Nurse Coordinator Medically Fit for Discharge

Te Whatu Ora - Health New Zealand; Hamilton; On-site; NZD 48,000 - 72,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is seeking an experienced Nurse Coordinator for Medically Fit for Discharge at Waikato Hospital. The role focuses on coordinating safe, timely discharges, addressing barriers and facilitating smooth transitions from hospital to home or other settings. Provides leadership to ward teams and collaborates with multidisciplinary groups to improve patient flow and bed availability.

Qualifications

• Registered nurse with current Nursing Council of New Zealand registration.
• Experience in acute care, discharge planning or patient flow roles preferred.
• Ability to coordinate complex discharges and escalate barriers as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee discharge readiness for medically fit patients.
• Coordinate plans with ward, medical and community teams to improve bed flow.
• Identify barriers to discharge and escalate where necessary.
• Ensure timely documentation, referrals and handovers for safe transitions.

Skills

Discharge planning

Patient flow coordination

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Clinical judgement

Communication

Education

NZ Registered Nurse (RN)

Tools

Electronic Health Records (EHR)

Job description

Nurse Coordinator Medically Fit for Discharge

• Nurse Coordinator: Medically Fit for Discharge
• Waikato Hospital, Fixed term until August 2027 0.8 FTE, 2 positions available

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

We are seeking experienced registered nurses to coordinate safe, timely and patient-centred discharges for patients who are medically fit to leave hospital.

Working closely with medical, nursing, allied health and community teams, you will identify and address barriers to discharge, coordinate complex discharge plans and support effective transitions from hospital to home, residential care or other appropriate services. The role will contribute directly to improved patient flow, reduced avoidable delays and a positive experience for patients and whānau.

Key responsibilities

• Maintain oversight of medically fit patients and discharge readiness.
• Coordinate plans with ward, medical, multidisciplinary, bed management, and community teams.
• Prioritise and follow up discharges to improve flow and bed availability.
• Identify and address barriers such as transport, medication, equipment, accommodation, placement, and community support.
• Escalate complex or unresolved barriers through appropriate pathways.

Support Safe Transitions of Care

• Ensure required discharge documentation, medicines, referrals, follow-up, and handover are completed.
• Escalate clinical concerns or changes before discharge.
• Support safe transfer to home, residential care, or another appropriate setting.

Communicate and Collaborate

• Keep patients and whānau informed and involved in discharge planning.
• Promote patient-centred, culturally safe, shared decision-making.
• Facilitate multidisciplinary coordination for complex discharges.

Monitor Flow and Performance

• Maintain accurate discharge tracking and documentation.
• Report delays, recurring barriers, discharge status, and expected bed availability.
• Monitor relevant measures, including discharge delays and length of stay.

Leadership and Improvement

• Guide ward teams on discharge processes and escalation pathways.
• Identify opportunities to improve discharge pathways, patient flow, and operational efficiency.
• Support quality improvement and compliance with organisational and professional standards.

Key Objectives

• Reduce avoidable discharge delays and unnecessary bed days.
• Improve patient flow and bed availability.
• Ensure safe, timely, coordinated transitions of care.
• Strengthen communication with patients, whānau, multidisciplinary teams, and community services.
• Support accurate reporting and continuous improvement.

Click here to view the position description.

About you

You will bring:

• Current Nursing Council of New Zealand registration and practising certificate
• Relevant acute nursing, discharge planning, patient flow or care coordination experience
• Strong clinical judgement, organisation and prioritisation skills
• Excellent communication and multidisciplinary relationship-building skills
• Confidence coordinating complex discharges and escalating barriers
• Knowledge of community and rehabilitation pathways
• A strong commitment to culturally safe, patient- and whānau-centred care

This is an opportunity to make a practical difference to patient and whānau experience while supporting safe discharge, continuity of care and efficient patient flow, while minimising avoidable hospital stays, improving bed availability, and ensuring continuity of care within the community.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers portal before 11:59 pm on 27 October 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Shivani Kulkarniat [e-mail]

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