Specialty Clinical Nurse – Patient at risk (PAR)

Location:  Wellington Regional Hospital and Kenepuru Community Hospital

Contract:   Permanent, Part Time - 0.3 FTE (Rostered and Rotating)

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 

We are seeking Registered Nurses with significant acute care experience to become part of our expanding Patient at Risk Service. The SCN (Specialty Clinical Nurse) role will ensure timely and effective response to deteriorating patients.  This team supports ward based clinical staff to manage these patients. 

This will be a rostered and rotating position of 12 and 8 hour shifts across two campuses – Wellington and Kenepuru.

You will be responding to medical emergencies, acute referrals, Kōrero Mai calls and post ICU to ward discharges in adult, paediatric, mental health and maternity inpatient services. You will also be expected to provide phone support to our outreach colleagues in Wairarapa.  The service will provide 24/7 cover, with the expectation that you will cover a variety of shifts.

This role will provide an opportunity to challenge and extend your critical care skills, support and educate others and contribute to the development and growth of the service. It is a part time permanent position and FTE is 0.3fte.

About the Team/Service/ Location 

Wellington Regional Hospital is the tertiary referral centre for the lower North Island and upper South Island of New Zealand. This gives the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) a catchment population of approximately 1,100,000 and a geographic radius of 300km. The ICU has responsibility for delivery of care outside of ICU through our Patient at Risk Service, and Trauma team.  An established Research department supports quality practice for this service.

The PAR team covers all adult and paediatric wards, it is a nurse–led team which applies critical care skills to the management of deteriorating and acutely unwell ward patients.  We support patients, their families, and healthcare professionals by: responding to clinical emergencies and acute referrals; monitoring patients recently discharged from ICU; and, providing education and advice in the management of acutely unwell ward patients.

The PAR service uses a multi-disciplinary approach to identify patients at risk of or developing critical illness in the general ward environment. The emphasis is on support and education to ward staff to help them recognise clinical deterioration and rapidly initiate an appropriate escalation of care. 

About you 

We are seeking enthusiastic, highly motivated individuals who have a passion for providing care to the deteriorating patient. If you have excellent communication skills, the ability to prioritize competing demands and a willingness to share your skills and knowledge we encourage you to apply.

Skills & Experience 

• Have experience of urgent care, emergency medicine and or primary care practice 
• Post graduate study is desirable 
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with all levels of staff 
• Excellent time management
• A strong patient care focus and able to deliver high quality of care for patients and whānau 
• A passion for ongoing learning and development and the ability to share, support and develop others.
• Providing education in an informal and formal setting.

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 14th April 2025 . If you have any questions about the role, please contact Deb.Brodie@TeWhatuora.govt.nz

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