MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine embassy in Wellington advised Filipino nurses looking for a job in New Zealand to exercise caution before traveling to the country as employment opportunities for Internationally Qualified Nurses (IQNs) there is currently low.
The embassy said it is aware of certain individuals and agencies who offer to facilitate the hiring of foreign nurses by arranging for them to travel to New Zealand on Visitor Visa to take the Comprehensive Assessment program (CAP) or Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) for nurses and subsequently apply for registration by the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ).
“The Embassy notes that while taking the CAP or OSCE and being registered by the NCNZ is a legitimate means for foreign nurses or Internationally Qualified Nurses to be able to practice nursing in New Zealand, it is not a guarantee of employment,” the embassy said.
Employment of IQNs in New Zealand is dependent on a variety of factors outside the CAP, OSCE and the NCNZ, including local demand and the ability of employers in the New Zealand Health Sector to hire IQNs.
The embassy has received information that due to the current lack of employment opportunities, IQNs who came to New Zealand on visitor visas have been left with no option but to leave the country upon expiry of their visas.
Filipino nurses were urged to ensure that there is ready employment for them before leaving the Philippines, which includes obtaining a legitimate job offer with verified contract from an accredited employer and a proper working visa issued by Immigration New Zealand.