Download a copy of this Fact sheet: Provisional registration: Information for health services and employers (241KB).
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 standards, codes and guidelines which together establish the requirements for the professional and safe practice of nurses and midwives in Australia.
This fact sheet addresses common queries that you might have about the requirements for health services and/or employers who support nurses and/or midwives with provisional registration for supervised practice. It should be read in combination with the Policy: Re-entry to practice for nurses and midwives.
Provisional registration is for practitioners who have not practised as a nurse or midwife for between five and 10 years, and
Provisional registration enables these practitioners to complete a period of supervised practice or an NMBA approved re-entry to practice program. The requirements are set out in conditions applied to the registration.
The provisional registration period is for 12 months and starts when the NMBA makes the decision. Renewal occurs on the anniversary of the initial registration date, noting that provisional registration may not be renewed more than twice.
When the requirements of the supervised practice or re-entry to practice program conditions have been met, the practitioner is eligible to apply for general registration. Provisionally registered nurses and/or midwives suitability for registration has been assessed by the NMBA.
Before any supervised practice can take place, the nurse and/or midwife must:
Nurses and/or midwives holding provisional registration for supervised practice must comply with the requirements and responsibilities specified in the NMBA Supervision guidelines for nursing and midwifery. The guidelines provide a resource for persons supervising nurses and/or midwives and sets out the following:
Table 1 provides an overview of the stages of supervision and the documentation requirements. When the requirements of the restrictions have been met, the practitioner is eligible to apply for general registration.
Table 1: Timelines and reporting requirements
Submit to AHPRA
Within 14 days of commencing practice
After a minimum of 75 hours of direct supervision:
Within 14 days of achieving competence against the relevant Standards for practice and meeting the requirements of the restrictions:
The practitioner is eligible to lodge an application for general registration.
A nurse and/or midwife holding provisional registration must:
Recency of practice: a health practitioner has maintained an adequate connection with, and recent practice in, the profession since qualifying or obtaining registration.
Re-entry to practice program: a program of study accredited by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council (ANMAC) and approved by the NMBA as preparation for nurses and midwives for re-entry to the register. This may be after a lapse in practice and/or removal from the register for a period exceeding the requirement in the Registration standard: Recency of practice. It contains both a theoretical and a clinical experience component.
Supervised practice: a period of practice under supervision. It is a formal process of professional support and learning which allows a nurse and/or midwife (supervisee) to develop knowledge and competence, assume responsibility for their own practice and enhance public protection and safety. Supervision may be direct or indirect according to the nature of context under which the practice is being supervised. It is the responsibility of the nurse/midwife to arrange a placement that meets the requirements of the NMBA for re-entry to practice, including that:
Levels of supervision
Direct supervision
The supervisor takes direct and principal responsibility for the nursing or midwifery care provided (e.g. assessment and/or treatment of individual patients/clients)
The supervisor must be physically present at the workplace, observing at all times when the supervisee is providing clinical care, according to the supervised practice plan.
Supervision by telephone is indirect and not permitted.
The supervisee must consult with the supervisor about the nursing or midwifery care before delivering the care.
As the highest level of supervision, this level may be used:
Indirect supervision
The supervisor and supervisee share the responsibility for individual patients.
The supervisor is easily contactable and is available to observe and discuss the nursing or midwifery care the supervisee is delivering.
According to the supervised practice plan, the supervisor must be physically present at the workplace (unit/clinic/ward) for the majority of time when the supervisee is providing clinical care.
The supervisee must inform the supervisor at agreed intervals about the management of each patient; this may be after delivering care.
If the approved supervisor is temporarily absent during any day, then the supervisor must make appropriate arrangements for alternative supervision, to provide temporary oversight.
Ideally a secondary supervisor on the supervisee’s supervision agreement will provide such temporary supervision.
This level may be used:
2 This refers to the usual reporting frequency for re-entry to practice but may be modified by the supervised practice plan. The NMBA or the supervisor may, at any time, exercise its discretion to ask to for/provide a report. 3 This lists the typical use of a supervision level. The NMBA may, at any time, exercise its discretion to determine the supervision level.