Kerri Nuku, Kaiwhakahaere
NZNO Tōpūtanga Tapuhi Kaitiaki o Aotearoa

The fear of lending our voices to important matters for nurses is becoming more widespread in Aotearoa.

If we let that fear continue, it will be to the detriment of our profession and the health of this country which we all know is already in crisis.

The role of a nurse isn’t just to action the instructions of doctors. The role of the nurse is to use our skills and knowledge and the relationships we develop to be proactive advocates for patients, their whānau and communities. A vital element in nursing is to speak up for health justice, to be the advocate and to remember who we are here to serve, especially those who can’t voice their concerns to the decision-makers in charge.

The question that I am contemplating is how we continue to empower our nurses at this critical time. 

Following the widespread media over the last few days, public health doctors are faced with similar challenges following the latest rules from Te Whatu Ora Health NZ, telling public health doctors that any public comments need a “national Level” approval. Many are calling it a gag, others raising concerns that they won’t be able to effectively serve their communities and calling raising alarms of the government overreach.

Over the past few years many colleagues have said to me they have stopped being advocates, it’s easier to go to work and do their job and go home, don’t rock the boat. They are telling me that they fear losing their jobs and being taken away from their passion to care for people, if they ask questions.

Like the public health doctors, I believe nurses have reason to be concerned, the power control in nursing is unleased. Nursing has always had a terrible reputation for the systems that embedded hierarchy, which has always been a curious thing for me because I am sure I am not alone in my reason for nursing was to serve and care for people and the community.

While over the years there has been shifting within these hierarchies of power over the recent months they are being rebuilt at an increasing rate and the architects of these power proposition are at hands of nurses.

This power and control are playing out in many different forms, from the withholding of critical data that could information workforce issues, recruitment freezes, restricted education and training support to minimal or no consultation around service change.

Silence is our enemy we can’t repeat the challenges of our past where our silence submissive actions were frowned upon.

We must continue to question challenges and advocate. The day we start doing that will be the day we stop being nurses.

Every week I also talk with other nurses who go to work every day to make a difference to stand up and fight the brave fight.

We must form groups or support groups that check in and make sure we are all ok and create the debrief opportunities, help each other up. Seek mentorship or cultural supervision, share our stories and grow our strength and follow what is right.

We must fight back and not allow our voices to be gag or our untold stories to gather dust.