Nurse Practitioner Frequently Asked Questions
- How many Nurse Practitioners are there in Australia?
- What is a Nurse Practitioner Candidate?
- How long does it take to become a Nurse Practitioner?
- What does a Nurse Practitioner do?
- Who can call themselves a Nurse Practitioner?
- When will Nurse Practitioners be eligible to access the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
- Where do Nurse Practitioners work?
- Can Nurse Practitioners be self employed?
- What are Nurse Practitioners paid?
- How do I become a Nurse Practitioner?
- Where can I find out more about becoming a Nurse Practitioner?
- What education and training is required to become a Nurse Practitioner?
- Are there scholarships to become a Nurse Practitioner?
- What is the role of the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia?
- What standards govern Nurse Practitioner practice?
- Are Nurse Practitioners covered by public indemnity insurance?
- Who does a Nurse Practitioner report to?
How many Nurse Practitioners are there in Australia?
As of September 2011, there are currently 595 authorised Nurse practitioners nationally, and 75 in Victoria.
There are many more nurses working with the support of their employer to prepare to become a Nurse Practitioner (sometimes called Nurse Practitioner Candidates), although the exact number is not known.
What is a Nurse Practitioner Candidate?
A Nurse Practitioner Candidate (NPC) is a term used in Victoria to identify a Registered Nurse who is engaged by thier employer to undertake a course of study and undertake clinical experience leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner.
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing/furthering/practitioner/np-candidates
How long does it take to become a Nurse Practitioner?
It will take between 7 and 9 years from initial registration as a Registered Nurse to endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner but many of the current Nurse Practitioners have had many more years practice before reaching a level of competency at the advanced practice level required to be ready for Nurse Practitioner preparation
What does a Nurse Practitioner do?
Nurse Practitioners are clinical and professional leaders and most of their work involves direct service delivery where they can put their advanced training, clinical expertise and skills to best use. They work within a model of nursing practice that meets a particular service need(s). Their practice is supported by evidence-based policies/guidelines agreed by their employer. Each Nurse Practitioner model is different because each service, client group and employer is different.
To find out about some of our Victorian Nurse Practitioners and what they do in a typical day at work go to:
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing/furthering/practitioner/a_day_in_the_life...
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/
Who can call themselves a Nurse Practitioner?
The title Nurse Practitioner is protected, preventing the use of the title ‘nurse practitioner’ by anyone who is not endorsed by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) as a Nurse Practitioner (NP).
In Australia, only the Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia has the power to endorse nurses as Nurse Practitioners.
Even if you have been a Nurse Practitioner overseas, you must be assessed and endorsed by the NMBA to be able to use the title within Australia.
You can check if a nurse has an endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner on the nurses’ public register available on the NMBA website.
The NMBA has identified 8 areas of practice for Nurse Practitioner endorsement in Victoria. All endorsed nurse practitioners wishing to prescribe in Victoria must have a notation of one or more categories. This is a notation to meet the requirements of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (Vic) and not a condition on practice.
The approved formulary (list of drugs) approved for each category are available on the Department of Health website.
http://www.health.vic.gov.au/dpu/prescriber/nurse.htm
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/en/FAQ-and-Fact-Sheets.aspx
When will Nurse Practitioners be eligible to access the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS)
Commonwealth legislation has now been passed which will allow some Nurse Practitioners in private practice to access the PBS from November 2010. This PBS access is distinct from the state based authority to prescribe and will only apply to some NPs and some drugs that those NP will prescribe.
Further information is available on the Medicare Australian Website: www.medicareaustralian.gov.au/provider/pbs/index.jsp
Where do Nurse Practitioners work?
Nurse Practitioners work wherever nurses work; from large hospitals to community and home based services. They can work in public, private or not for profit health, aged care or community services. New roles for Nurse Practitioners are being developed every day.
Can Nurse Practitioners be self employed?
Yes, Nurse Practitioners can be self employed providing they have appropriate professional indemnity insurance.
What are Nurse Practitioners paid?
Nurse Practitioners in Victoria are paid at the level of RN Grade 6 (201-300 or 301-400 beds) in the public sector nurses award. With a qualification allowance and leave loading this means that a full time Nurse Practitioner will be paid more than $90,000. This salary range does not include other shift allowances, penalties and other award payments.
www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing/ir
How do I become a Nurse Practitioner?
Information about the education and endorsement pathways to becoming a nurse practitioner are available on the Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia. http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
Ideally, you will also have the support of your organisation to commence this process and will certainly need it as you progress with your preparation.
Ideally, you will also have the support of your organisation to commence this process and will certainly need it as you progress with your preparation.
Where can I find out more about becoming a Nurse Practitioner?
The best places to start are:
Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/nursing
The Australian College of Nurse Practitioners
www.acnp.org.au/
The universities offering the relevant courses to become qualified as a Nurse Practitioner (see Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia for a current list) http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Accreditation.aspx
There is also more information about Nurse Practitioners on this website
What education and training is required to become a Nurse Practitioner?
Nurses need to demonstrate to the NMBA that they meet the ANMC Nurse Practitioner Competency Standards to be endorsed as a Nurse Practitioner in Australia.
The minimum education requirement for endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner in Victoria is a completed clinically based master’s degree or a completed specific Nurse Practitioner masters. For information go to:
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/
Are there scholarships to become a Nurse Practitioner?
Yes, there are both state and federal scholarships available to support eligible nurses to undertake the study to become a Nurse Practitioner. The scholarship offers have different eligibility and conditions and are offered at different times. For information about government scholarships, go to:
www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing/furthering/postgrad
and
www.rcna.org.au/scholarships/scholarships
Some other organisations may offer scholarships such as professional colleges or organisations, employers or special interest groups. Contact your local nursing education advisors for more information on relevant scholarships.
DH also provides funding for Nurse Practitioner Candidates as Candidate Support Packages in certain circumstances:
www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing/furthering/practitioner/np-candidates
What is the role of the Nursing & Midwifery Board of Australia?
The Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is the legally constituted body in Australia charged with the regulation of nursing and midwifery professional practice and to protect the public through ensuring nurses and midwives demonstrate an acceptable standard of practice. NMBA is responsible for the endorsement of Nurse Practitioners. Their website has information on the requirements for endorsement and the endorsement.
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
What standards govern Nurse Practitioner practice?
As registered nurses or midwives, all Nurse Practitioners must practise within the relevant Code of Ethics, Code of Professional Conduct and National Competency Standards set out by the Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia at:
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
In addition three generic standards that define the parameters of nurse practitioner practice have been identified by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council (ANMC). The three standards are:
1. Dynamic practice that incorporates application of high-level knowledge and skills in extended practice across stable, unpredictable and complex situations
2. Professional efficacy whereby practice is structured in a nursing model and enhanced by autonomy and accountability
3. Clinical leadership that influences and progresses clinical care, policy and collaboration through all levels of health service
These standards are defined by nine competencies each with specific performance indicators.
www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au
There are additional standards of practice outlined by the individual employers that employ Nurse Practitioners.
Are Nurse Practitioners covered by public indemnity insurance?
Yes, in Victoria all nurses (including Nurse Practitioners) working in public health services/hospitals are covered by Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA), a statutory authority created under the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority Act (1996). The insurance covers the health-care agency, employed doctors and other health professionals, and independent contractors (Visiting Medical Officers).
Private hospitals have their own insurance arrangements.
The NMBA requires Nurse Practitioners to show evidence of their employment and may request evidence of adequate public indemnity insurance.
Nurse Practitioners working in private practise, with access to the MBS and subscribing under the PBS, must also have in place a collaborative arrangement with a medical practitioner(s) in relation to the provision of services to patients.
Who does a Nurse Practitioner report to?
Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses and are fully accountable for their own practice in law. Complaints against Nurse Practitioners would be made to the employer, the NMBA or health ombudsman in the same way as for any other nurse.
Within an employment setting, the most appropriate reporting arrangements for NPs will depend on both the organisation and the role/services the Nurse Practitioner is accountable for.
Some Nurse Practitioners have multiple reporting arrangements, for example, as a senior nursing position they may report to the Director of Nursing for professional matters; the clinical or divisional head for clinical/service matters and they may even have a functional or operational reporting arrangement to a business manager/unit manager.
In smaller interdisciplinary service models there may be simpler reporting arrangements direct to a General Manager. In this case, developing professional links (even external) to a nursing mentor are recommended for Nurse Practitioners.