Health minister Tony RyallThursday 14 June 2012, 2:34PM
Media release from health minister Tony Ryall
The 1200 trainee nurses graduating this year will benefit from a
simplified application process for new graduate nursing positions
at district health boards (DHBs) from August this year, says Health
Minister Tony Ryall.
The ACE (Advanced Choice of Employment) online recruitment tool,
matches the work preferences of graduating nurses with those of the
employing DHBs. It makes the process much simpler for graduating
nurses and also reduces the time DHBs spend reviewing
applications.
"Previously nursing graduates sent off multiple job applications
meaning several DHBs were processing an application for the same
graduate and in some cases multiple DHBs offered them a position,"
said Mr Ryall.
"This old process resulted in some graduates accepting a position
at a DHB that was not their first choice because they didn't want
to miss out. On the other hand some graduates accepted positions
only to pull out last minute because they were subsequently offered
a job from their preferred DHB.
"Nurse graduates will now submit one application online which can
go to a few DHBs which they will rank in order of preference. The
DHBs receive the applications and rank the graduates in order of
preference. The tool then matches the graduates and the DHBs
preferences.
"Around 85 per cent of nursing graduates are offered a position in
a hospital, mental health, aged care or community health service.
Those graduates who aren't selected will return to the talent pool
of candidates.
"The tool will also help us gain a national picture of graduate
numbers by providing better information about our graduates and
where they find work. This is important information for improving
workforce planning, and matching supply and demand.
The ACE recruitment tool, in place for graduating doctors since
2003, has been specially modified for graduating nurses. Health
Workforce New Zealand has funded the modification of the tool and
DHBs are working together to introduce and support the use of the
tool nationally.