Registered Nurse, OPAL Unit

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Te Pae Hauora o Ruahine o Tararua MidCentral; Wellington; On-site; NZD 50,000 - 70,000; Part time

Job summary

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora invites applications for a Registered Nurse to join the OPAL ward. This fixed-term position covers maternity leave, working 0.8 FTE with rotating shifts including nights, in Palmerston North Hospital.

You will assess patient care requirements, develop and implement care plans, provide 24-hour support, and collaborate with families. NZ Nursing Council registration and at least twelve months’ acute hospital experience (or six months MidCentral acute) are required.

Qualifications

• Meeting the requirements of the NZ Nursing Council to practice.
• Ability to adapt easily in a changing environment.
• Ability to work effectively both within a team and independently.
• Excellent communication and assessment skills.
• A high degree of physical capacity.
• At least twelve months experience as a registered nurse in an acute area of a NZ secondary or tertiary hospital or six months recent experience in a MidCentral acute setting.

Responsibilities

• Assess patient care requirements and formulate a plan of care.
• Implement the plan while providing 24-hour support.
• Evaluate progress and respond to patient concerns as the first point of contact.
• Collaborate with patients, families and the multidisciplinary team to deliver care.

Skills

Nursing Council registration

Communication

Teamwork

Assessment skills

Physical stamina

Shift flexibility

Education

RN qualification

Job description

Jora New Zealand will close on 9th September 2026. Thank you for being with us, we are cheering you on as you continue your career journey.

• Location: Palmerston North Hospital, 0.8 FTE, part-time, fixed term to cover maternity leave
• An encouraging learning environment where you will continue to grow and be challenged
• A professional and supportive culture and team setting
• Fulfilling and challenging work with great lifestyle options
• Tailored wellness programmes

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 looking for a Registered Nurse to join the team in our OPAL ward.

We have a fixed term position available, to cover maternity leave, working 0.8 FTE, working rotating shifts, including night shifts.

About the Team/Service/ Location

OPAL ward (Older People's Assessment and Liaison) offers multi-faceted care in a specialist environment for older people.

OPAL provides holistic care to maintain or improve patient abilities and functional outcomes, reducing in-hospital complications and facilitating timely transfer back to the community.

As a Registered Nurse in the OPAL, you will assess patient care requirements then work with patients and their families to formulate a plan of care. You will then implement this plan while providing 24 hour support and evaluating progress, being the first contact for any of your patient's concerns or queries.

If you have a current practising certificate and a commitment to the provision of excellent patient care, then we look forward to hearing from you.

Employing over 2500 people, MidCentral offers a supportive work environment that accepts and values all employees. We actively seek Māori kaimahi into our workforce and provide an environment which delivers our commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion.

About the Location

MidCentral region offers an excellent lifestyle for families with scenic spots for hiking and mountain-biking, great schools and tertiary institutions. With the mountains, city and sea at your doorstep, you'll get to taste the best of both worlds – the perfect blend of rural and city living.

Manawatū is known for its effortless blend of city and rural living; here you can choose your ideal lifestyle, from peaceful rural villages, to bustling townships, or city life. It's a family-friendly place that's easy to live and work, with easy access to an array of outdoor activities – beaches, ski fields, lakes, mountains, as well as fantastic mountain biking and hiking tracks. No traffic and an easy commute to work, really help a with true work-life balance. Our fantastic central location means exploring other parts of New Zealand is easy as a drive or a short flight. We are well served with excellent schooling options, as well as two tertiary institutes – Massey University and the International Pacific College.

For more information on living and working in the Manawatu click here

About you

• Meeting the requirements of the NZ Nursing Council to practice
• The ability to adapt easily in a changing environment
• The ability to work effectively both within a team and independently
• Excellent communication and assessment skills
• A high degree of physical capacity
• At least twelve months experience as a registered nurse in an acute area of a NZ secondary or tertiary hospital or would consider six months recent experience in a MidCentral acute setting

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.

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