The recently released Nursing Council of New Zealand's annual report indicates that the workforce demographic challenges in New Zealand are similar to those being faced across the Tasman. The Nursing Council's demographics statistics indicate that 22% of registered nurses are aged 56 and over, which continues the long running trend of an ageing workforce.

Fear and uncertainty associated with theglobal financial crisis has resulted in fewer nurses retiring than expected and more nurses returning to the workforce as was highlighted by the Nursing Council's CEO Carolyn Reed. In Australia and as reported across a number of New Zealand District Health Boards, this has resulted in fewer graduate nurses being employed. And as this post GFC anomaly works its way out of the system,and nurse retirement rates start to increase rapidly,there is a significant risk that the health system will face substantial shortages.

This sentiment is echoed by the NewZealand Nurses Organisation (NZNO). Kate Weston from the NZNO has pointed out that "new nurses need to be employed now so they can gain experience before the exodus of older nurses from the workforce."

With increased demands on our health system, and the inevitable increase in attrition rates, urgent action by governments and health departments to train, employ and retain younger nurses nowis critical.

NCAH