Registered Nurse - START
Registered Nurse - START
Permanent, Part-time 0.6 FTE (48 hours per fortnight)
Rotorua Hospital
This is a unique opportunity to move beyond the traditional hospital setting and make a tangible difference in patients' lives where it matters most: their own homes. As part of the START team, you are not just providing care; you are a key player in a rehabilitation journey, helping patients regain their independence and confidence in a familiar environment.This role offers high autonomy, variety, and the deep satisfaction of seeing real-world progress every day.
At Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Lakes, we recognize that to care for our community, we must first care for our people. By joining the START team, you will join a collaborative, tight-knit team where your voice is heard and your observations directly influence patient recovery plans.Experience the unique fulfilment of building deep, respectful relationships with patients and whanau within their own homes, contributing to more equitable health outcomes for our region
Beyond the workplace, you are minutes away from excellent mountain biking in Whakarewarewa Forest, the serene waters of our region's lakes, and iconic thermal springs. We support your wellbeing with a culture that truly respects your time away from work, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the vibrant outdoor adventure and multicultural community that makes the Lakes district home.
Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.
About the Role
As a Registered Nurse (RN), you will lead clinical nursing efforts within the Supported Transfer and Accelerated Rehab Team (START) to streamline discharge processes and enhance patient rehabilitation. Your role is pivotal in providing intensive, holistic support that allows medically cleared patients to return home sooner through individualised rehabilitation plans.While you will travel across the Lakes district to deliver care in patients' homes, your focus shifts to the assessment, planning, delivery, and evaluation of safe, appropriate nursing care.
You are not just a provider but a clinical leader; you will supervise and direct Health Care Assistants (HCAs) and occasionally take a leadership role in coordinating shifts. No two days are the same - you might be conducting a complex clinical assessment one morning and providing cross-cover support to District Nursing the next.Working collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team (MDT), you will use your clinical expertise to adjust care plans, manage resources cost-effectively, and ensure a seamless patient journey across the care continuum.
About the Team/Service/ Location
Our START Team is a multidisciplinary group of professionals dedicated to the Early Supported Discharge model, ensuring patients receives intensive, short-term rehabilitation at home to prevent hospital readmission. We pride ourselves on our collaborative culture and our "patient-first" philosophy.
Health New Zealand |Te Whatu Ora Lakes provides healthcare from its two modern and progressive general hospitals in Rotorua and Taupo, New Zealand. The Lakes district is becoming the lifestyle destination of choice and is well known for its many outdoor recreational activities, family friendly beaches, and a growing multi-cultural community.Working at Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Lakes provides a great opportunity to balance an amazing lifestyle with a rewarding professional experience.
As well as a supportive, inclusive and diverse work environment, Health New Zealand |Te Whatu Ora Lakes offer competitive salary, free staff parking, free flu vaccination, discounts (with local businesses), and access to Employee Assistance Program.
For more information on living and working in Rotorua and Taupo click here
About you
As a Registered Nurse, you will bring a high level of clinical accountability, a commitment to equity, and a proactive leadership style to our community-based service.
Qualifications Expertise: You hold relevant graduate and post-graduate qualifications and operate strictly within the RN scope of practice and NCNZ competencies.Clinical Leadership: You have a proven ability to lead and supervise others, with the critical thinking skills required to manage clinical escalations and complex ethical or legal concerns.Te Tiriti Equity: You possess a deep understanding of Te Tiriti o Waitangi in action, with a drive to achieve equitable health outcomes for Maori and a critical awareness of how your own culture impacts service delivery.Communication Collaboration: You are an excellent communicator who can build rapport with whanau and collaborate effectively with GPs, Allied Health staff, and the wider LICHS team.Adaptability Resilience: You demonstrate the stamina and flexibility to work in a roaming, community-based role, in