Fewer nurses leaving N.Z.

Press, 13 October 1982, Page 5

Fewer nurses leaving N.Z.

PA Wellington The number of registered nurses and midwives leaving New Zealand has fallen, says Ms Shona Carey, executive director of the New Zealand Nurses' Association.

The net migration loss of nurses and midwives for the year to June. 1982. was 93. compared with 479 in the previous 12 months. "The latest figures continue a reversal of the trend for many New Zealand nurses to travel overseas which was evident a fewyears ago. " Ms Carey said. The supposed shortage of practising midwives in NewZealand was more of a “geographical or maldistribution problem" than anything else, she said.

"Maintaining the right numbers of registered nurses for the requirements of the New Zealand health services is vital." The movement of nurses, both in and out of NewZealand together with the numbers of new graduates, were important factors for manpower planning. Ms Carey said.

In the year to June. 1982. 990 arrived and 1083 de-

parted; the previous year. 998 arrived and 1477 departed. In the year to March 1982. 912 New Zealand nurses applied for registration overseas, the greatest number going to the United Kingdom (611). then Australia (133). and the United States (44).

"Nurses are just like any other group in desiring to seethe world, but fewer are leaving and the numbers returning are about the same." said Ms Carey.

Most nurses arriving in New Zealand would be NewZealand nurses returning, as overseas qualified registered nurses now required Health Department support before they were permitted to enter and practice as nurses, she said.

Ms Carvey said that with regard to the public debate on the shortage of practising midwives in New Zealand, it seemed that overseas registered midwives had been coming to work in NewZealand.

The Nurses' Association supported the development of the most reliable means of planning for numbers of all qualified nurses, she said.