Guidelines: For nurses applying for endorsement as a nurse practitioner

Download a PDF copy of these Guidelines: For nurses applying for endorsement as a nurse practitioner (129KB).

Introduction

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) undertakes functions as set by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, as in force in each state and territory (the National Law). The NMBA regulates the practice of nursing and midwifery in Australia, and one of its key roles is to protect the public. The NMBA does this by developing registration standards, professional codes, guidelines and standards for practice which together establish the requirements for the professional and safe practice of nurses and midwives in Australia.

These guidelines supplement the Registration standard: Endorsement as a nurse practitioner by providing further information about the requirements for nurses applying for an endorsement as a nurse practitioner.

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Who do these guidelines apply to?

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These guidelines are relevant for:

  • registered nurses seeking endorsement as a nurse practitioner 
  • nurse practitioners 
  • other health practitioners 
  • government bodies 
  • education providers, and 
  • employers.

Registered nurses applying for endorsement as a nurse practitioner

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A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse endorsed by the NMBA who has direct clinical contact and practises within their scope under the legislatively protected title ‘nurse practitioner’ under the National Law.

The Registration standard: Endorsement as a nurse practitioner states that a nurse seeking endorsement as a nurse practitioner must be able to demonstrate all of the following.

  1. Current general registration as a registered nurse in Australia with no conditions or undertakings on registration relating to unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct. 
  2. The equivalent of three years’ (5,000 hours) full-time experience in the advanced clinical nursing practice level, within the past six years, from the date when the complete application seeking endorsement as a nurse practitioner is received by the NMBA. 
  3. Successful completion of:
    • an NMBA-approved program of study leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner, or 
    • a program that is substantially equivalent to an NMBA-approved program of study leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner as determined by the NMBA.
  4. Compliance with the NMBA’s Nurse practitioner standards for practice.

Table 1: Evidence model for registered nurses applying for endorsement as a nurse practitioner

Requirement Evidence
Current general registration as a registered nurse in Australia with no conditions or undertakings on registration relating to unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct. An applicant who is currently registered with the NMBA as a registered nurse and whose registration does not have any conditions or undertakings imposed on their registration, in relation to unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct has satisfied this requirement.

Evidence would be a current registration certificate as a registered nurse with no conditions or undertakings on the registration relating to unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct issued by the NMBA.
The equivalent of three years’ (5,000 hours) full-time experience in the advanced clinical nursing practice level, within the past six years, from the date when the complete application seeking endorsement as a nurse practitioner is received by the NMBA. Advanced nursing practice is a continuum along which nurses develop their professional knowledge, clinical reasoning and judgement, skills and behaviours to higher levels of capability (that is recognisable). Nurses practising at an advanced level incorporate professional leadership, education and research into their clinically based practice. Their practice is effective and safe. They work within a generalist or specialist context and they are responsible and accountable for managing people who have complex healthcare requirements.

Advanced nursing practice is a level of practice and not a role. It is acknowledged that advanced nursing practice is individually attributed within a regulated nursing scope (enrolled nurse, registered nurse or nurse practitioner).  Advanced nursing practice for the purpose of the 5,000 hours needed is not related to a job title or remuneration.

Nurses applying for endorsement need to submit:

(a) Curriculum vitae (CV) detailing:
  • evidence of employment, clearly noting title and description of all advanced nursing practice with dates (dd/mm/yyyy) and hours per week
  • education details such as a certified copy of relevant Masters transcripts, including transcript list of all units and a results key, and
  • evidence of professional activities such as involvement in associations, forums, conferences, related groups, research/publications or quality improvement activities.

You must declare that the ‘the CV is true and correct as at (insert date)’. This declaration must be signed and dated. The NMBA will only accept the original signed CV.
For guidance on CV format refer to the AHPRA guidelines Standard format for curriculum vitae.

Note: It is not compulsory to comply with these CV guidelines.

(b) Certified copy of statement(s) of service which support the applicant’s 5,000 hours of advanced clinical nursing practice within the past six years. The statement(s) of service must:
  • be on your employer’s letterhead
  • be dated and signed by the Director of Nursing or equivalent. Self-employed nurses may provide a statutory declaration as their proof of service
  • detail the title of your advanced clinical nursing practice, dates of employment, and hours, and
  • detail any periods of extended leave (e.g. long service leave or extended sick leave).
Successful completion of:
  • an NMBA-approved program of study leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner, or
  • a program that is substantially equivalent to an NMBA-approved program of study leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner as determined by the NMBA
 The NMBA has two pathways that fulfil the education requirements for endorsement as a nurse practitioner:

Pathway 1

Evidence of successful completion of an NMBA-approved nurse practitioner program of study at masters level.

Pathway 2

Evidence of successful completion of a program that is substantially equivalent to an NMBA-approved program of study leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner as determined by the NMBA:

  • a postgraduate nursing masters degree that is clinically relevant to the applicant’s context of advanced practice nursing for which they are seeking endorsement as a nurse practitioner 
  • evidence of completion of masters level units in advanced health assessment, pharmacology and therapeutics and diagnostics and research, however titled, and mapping of completed masters level units against the Nurse practitioner standards for practice. 
Evidence of meeting the NMBA’s Nurse practitioner standards for practice. An applicant who has successfully completed an NMBA-approved nurse practitioner program of study is not required to provide further evidence of meeting the Nurse practitioner standards for practice.

An applicant who has not completed an NMBA-approved nurse practitioner program of study at masters level will be required to provide evidence of meeting the Nurse practitioner standards for practice (see Pathway 2 above).

Requirements for ongoing endorsement as a nurse practitioner

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Ongoing endorsement as a nurse practitioner is contingent upon the nurse practitioner meeting the NMBA’s requirements for renewal of registration annually. Under section 109 of the National Law, nurse practitioners are required to make an annual declaration that they have met the professional indemnity insurance and recency of practice requirements and completed the required continuing professional development.

Nurse practitioners need to demonstrate recency of practice at the advanced practice nursing level to retain their endorsement.

For more information

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Page reviewed 8/08/2019
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