On this page:
College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand (CENNZ) Rules
October 2015
College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand (CENNZ) updated Rules as at 2015
Back to top
CENNZ Standards of Practice
July 2011
Emergency nurses are accountable and comply with relevant legislation, codes of practice and scope of practice.
Emergency nurses actively promote safety and well-being.
Emergency nurses develop and promote effective partnerships with patients / whanau / family / colleagues / community / employer.
Emergency nurses are actively engaged in professional development.
Emergency nurses manage resources efficiently and effectively to meet patient health care needs.
Back to top
Determining Nurse to Patient Ratios in New Zealand Emergency Departments (FOR REVIEW BY CENNZ)
May 2006
An Emergency Department (ED) provides a clinically integrated 24 hour service that is part of a secure pathway from pre-hospital to definitive care (National Service Specifications for NZ Emergency Departments, 2002 [NEDSS]).
New Zealand EDs are rated from level 2 through to level 6 based on the range of services provided.
All levels of ED are required to be able to offer resuscitation services (NEDSS).
Resuscitation is considered a normal part of the spectrum of ED care which requires a high level of preparedness.
Back to top
Education Position Statement (FOR REVIEW BY CENNZ)
December 2006
College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand (CENNZ) – NZNO
Position Statement: Education
Introduction: Quote from mission statement “The College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand - NZNO is committed to the advancement of Emergency Nursing in New Zealand/Aotearoa.”
Education enables nurses to meet current and the future changing health needs of our patients.
Nursing education is a process that begins with the preparation of nurses for registration and continues throughout the nurse’s professional lifespan.
Back to top
Emergency Department Service Specifications
January 2021
Ministry of Health and DHBNZ Tier Two Emergency Department Services.
Back to top
Nursing Graduates in Emergency Departments
August 2010
The College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand CENNZ – NZNO:
- Defines a nursing graduate as a qualified nurse in their first year of nursing practice.
- Advocates for an intensive development programme to support graduate nurses through ongoing education, supervision and mentorship throughout the first year of practice.
- Recommends that employers work with the NetP programme (NETP Programme Steering Group, 2006) to offer new graduate placements as emergency nurses.
Back to top
Nursing Staff requirements in Emergency Departments (FOR REVIEW BY CENNZ)
May 2006
The College of Emergency Nurses believes that Emergency Departments must have appropriate infrastructure and staffing requirements so emergency nurses have the environment to provide safe quality patient and family centred care ensuring optimum patient outcomes.
Managers and administrators have the responsibility to ensure effective, efficient emergency care delivery systems (2003).
CENNZ believes nursing leaders are responsible to ensure adequate staffing requirements are attained and maintained.
Back to top
Patient Handover - Emergency Department
October 2013
Endorsed at the CENNZ NZNO Annual General Meeting held in October 2013
CENNZ recognises that the impact of ineffective handoffs/transfers includes such adverse events as delays in diagnosis and treatment, fragmented care, breaches in care, medication errors, conflicting communication, duplication of procedures/tests, lower provider and patient satisfaction, higher costs, longer and more frequent hospital stays, and patient deaths.
The patient handover includes the transfer of care; at the change of shift, transfer between diagnostic areas, transfer to inpatient units or wards, or to other healthcare facilities.
CENNZ believes that nurses should utilise a standardised approach to communication for the handover of a patient’s care between staff i.e. when the responsibility of the patient’s care is transferred between healthcare team members.
Back to top
Position Statement on Overcrowding
The College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand – NZNO recognises the detrimental effect of overcrowding on the safety and quality of care provided in the Emergency Department.
Overcrowding occurs when the number of patients waiting to be seen, undergoing assessment and treatment, or waiting for departure exceeds the available physical or resource capacity. During episodes of overcrowding there is increased risk to patients and decreased quality of care.
The situation is multifactorial and requires whole of system strategies to decrease the incidence of overcrowding and provide effective pathways to restore safe operation for patients and staff.
Position Statement on redirection of patients from EDs to primary healthcare facilities
October 2015
Endorsed at the 2015 CENNZ-NZNO Annual General Meeting.
The College of Emergency Nurses believes that for redirection to safely occur from the ED to primary healthcare facilities, robust processes must be in place to ensure the safety of patients and emergency nurses. This position statement details CENNZ’s recommended redirection requirements.
Back to top
Position statement on Triaging Away (FOR REVIEW BY CENNZ)
June 2009
Endorsed at the 2007 CENNZ-NZNO Annual General Meeting.
The College of Emergency Nurses believes that health care should not be denied to any patient requesting care from an emergency department.
The College of Emergency Nurses does not support the practice of triaging away.
Back to top
Position Statement: Violence and Aggression In the Emergency Department
July 2018
Endorsed at the CENNZ NZNO Annual General Meeting October 2016, The College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand (CENNZ) NZNO is committed to a position of zero tolerance to acts of violence or aggression within the emergency department or accident and medical settings. CENNZ is committed to supporting nurses in addressing issues of personal safety and patient safety in the clinical workplace.
Back to top
Role of the Clinical Nurse Specialist - Emergency Department
October 2013
Endorsed at the CENNZ NZNO Annual General Meeting October 2013
The College of Emergency Nurses New Zealand (CENNZ) NZNO is committed to the advancement of professional nursing roles and highlighting the connection between higher education for nurses and quality health care.
CENNZ believes that the Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) role within the emergency setting makes a significant contribution, to the health of the New Zealand community.
CENNZ believes that the uniqueness of emergency nursing requires knowledge, experience and advanced preparation of a CNS, to ensure quality patient care.
Back to top