There are pathways for those from Australia, the UK and Singapore for Registered Nurses to relocate to New Zealand and work as an Anaesthetic Assistant.
There are qualification and training requirements for each pathway to ensure that overseas RNs meet New Zealand's standards for safe anaesthetic care, either through direct entry or additional training.
Requirements across all countries:
Australia:
Over 50% of Anaesthetic Assistants in Australia are Registered or Enrolled Nurses, and all courses require experience in specialty areas of peri anaesthesia (anaesthetics and post-anesthetic care units) to obtain the qualification, meaning the skills are transferrable to practice in New Zealand
Training and experience requirements:
-
With a Post-Graduate Qualification in Anaesthetics: Australian RNs with a postgraduate qualification in peri-anaesthesia nursing (e.g., from universities like the University of Technology Sydney or Monash University) are generally well-qualified for the Anaesthetic Assistant role in New Zealand.
-
Without Post-Graduate Qualification: Australian RNs with anaesthetic experience but no postgraduate qualification must complete hospital training if you don’t meet recent practice requirements.
United Kingdom (UK):
Depending on when you gained your qualification, there are different requirements for the training needed to practise in New Zealand.
Training and experience requirements:
-
Registered Nurses trained after 2002 may have pursued post-registration education - you must have competencies equivalent to the Operating Department Practitioner (ODP) curriculum, which is transferrable to Anaesthetic Technicians in New Zealand
-
Registered Nurses who obtained the English National Board (ENB 182) certification before 2002 are likely to have comparable skills to New Zealand's standards.
-
If you have recent/current experience, you can go straight into employment as an Anaesthetic Assistant without additional training.
-
If you lack recent practice, you will need to complete recognised hospital training.
Singapore:
Training requirements:
The training of specialty-trained Anesthesia Registered Nurses in Singapore aligns well with the requirements for practicing in New Zealand.
Training is typically a minimum of 6 months guided by a workbook, competency assessments and sign-off by experienced preceptors. Training is enhanced through regular in-service education delivered by Anaesthetists and representatives of specialty anaesthesia equipment suppliers. The job description is equivalent to that of New Zealand Registered Anaesthetic Technicians.
Experience requirements:
-
If you have recent/current experience, you may require some additional education to align with New Zealand standards (such as machine theory, difficult airway management, and ANZCA emergency guidelines), which can be supported by our hospitals.
-
If you lack recent practice, you will need to complete recognised hospital training.
