Australian nurse practitioners

suga_junkie, BSN, RN · Sep 26, 2013

I'm not a NP but I have one in my neighbourhood with his own practice. We also have several GP clinics with NPs you can see rather than the GP. They can prescribe and refer. I've gotten antibiotics, contraception etc from them. Our hospital also has a NP in the pain service. she can prescribe/change prescriptions for all the opioid analgesics, order PCAs etc. What do the US NPs do that is different?

ceridwyn · Sep 26, 2013

It takes at least 7-8 years to become an NP in Australia so therefore there is not an over abundance of NP's here.

I have worked along side aged care, diabetes and emergency NP's who had a ver wide scope of practise as many have more experience than doctors and we're called upon for their expertise in their specialty areas. They diagnose order tests and prescribe all without any consults with doctors is this behind other countries ?

At leAst NP's here are RNs first and foremost and very experienced ones too before allowed to do NP masters and then apply for the process of endorsement with AHPRA .

Bringonthenight · Sep 27, 2013

It takes at least 7-8 years to become an NP in Australia so therefore there is not an over abundance of NP's here. I have worked along side aged care, diabetes and emergency NP's who had a ver wide scope of practise as many have more experience than doctors and we're called upon for their expertise in their specialty areas. They diagnose order tests and prescribe all without any consults with doctors is this behind other countries ? At leAst NP's here are RNs first and foremost and very experienced ones too before allowed to do NP masters and then apply for the process of endorsement with AHPRA .

Maybe it feels like Australia is behind because there are very few NPs here compared to the US. Over there it seems you can get your Masters in NP right after your nursing degree without even working as a nurse first.

I've yet to work with one, but am very intrigued by their role in certain specialties and the difference in care they could provide compared to a Dr. From my research it seems there approach is to treat the whole patient and focus on prevention and education (much like any RN) with the additional scope of being able to diagnose, prescribe etc.

I hope to work with one soon!

aussieboynurse · Oct 29, 2013

I do work with heaps of NP's especially in Emergency, they ran the Fast Track, prescribe meds (limited) and discharge patients home, though they work side by side with the docs.

There are a number of NP candidates as well, they take the exam I believe annually and based from what I heard, it is a very difficult exam

allnurses Guide · Nov 19, 2013

Yes it is decades behind the US, because there is not the size of population that drove the need for non-physician providers (and different billing procedures so they could not get a provider number or bill which is a huge driver in the US), although now there are some. The process is becoming more like the US in that it's now masters degree that includes clinicals, pathophysiology, pharmacology. However the process is still very burdensome to become licensed as an NP in Australia. I am sure it will improve over time as more NPs get into practice and physicians realize that NPs can help them without taking over their practice.

I am an NP in the US and am Australian. I have already had my dad's cardiologist in Australia ask me if I'd come back and work with him as he'd love an NP, but I cannot do as much there (yet) as I can here (and my life is in the US for now). I watch with interest to see how the scope of practise expands.

Bringonthenight · Nov 28, 2013

Yes it is decades behind the US, because there is not the size of population that drove the need for non-physician providers (and different billing procedures so they could not get a provider number or bill which is a huge driver in the US), although now there are some. The process is becoming more like the US in that it's now masters degree that includes clinicals, pathophysiology, pharmacology. However the process is still very burdensome to become licensed as an NP in Australia. I am sure it will improve over time as more NPs get into practice and physicians realize that NPs can help them without taking over their practice. I am an NP in the US and am Australian. I have already had my dad's cardiologist in Australia ask me if I'd come back and work with him as he'd love an NP, but I cannot do as much there (yet) as I can here (and my life is in the US for now). I watch with interest to see how the scope of practise expands.

Wow, did you complete your entire nursing education in the US? Or did you become an RN in Australia then become an NP in the US? It seems impossible to get to the US an a nurse these days.

ceridwyn · Nov 28, 2013

In the US you can be become an NP without even being an RN!!!

Our NP's however hold much respect by 'most' medical professions as they are much experienced RN's first and usually are holding the MD hand and give advice (consult) (I can only speak after working with Diabetes NP's and ED NP's)

I doubt they would think their education burdensome as such as they would not have the massive nursing experience knowledge they have to be an Australian NP and are very proud of what they do for the patients and Nursing profession of Australia,, even though viable private practice may not be available to them due to the medical referral system by doctors first!! for funding through medicare and the health funds, this could be considered perhaps though not decades, as the US has not such a free public funded health system, 'behind the times.'

allnurses Guide · Nov 28, 2013

Wow, did you complete your entire nursing education in the US? Or did you become an RN in Australia then become an NP in the US? It seems impossible to get to the US an a nurse these days.

No, I came over to work in a specialty area after being an ICU nurse in Australia for several years. I completed my masters degree in NP in the US while working fulltime in my original job and switched to a new visa for my NP job. The visa is E3 for (at least bachelor prepared) professionals who are Australian.

Bringonthenight · Nov 28, 2013

No, I came over to work in a specialty area after being an ICU nurse in Australia for several years. I completed my masters degree in NP in the US while working fulltime in my original job and switched to a new visa for my NP job. The visa is E3 for (at least bachelor prepared) professionals who are Australian.

Did you find the transition from Aus ICU to US ICU nursing difficult? I'd imagine it's quite different.

joe_mulligan88 · Dec 4, 2013

No, you must hold a registration in your state to apply for grad school in the US to get a NP. You may apply to some programs without exp. NPs are highly regarded here as well.

allnurses Guide · Dec 4, 2013

Did you find the transition from Aus ICU to US ICU nursing difficult? I'd imagine it's quite different.

The difference is the hospital system and charting, not the work itself. CTICU is CTICU, wherever you are. Same surgeries and drugs and swans and IABPs and VADs. Just different systems and processes.