Mental Health ED Nurse Practitioner

Location: Wellington / Hutt Emergency Department

Contract: Permanent, Full Time (1.0 FTE)

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence. 

About the role

The Emergency Department-based team at Wellington and Hutt Hospitals has an exciting opportunity for an innovative Mātanga Tapuhi Nurse Practitioner (NP) position or a NP Candidacy to registration for this area of practice. 

This senior autonomous role is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of urgent mental health care in a fast-paced acute setting. As a Nurse Practitioner, you will provide mental health assessment, diagnosis, treatment planning, and prescribing for people presenting to the ED with mental health needs, including those already known to MHAIDS.

You will work in partnership with ED clinicians, MHAIDS teams, and community providers to ensure rapid, culturally appropriate, and person- and whānau-centred responses. This includes a strong focus on equity, quality improvement, and advanced nursing leadership at the physical–mental health interface. 

The salary for this role is Senior Nursing Grade 6 as Nurse Practitioner (NP) with registration as NP as per PSA-Mental-Health-Public-Nursing-RONZ-CA-31-Mar-2023-31-Dec-2024or NZNO-HNZ Collective Agreement 2023-2024 or Grade 3 if appointed to NP Candidate role in a NP Candidacy.

Key responsibilities:

• Undertake comprehensive mental health assessments, determine diagnoses, and develop integrated care plans.
• Prescribe medications and therapeutic interventions within the Nurse Practitioner scope and aligned with best practice and clinical governance standards.
• Respond rapidly to presentations involving acute distress, suicide risk, or behavioural health crises.
• Develop and implement crisis response plans, coordinating safe transfer of care to MHAIDS or relevant community services as needed.
• Provide advanced clinical consultation to ED and MHAIDS staff on complex mental health presentations.
• Actively involve whānau/support people in assessment and care planning to support recovery.
• Mentor and upskill ED and MHAIDS clinicians in the management of mental health emergencies.
• Contribute to quality improvement, service development, and workforce capability within the ED-MHAIDS interface.

About the Team/Service Location 

Our ED-based mental health team plays a critical role in supporting people presenting with mental health needs at a time of crisis. You will be joining a compassionate, collaborative group of clinicians committed to delivering timely and effective care that honours the voices of people and their whānau. This role is an exciting opportunity to shape service delivery, improve access, and lead system integration between acute and mental health services.

Te Whatu Ora – Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley is proud to be a pro-equity health organisation and values diversity, inclusion, and the principles of cultural safety in all that we do.

About you

You will be a registered Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with proven experience in acute mental health settings and the ability to function autonomously in complex environments. You will also bring:

• Nurse Practitioner registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) with a prescribing endorsement in the mental health scope.
• Expertise in mental state assessment, differential diagnosis, psychopharmacology, and brief intervention models.
• Commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and equitable care, with demonstrated cultural safety and responsiveness.
• The ability to lead, coach and collaborate across disciplines and services.
• A strong personal commitment to clinical excellence, continuing professional development, and innovation.

Or if applying for Nurse Practitioner Candidacy opportunity.

We are looking for a recognised advanced practice nurse that has a passion for ongoing learning and the ability to adapt to work effectively with different learning experiences. You will need:

• Experience in Mental health nursing (minimum 3 years).
• Registered Nurse (RN) and a current practising certificate with no restrictions from the NCNZ.
• Expert level on the PDRP or Senior Expert pathway with at least three- four years relevant expertise and working at an advanced RN practice level. 
• A Clinical Masters or the postgraduate courses to meet the requirements to undertake the NP postgraduate practicum aligning to the national Nurse Practitioner. Training Programme (NPTP). 

We offer a well-developed Nurse Practitioner Candidacy Programme.  Professional and clinical support for NP Candidates that includes peer support, professional supervision, clinical supervision and practice development opportunities.  Note: If appointed to the role and a current employee at Capital Coast and Hutt Valley Health NZ - the Candidacy period will be a secondment. 

Working at Health New Zealand 

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. 

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro-equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community. 

How to Apply 

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 10th June. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Marianne.lovgren@tehwatuora.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.