Do they have nurse practitioner in Australia

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Hi,

I am a nursing student in the U.S, and I am finishing my master's degree in Adult Acute Care. Thinking of moving to OZ when I am done. I just have many questions about what I can do in OZ. I know in the U.S. I can be a nurse practitioner and work in ICU, OR, outpatient care, etc. Could somebody tell me what nurses with master's degrees can do in Australia. What are the names of the job titles? Is it easy to get a job?

Thanks very very much for any help.

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Specializes in CTICU.

Depends on which state you want to work in. In general, the role is new and there are only around 2-300 NPs in the country, so not many jobs. Check the nursing board in the state of interest for their licensure rules. eg. http://www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing/furthering/practitioner

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Hi Eeeva,

Yes we do have NP roles in Australia however they are much newer than in the US and the requirements changes between different states (at the moment nursing registration here is still state based although there are plans to have it national by 2011).

At the moment registering as a NP is done on an individual basis and in Victoria (Melbourne) is a very rigorous process. In Vic I think the NPs also write their own practice and scope guidelines and getting these approved is part of the process, it's very difficult for NPs to practice independently at the moment as the public health system will not reimburse patients for visiting a NP in private practice. Most NPs here practice within public hospitals, either in the Emerg depts or in the inpatient or outpatient area of their speciality.

Hope that information helps, you'd need to look into detail in whichever state you wish to register. The individual nurses boards of each state will have more information.

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We had a NP working in the ED who was essentially useless as she wasn't allowed to write prescriptions and had to work under the guidance of a doctor. Australia is just too far behind the US and you will not be able to fully utilise your NP skills if you go there as a 'new grad' NP.

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Specializes in CTICU.

I'm not sure why she couldn't prescribe - part of the requirement for endorsement as an NP is a medication course and the NPs I know in Aus can prescribe according to their individual agreements. NPs in most states of the US are also working with a collaborating physician (degree of "supervision" depends on state laws).

The only way this will move forward is with more NPs pushing the role and educating both the public and medicos about the possibilities of the role.

I'm currently doing my MSN in ACNP in the US - my work is here for the next several years, but eventually I'll head back to Australia. Who knows where the role will be by then?

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I believe NSW has a restriction on prescribing rights.

This article also addresses some of the problems;

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/95543.php

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Specializes in Critical Care Nursing.

Not sure you would qualify in Australia as NP are in their infancy. I think it is much easier to get a position in specific areas especially ED or outback. I suggest you contact the Nursing and midwifery boards in each state to find out what is going on. You have talked about your clinical experience?. This is a fairly stringent requirement in Australia.

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Specializes in Med/Surg/Ortho/HH/Radiology-Now Retired.

Some NP's in Australia are now working in doctors rooms - (private medical practioners).

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This is interesting. I'd definitely love to see this "infancy" stage of NPs in Australia grow much more to help Australia's growing demands in health care. Thanks for this thread, I was curious about the NP issue in Australia.

S.Snake - AS, RN student.

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