of Auckland