Clinical Nurse Specialist – Acute Pain Management Service

Clinical Nurse Specialist – Acute Pain Management Service

Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora - Capital, Coast & Hutt Valley District – Lower Hutt, North Island

Contract : Fixed term (One year - Parental leave), Part Time 0.6 FTE, Wednesday - Fridayp>

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

Are you passionate about pain management and ready to make a real impact on patient care?

As the APMS Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS), you will initiate discussions with the patient and multidisciplinary team (MDT) regarding advanced analgesia options for patients, such as adapting analgesia plans or arranging regional blocks in PACU and education teaching to both patients and staff. In addition to your clinical responsibilities, you will contribute to education by teaching at the Pain Study Day approximately 3–4 times during the fixed-term contract.

This role is ideal for a senior Registered Nurse ready to develop into a CNS position. We are looking for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced environment, makes confident decisions, adapts easily to change, enjoys problem solving, and communicates effectively with all members of the MDT. Applicants should have at least five years of post‑graduate experience in acute medical or surgical settings.

About the Team / Service Location

The Perioperative Department consists of Post Anaesthetic Care Unit (PACU), Second Stage Recovery (SSR), Surgical Admissions Unit (SAU), Day Surgical Unit (DSU), Acute Pain Management Service (APMS) and Vascular Access.

The APMS team (consisting of Nurse Practitioner and Anaesthetist alongside the CNS) manage the acute pain needs of the Hutt Hospital patients. They respond to referrals made to them. Their responsibilities include reviewing patients and developing treatment plans, providing teams with advice on how to best manage patients with high pain requirement needs. You need to be confident in your clinical assessments of patients, have the ability to communicate clearly to patients and teams plus advocate strongly for your patients. There will be periods of time where you will work in isolation within the hospital.

About you

• Able to confidently communicate to many stakeholders
• Fast thinking
• Adaptable
• Have 5 years or more of post graduate experience in either acute medical or surgical settings

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is ‘the weaving of wellness’. We're dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of Aotearoa / New Zealand.

Our people are at the heart of everything we do. Health New Zealand are committed to being good employers and honouring our equal employment opportunity obligations. We embrace diversity and welcome application from all people, including all gender identities, ages, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and disability. A workforce that is diverse and inclusive means that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We are pro‑equity health organisation, with a particular focus on Māori, Pacific Peoples, and the Disability Community.

How to Apply

To apply please click “apply now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal. If you have any questions about the role, please contact

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advertisement.

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