If you are looking for a Registered Mental Nurse (RMN) job in New Zealand, there are plenty of opportunities. There is currently a shortage of mental health professionals so finding a suitable position will not be a problem. The job of registered mental nurses is on New Zealand Immigration’s long-term skills shortage list, which means qualified nurses from abroad are encouraged to come and work in New Zealand. An aging workforce, very few people qualified for the job, and the general public becoming more aware and accepting of mental health issues has led to increased demand for services and increased need for more registered mental health nurses.
As a mental health nurse in New Zealand, you can expect to work for a variety of services including hospitals, nursing homes and community care programmes. You can work across the country, but most mental health facilities are in the larger centers where there are larger hospitals. Auckland, Canterbury, Wellington, Waikato and Otago are the regions that need it the most. Salaries for mental health nurses in New Zealand differ depending on experience and the area in which they work. If you end up working for a district health board, you’ll typically earn between NZD44,000 and NZD60,000 a year, depending on your experience. Senior mental health nurses on district health boards with more than five years’ experience can earn between NZD 63,000 and NZD 103,000. If you work in the community as a mental health nurse, you will earn between NZD44,000 and NZD66,000 a year. If you choose to develop your skills, you may move into clinical nurse specialist roles and this may progress into other specializations in the healthcare industry or into research, management or educational roles.
You’ll work in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, clinics, call centers, and specialist residences, and you may have the opportunity to travel locally to visit clients’ homes or workplaces. You will need to be prepared to come into contact with diseases and bodily fluids and potentially aggressive patients, but you will be equipped with basic medical devices, drugs and medicines, and a vehicle. Registered mental nurse jobs in New Zealand provide hours that can be flexible, but generally revolve around shift work. You may be on call and work irregular and long hours. Alternatively, if you work in the community, you will have normal office hours and if you do phone assessments, you can work from home. You will have the opportunity to work with a wide range of highly qualified professionals, including other nurses and mental health professionals. Regular contact with community agencies, police and ambulance officers, and clients and their families is also expected.
