The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) released the advanced copy of the revised Nurse practitioner standards which will be effective 1 March 2021.
The Nurse practitioner standards for practice is a document that contains all the practice standards required by a registered nurse. This also sets the expectations from a nurse practitioner in all contexts of practice. It informs the NP education standards, regulation, and the determination of practice eligibility. This standard is for the guidance of consumers, employers, and stakeholders concerned.
Primarily, the major changes in the standards are on the key concepts and definitions. It also incorporates a provision on inclusivity, promoting mutual respect and culturally safe practice especially for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. With an utmost acknowledgment of the impacts of the standards on people’s health and safety, it preempts a respectful practice and inclusive delivery of healthcare.
The revised set of standards is an improved version and was presented in accordance with the registered nurse standards for practice as well as the midwife standards for practice.
The standards were revised through an in-depth collaborative, evidence-based review, involving various stakeholders. Their discussion included aspects such as:
· Exploration of relevant literature and regulatory guidelines across the international healthcare industry
· Internal review and deliberation of the existing Nurse practitioner standards for the practice
· Consultation with key groups, and
· A public consultation
The advanced copy can be accessed on the NMBA website.
In reading the revised set of standards, one should consider the NMBA Safety and quality guidelines for nurse practitioners and Registration standard.
