Kowhaiwhai Blue Header

Nursing graduate programmes

Home ›... Work with us › Our opportunities › Nursing graduate programmes
Work with us

Nursing graduate programmes

The Waikato DHB nurse entry to practice (NETP), nurse entry to specialty practice (NESP), and enrolled nurse support in practice (ENSIPP) programmes are a supported transition to the role of Registered Nurse (RN)/Enrolled Nurse (EN). We select new graduate nurses from New Zealand training centres through the ACE recruitment programme.

Programme support is provided by the following staff, as well as local area support from the graduate’s clinical nurse manager, preceptor, and educator.

Chris Baker
Nurse Consultant, Cultural Workforce Development

Nicky Nelson
Nurse Consultant, Cultural Workforce Development

Jade Longmore
Nurse Educator, Graduate Programmes

Diane Ngatia
Nurse Educator, Graduate Programmes

Nicola Syrett
Nurse Educator - ENSIPP

Emilia Hlatywayo
Nurse Educator - Mental Health and Addictions Services (NESP)

Hinemotu Douglas
Nurse Educator - Mental Health and Addictions Services (NESP)

We have multiple intakes throughout the year.

Early 2021 intakes
ACE opens Interviews at Waikato Graduate intake start dates
12 August 2020 Early October 2020 9 February 2021
    15 March 2021
Mid-Year 2021 Intake
ACE opens Interviews at Waikato Graduate intake start dates
7 April 2021 Early June 2021 6 September 2021
Early 2022 intakes
ACE opens Interviews at Waikato Graduate intake start dates
12 August 2021 Early October 2021 TBC February 2022
    TBC March 2022

Applications to Waikato DHB NETP and NESP programmes must be made through the ACE programme, and all information about eligibility and the ACE process can be found by clicking the ACE icon below.

Waikato DHB offers one interview for the programme to any successful applicants, rather than interviews for individual areas.

Interviews are with a panel of two interviewers and applicants are welcome to bring a support person.

ACE Nursing

Information about the next NETP/NESP intake at Waikato DHB.

ACE Enrolled Nurse

Information about applying for ENSIPP through ACE.

We facilitate our graduates to attend the Nursing 770 Clinical practice development paper through the University of Auckland. The university lecturer and teaching facilities are based on site at the Clinical School, Waikato Hospital.

Completion of this 30 point postgraduate paper is a compulsory aspect of the Waikato DHB NETP programme.

Graduates are welcomed onto the DHB with a formal whakatau process and receive both organisational and NETP/NESP specific orientation days, as well as local area training. This provides an introduction to the key aspects of nursing at Waikato DHB, and equips them for practice.

The new graduates experience nursing as a shared clinical caseload with their preceptor for six weeks in total to support their orientation.

On-going employment with Waikato DHB is subject to graduates meeting all the requirements of the programme and the availability of vacancies at the time of completing the NETP/NESP programmes.

We have a facilitated approach to graduate recruitment into vacancies in the second year of practice.

Graduates employed by community providers are subject to the terms of their employer agreement and their employment contract with that provider.

NETP and NESP programmes

Waikato DHB will begin recruiting for their September 2021 intakes of NESP and NESP in May 2021.

Candidates need to apply via the ACE website to be eligible:

  • NESP positions are now permanent employment positions, rotating through 2 clinical placements across 12 months in total, whilst on the programme at 0.8FTE (8 days per fortnight) and include support and full funding for academic study and completion of a full post graduate certificate (two papers) provided by University of Auckland as the academic provider.

  • NETP positions are now permanent employment positions with an initial 13 month clinical placement whilst on the programme, at 0.9FTE (9 days per fortnight) and include support and full funding for academic study and completion of one paper towards completion of a post graduate certificate provided by University of Auckland as the academic provider

  • Transition to RN2 roles – for those who work within the DHB and complete the Graduate (NETP/NESP) programmes there is a facilitated process to undertake a second paper and complete their post graduate certificate.

Please see the ACE website for application deadlines.

Interviews for Waikato DHB are to be held over four days; the 4th September to the 7th of September.

NETP & NESP Programme mid-year start date: 6th September 2021

You will:

  • Be a permanent NZ resident or NZ citizen AT TIME OF APPLICATION
  • Hold a nursing degree from a three year NZ nursing programme accredited by the Nursing Council of New Zealand
  • Have not completed the nursing degree longer than 24 months prior to entry to the programme
  • Have registration within the registered nurse scope of practice with Nursing Council of New Zealand
  • Have a current annual practising certificate
  • Have not practised as a registered nurse at 0.8FTE or more for longer than 6 months prior to entry to the programme
  • Make an application for the NETP programme via ACE

NESP – approximately 10 DHB based positions will be available

Mental Health and Addiction Services placement areas: are provided in both inpatient settings (based in the Henry Rongomau Bennett Centre located on the Waiora Waikato hospital campus) and in community settings.

  • Adult Mental health
  • Forensics
  • Mental Health for Older People
  • Community (Adult Mental Health)

IMPORTANT ELIGIBILITY NOTE:

To be eligible to take up a position on the NESP programme, Waikato DHB requires all NESP participants to have a full drivers licence on commencement of the NESP programme

NETP – approximately 130 DHB based positions will be available in across the intakes in 2021

Placements include Waiora Waikato hospital campus Hamilton, and our Waikato regional rural hospital campuses - (Thames, Te Kuiti, Tokoroa and Taumurunui)

Waikato hospital placement areas:

  • General surgery
  • ENT surgery
  • Orthopaedic surgery
  • Neurosurgery
  • Burns/Plastics/Maxillofacial/Urology
  • Cardiothoracic & Vascular surgery; Cath lab
  • Cardiac Care 
  • Intraoperative services (includes theatres, DOSA, PACU)
  • Oncology
  • Internal medicine
  • Respiratory medicine
  • Acute Medical (assessment) Unit
  • Emergency Department
  • Regional Dialysis in-centre
  • Outpatient Department
  • Child Health – Paediatric medical ward; Neonatal ICU (NICU)
  • Health of Older People within the DHB

Rural Hospitals placement areas:

  • Thames hospital –  Emergency Dept, and ward placements
  • Tokoroa hospital –  Inpatient ward
  • Te Kuiti hospital  - Inpatient ward
  • Taumarunui hospital – Inpatient ward.

These rural campus sites offer the RN graduate a comprehensive experience within general ED and in-patient settings.  Education days are held at the Waikato hospital campus.

NOTE:
It is important that you indicate in your cover letter accompanying your ACE application if you are interested in employment in a rural hospital setting, and in which rural location

Non- DHB settings: placement areas

These placements are jointly supported by the DHB and educator and preceptor teams working within these settings.  NETP education days are provided at the Waiora Waikato hospital site alongside DHB based participants

Employment in Non-DHB organisations are lead by that organisation but is facilitated by the DHB.

If a partner organisation has a vacancy they let the DHB know and the DHB forwards all candidates with “Primary Health Care including Including Practice Nursing, Plunket, Department of Corrections, GP Clinics, Accident & Medical Centres, Iwi Providers, Pacific Providers, School Nursing, Well Child Providers, Plunket, NGO's and Hospice” as a preference.

Due to this process, if you have indicated “Primary Health Care including including Practice Nursing, Plunket, Department of Corrections, GP Clinics, Accident & Medical Centres, Iwi Providers, Pacific Providers, School Nursing, Well Child Providers, Plunket, NGO's and Hospice” as a preference, you may be contacted by multiple organisations for an interview.

You MUST stay in the ACE talent pool, as the Partner organisation will signal to the DHB their preference and the DHB will recruit you for the partner organisation through ACE.

Southern Cross Hospital (Hamilton)

An application via ACE is required to undertake a graduate programme with Southern Cross, and Southern cross is an ACE affiliated employer.

Southern Cross has a direct application process -
Please access the link below for further information on positions available in Southern Cross hospital and how to apply. 

Key contacts

Graduate programmes team
Email: GraduateNursingProgrammes@waikatodhb.health.nz

Lisette Ingram
Nurse Educator Graduate Programmes
Phone: 021 285 1906
Email: lisette.ingram@waikatodhb.health.nz