Media Release
05 May 2008
Celebrate Nurses Day, but more needed!
On May 12, International Nurses Day is celebrated around the world in honour of the birthday of the most famous nurse of
all time, Florence Nightingale. In New Zealand, Nurses Day is focusing on “Safe Staffing & Healthy Workplaces” for our 41,000* nurses.
Nursing is considered a highly valued and interesting career for women, and men, yet there is a desperate shortage of
nursing staff in New Zealand at present. Geneva Health has been working hard with the public and private sectors to
improve conditions and recognise nurses’ importance within the workplace. A key objective of the company is to provide
high quality and experienced staff to support employers who operate under a safe staffing practice.
Geneva Health is New Zealand’s largest supplier of permanent and temporary health professionals – and nurses are needed
now! They are concerned that there is such a shortage of nurses, in particular in the mental healthcare sector, Maori
and Pacific Island nurses, and those in rural areas.
Geneva Health is appealing to people that want to get back into nursing or refresh their career and they can offer work
that would fit-in with the part-time Mum or Dad, or someone that wants to give back to their community now that the kids
have left home. They can direct candidates to the best job opportunities to suit them and their families.
Let’s celebrate this essential part of New Zealand’s healthcare system on May 12, by recognising our nurses and showing
our support for their vital work in the community.
ENDS
* Number of registered nurses, NZNO latest figures 2008