Changes to SMC - no more nurses!!!

[nickydwuk]

Just seen on a recent ammendment to the LTSSL that a majority of nurses roles have been taken off and those that are left need 3 years experience that specific field. Those no longer listed are - Nurse Manager; Nurse Researcher; Nurse Practitioner; Registered Nurse (Child and Family); Registered Nurse (Community Health); Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability); Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation); Registered Nurse (Medical Practice); Registered Nurse (Mental Health); Registered Nurse (Surgical); Registered Nurse (Nec).

Due to recent family events we have had to put our plans for returning to NZ on hold indefinitely but if we hadn't this would mean we could no longer go under SMC

[Hagabel]

How much experience do you have?

[JandM]

Their changes do catch people (us, under the change to parent sponsorship last year, for example).

I think there would still be a back-door route for these nurses - nothing can take away from their being a skilled job, so if they got a job offer, they could go in under WTR, I believe.

[RedVee]

Just posted a new thread as the changes are quite a lot wider than nursing and may not get picked up on from this thread title.

But are two things being confused here? Its the LTSS that's changed, not the SMC.

So for those nursing roles mentioned it is no longer possible to claim the bonus points. But as J&M says, it is still a skilled job so I can't see why you still can't apply under SMC? Have the rules around registration (rather than Immigration) changed? Or is it because it will be harder for employers to pass a labour market test proving there are no Kiwis for the roles?

Not every skilled job is on the LTSS, that doesn't preclude a SMC visa.

[JandM]

I can't see why you still can't apply under SMC?

A particular applicant might need the extra points for the job being on the LTSSL to get them over the total to get selected.

[RedVee]

Thanks J&M, I can see that. Think it's just the thread title I have a problem with - I can see those 10 - 25 points making a real difference to some, but not all. "No more nurses" is a bit misleading.

[nickydwuk]

"No more nurses" .

That was just my little 'comment'. I know it doesn't mean all nurses but a lot of them who may rely on the extra points could be affected.

[Our_Carl]

It's interesting hown things have changed so quickly though. I remember not so long ago UK nurses could get a job in NZ having never worked as a nurse post qualification.

I had a friend who took an elective placement in Auckland & got offered a job before she came home. She qualified & then left for NZ having never worked a shift as a qualified nurse.

[benficafiend]

Looking at the requirements for transferring one's registration from nearly any other country (maybe the UK is an exception?), it's almost an intentionally prohibitive process. My wife is a MSN trained Critical Care specialist nurse with several years' experience here in the US, and she's being asked to submit a ridiculous list of documents (and fees) confirming things like course descriptions and English language proficiency. Now that they've reduced the long term shortage list (her specialisation is still included, but that doesn't mean much when it comes to transferring the registration), I wonder how many adequately-trained nurses would even bother with all this hassle. My highly-qualified and experienced wife is currently considering dropping her registration entirely, even though we're definitely moving to NZ. Is this the Board's goal, to make more slots for NZ trained nurses?

[doreysc]

The UK is not an exception, only Australian nurses get any concessions. OH who is British and took her degree in English at a British university still had to pass IELTS to prove her English skills to register as a nurse in NZ. It's a hassle providing course transcripts etc. but it has to be done if you want to go down that route.