They want to increase the nurse-patient ratios. Video / Alex Cairns
Nurses are finishing their shifts “distraught and upset” because of understaffing in Te Whatu Ora hospitals, a union delegate says.
It comes as new data shows one in four Te Whatu Ora hospital shifts, on average, were understaffed last year.
Te Whatu Ora says it is “extremely conscious” of the impact of shortages and has made “significant” headway in addressing it, including recruitment, training and increasing pay.
Members of the New Zealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO) gathered outside Tauranga Hospital on Thursday, as rallies took place in 22 locations across the country ahead of the Budget being announced on May 30.
NZNO delegate and Tauranga Hospital nurse Lucy Waller told the Bay of Plenty Times that nurses were running short-staffed “all the time” and the impact was “soul-destroying”.
She knew many nurses who had gone to Australia to work because of better ratios.
“They feel supported, they know that they’re going to be able to provide for their patients ... and they know that it’s strictly adhered to because, when it’s not, there’s penalties.”
‘The burnout is real’
Shannyn Bristowe, an NZNO delegate and third-year student nurse at Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, said members were rallying for “ratio justice”.
“The burnout is real ... we do not have enough nurses ... to provide good care for our patients,” said Bristowe, who does nursing placements at Whakatāne Hospital.
Shannyn Bristowe, an NZNO delegate and third-year student nurse, speaking at a rally outside Tauranga Hospital. Photo / Alex Cairns
“We also need to ensure that we’re creating a culturally appropriate nurse-to-patient ratio because we do really need to focus on building up our Māori nursing workforce.”
There were disparities in the health of Māori and Pasifika whānau “because of the lack thereof”.
“The Government must prioritise investing in both the present and future workforce.”
Data reveals ‘alarming’ nursing crisis
An NZNO media release on Wednesday said it received information under the Official Information Act revealing the “alarming” nurse staffing crisis in public hospitals.
The average of one in four shifts being understaffed last year equated to 158,966 “shifts below target”.
Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley recorded the highest number of understaffed shifts with 22,163.
Bay of Plenty recorded 5393 understaffed shifts last year and Lakes recorded 2951.
Nurse Amber Benson attending the rally outside Tauranga Hospital. Photo / Alex Cairns
NZNO chief executive Paul Goulter said shifts below target indicated a heightened level of risk for patient safety, patient outcomes and nursing workforce safety.
Patient mortality increased with exposure to increased numbers of shifts below target, he said.
“We simply cannot afford any further service or funding cuts”.
NZNO kaiwhakahaere Kerri Nuku said nurse-to-patient ratios had been implemented in Australia, California, British Columbia, Ireland and Wales with “exceptional results” for nurses, patients and health budgets.
Te Whatu Ora: ‘We understand the risks very well’
Christine Lowry, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora’s acting national director for hospital and specialist services, acknowledged nurse staffing had been challenging.
The OIA figures reflected a wider issue of health workforce shortages in New Zealand and internationally, which Health NZ had made “significant” headway in addressing.
As of July 2023, it was estimated New Zealand was short about 4800 nurses.
“We are extremely conscious of the impact of these shortages, on patients, nurses themselves and the wider health system. We understand the risks very well.”
The number of nurses employed by Health NZ rose in 2023 by almost 2500 compared with December 2022, she said.
As at December 2023, the vacancy rate for nurses was down to 6 per cent. There were about 28,200 nursing full-time equivalents across Health NZ, about 38 per cent of its total workforce.
Between August 2022 and March 2024, it supported 3200 internationally qualified nurses to complete a competence assessment programme.
To qualify, nurses were required to have a confirmed offer of employment in a direct patient-facing role, such as in hospitals, aged care facilities, GP practices or with mental health and addictions services.
“Changes to health immigration settings have made a huge difference in making New Zealand attractive to overseas-trained nurses.”
While this had helped to close many generalist nursing vacancies, Health NZ continued to recruit overseas for specialist nurses.
Lowry said it was equally focused on increasing the domestic workforce.
There were 7400 degree-level nursing students training at any given time, alongside a smaller cohort of enrolled nursing students.
Bachelor of Nursing clinical placements had grown by 80 in 2024, she said.
Te Whatu Ora was also focused on ensuring enrolled nurses were supported and was working with Te Pūkenga and the Nursing Council to develop a national, full-time work, part-time study option.
Nursing pay rises by up to 60 per cent since 2017
Since 2017, the starting salary for a graduate nurse had risen from about $49,500 to $75,500 – a 53.2 per cent increase, Lowry said.
The top step for a registered nurse had risen from $66,750 to $106,739 – a 60 per cent increase.
The top step for a senior nurse had risen from $115,000 to $162,800 – a 41.6 per cent increase.
This did not include the $25,000 lump sum for pay equity paid in two tranches in 2023.
Waitangi Nathan (health care assistant), Molly Happi, Sydney Wharewera-Rua (4 months old) and Stacey Wharewera (third-year student nurse and NZNO delegate) at the rally outside Tauranga Hospital. Photo / Alex Cairns
Lowry said Health NZ focused on upskilling nurses, for example through the Nurse Practitioner Training Programme, which this year had its highest intake of 121 participants.
