Plunket Nurse

Tasks & duties

Plunket nurses may do some or all of the following:

• provide support for and assess the health of families, especially the caregiver and child
• assess the growth and development of children
• provide families with education and information on health and development issues such as sleeping, nutrition and immunisation
• promote breastfeeding
• prepare health and parenting education programmes
• educate community groups about family health issues
• help set up parent support groups
• monitor and recognise the signs of child abuse and domestic violence, and refer the child or caregiver to other professionals if necessary
• liaise between clients and community agencies such as Work and Income and Housing New Zealand
• gather and provide information for families about services available in the community
• work with Plunket volunteers to provide services
• keep accurate records and documentation about client visits

Skills & knowledge

Plunket nurses need to have:

• knowledge of nursing methods and theory
• knowledge of child health and development
• an understanding of different cultures, especially an understanding of Maori health needs in the community
• an awareness of the community and family support services in their area
• good observational and analysis skills for assessing the health of babies and their caregivers
• childcare skills
• communication skills
• problem-solving skills
• organisational and time management skills

Entry requirements

To become a Plunket nurse you need to have a Bachelor of Nursing. You also need to be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, and have a current Annual Practising Certificate.

You also need to have a current driver's licence.

Secondary education

Sixth Form Certificate or NCEA equivalent is required to enter tertiary training, although Bursary or NCEA equivalent is preferred. Useful subjects include English, maths, chemistry and biology.

Training on the job

Plunket nurses work with a supervisor for the first nine months of their employment. During that time they must work towards their Post Graduate Certificate in Primary Health Care, Level 8. Plunket nurses also attend four organised study days a year to keep up to date with the latest advances in medicine and health.

Useful experience

Useful experience for Plunket nurses includes working with young children and their families, community work and parenting or nursing experience.

Related courses

Hauora (Maori Health)
Nursing

For more information, please refer to Career Services.