ACE Nursing for New Zealand Graduate Registered Nurses

ACE for New Zealand graduate registered nurses

ACE stands for Advanced Choice of Employment. It is a collaborative graduate recruitment process that assists graduate registered nurses (RN) in finding their first role as an RN across New Zealand. 

ACE includes employers across the New Zealand health system including hospitals and primary care and community settings.  ACE matches graduates based on choices they and the employer have submitted.

There are two ways for employers to use ACE:

1.Talent pool; This is vital for employers who are recruiting all year round and who may not be able to wait for a ‘match process’.

2. Match process: Used by all employers who  employ new graduates at fixed times in the year.

Both are important for graduate RN recruitment.

 

Are you on the right website?

There are separate ACE websites for enrolled nursing and RMO. For ACE for registered nurses, keep reading.

 

NEtP

Nurse entry to practice (NEtP) is a 12 month supported programme run through Health NZ Districts. The NEtP programmes are open to some employment settings outside of Health NZ.

 

NESP

New entry to specialist practice (NESP) is a 12 month supported programme for those who wish to specialise in mental health and addiction services. If you want to join NESP, select mental health and addictions as your first preference practice setting.

ACE is for new graduate RNs only. If you are an experienced RN wanting to apply for NESP, you should contact individual employers directly.

 

SFYP

The goal of the supported first year of practice (SFYP) programmes is to provide a planned first year of practice coupled with preceptorship that enables transition from a novice RN to a competent RN in primary health care, aged care or community health.

 

Other Graduate Programmes

Different employers may offer different new graduate programmes similar to NEtP or SFYP. Check their website for more information. You will need to apply directly to employers for other programmes if they are not listed in ACE.

 

Eligibility

1. Either be a New Zealand Citizen, Australian Citizen or hold a Permanent Resident Visa (Or Returning Resident Visa)

2. Be in the final year of a pre-registration nursing degree approved by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) leading to registration as a registered nurse or be awarded a pre-registration nursing degree approved by the NCNZ leading to registration as a registered nurse, no longer than 24 months before starting on a NETP/NESP programme

3. You must have completed your pre-registration nursing degree in New Zealand and have passed your state final exam no more than 2 years prior to starting on a NETP/NESP programme. You therefore have up to four opportunities to apply via ACE provided you still meet all eligibility criterions each time you apply.

4. You must have not practised as a New Zealand Registered Nurse continuously (full time 0.8FTE or more) for longer than six months before starting on the NETP programme.