NP Candidates
In Victoria, nurses who have been appointed by an employer to become a Nurse Practitioner (NP) are referred to as NP Candidates (NPC).
The AIRC has determined that a NP Candidate is:
A Registered Nurse registered under division 1, 3 or 4 engaged to undertake a course of study and undertake clinical experience leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner. A registered nurse engaged as a nurse practitioner candidate (as defined) shall be classified and paid their substantive salary. (Australian Industrial Relations Commission 2006)
NP Candidate Support Packages
As part of VNPP funding rounds, Nurse Policy Branch may provide NP Candidate Support Packages to eligible health services.
NP Candidate Support Packages are a contribution towards the costs of providing clinical and professional supervision and support for a NP candidate in VNPP targeted clinical areas. One off, capped funding is tagged to a specific individual who has been appointed by their employee as NP candidate. Packages may be pro rata if NPs are close to endorsement.
The packages assist employers to provide a ?clinical internship? for NP candidates ? a structured and supported program of clinical and professional supervision that is individualised and aligned with the NPC academic program.
The following guidelines are for those NPC Support Packages provided for VNPP Rounds 4.2 to 4.6, however they may also be of assistance to other health services who are establishing the NP role.
Nurse Practitioner Candidate Support Packages Guidelines (size: 57kb)
Implementing a NPC Program
For examples of how to implement a NPC internship/candidacy program, refer to the NP Implementation Reports (including renal and stroke) published on this site.