NP in Australia

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

Hey everyone

Just a quick question for my aussie colleagues. Does Australia utilize acute care NPs? I am halfway through an ACNP program and in a couple of years my boyfriend and I would like to move to Sydney. If I can't get an ACNP job that might be a problem lol. Although I can always work as an RN or even get a FNP post-master's certificate too.

Thanks!

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Hey everyone

Just a quick question for my aussie colleagues. Does Australia utilize acute care NPs? I am halfway through an ACNP program and in a couple of years my boyfriend and I would like to move to Sydney. If I can't get an ACNP job that might be a problem lol. Although I can always work as an RN or even get a FNP post-master's certificate too.

Thanks!

Australia does have acute care NP's but uses a different system to get there, first of all you must be an experienced RN first in that specialty of at least 3 years full time or equivalent and then do a Masters in Nurse practitioner where you will learn about the meds you can dispense and the legallities of it all that you will not know as an international nurse. You cannot just do the theory and be a Nurse Practitioner after you graduate.

I doubt after you do a Family? NP course in the states then be registered as one of those either, as you must again have done 3 years full time as an RN in that area first before you can apply.

Nurse Practitioners in Australia are experienced nurses first in their specialty and then notation as a Nurse Practitioner after the Masters study and after being assessed by AHPRA.

I do not know how AHPRA are assessing NP's from the US but if they are Registering them as RN with the NP notation it would not be the same education or experience as locals and would be an unfair system, as we have to work and be recognised by our employer and then sponsored by them as a nurse practitioner candidate while we study. Agreements must be signed between mentors and employers and the nurse practitioner candidate, a very intense process.

Unfortunately you may have to be an ""ordinary"" RN first. Good luck. :)

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

So I have 8 years of experience in my current specialty and have maintained my ccrn for 4 years. By the time we are talking about going I will be done with my acnp program and in practice for a couple of years. So why would I need to work as a staff rn all over again?

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Do you realise most all medications, name, chemical compounds, the health care system, legal responsibilities,laws, how drugs are prescribed, tests ordered, are totally different to that in the US?!! The only med I know that is the same are insulins.

Good luck with your move and may AHPRA grant you NP status in the future.

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Specializes in MICU, SICU, CICU.

That much I did know. I just thought it was similar to here in the US. If you graduated from an accredited program and could pass the nclex you can get licensure here. I did not realize that it would be that complicated if I went after completing grad school.

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Nurse boy you have nothing to worry about.nurses in the USA at far more experienced and educated than Australian counterparts especially with sciences.a masters degree in total is only 4 years which 3 yrs is for a bachelor degree.an Australian educated nurse with a bachelor degree doesn't even meet min standards in the USA to become a registered nurse.so go on ahpra website and you can get more accurate information.i say Queensland health the best employer for a nurse practitioner.you will find your scope of practice very restricted here compared to the USA.

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How do nurses become more experienced in the USA than in Stralia?

I am sure all those country and remote area nurses would argue this reasoning and their scope of practice, afterall an RN in the USA with a Doctor at hand and a rural/remote area nurse with no Doctor at hand, there is no comparing. And I am sure they feel just as experienced and just as effective as any nurse with the same amount of years as an RN to their colleagues anywhere in the USA with the same amount of years as RN's.

As for the more populated areas, your reasoning would be that experience:

An Australian nurse working on a med ward full time for 5 years would only equal a RN from USA working on a med ward full time for 1 year in experience.

Its interesting that you pick on the 3 year degree for our Bachelor of Nursing.

When orientation for new grad nurses at most is usually on 1 week and our health outcomes with our population is actually above that of the USA and as an RN we do not have teams that look after IV's the ward RN's have to do that. We do not have respiratory teams that look after ventilated patients the RN does that and there are several other major differences that the RN here in Australia is expected to do, whereas the RN in the USA has many allied health teams that assist in the day to day care of the RN's patients.

It is a different health system for a different culture, there is no need to compare and de value the Australian RN to the RN from the USA.

btw, nurses educated here in Australia have reported being excepted by BONS in the USA, as they consider where they have worked and their experience often if they have the dip in mid and done paeds in their education.

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You seem quite opinionated.Have you ever worked in the USA.Secondly I have a degree from Austealia and the USA and have worked in both countries.It is a fact that American nurses are way more educated than Australian Nurses and it is a fact that our education system for a Bachelor of Nursing does not even meet the standards of a ADN from the US, that Australian nurses cannot be licensed in the USA to work.So just be careful what you believe nurses don't do in the US.A nurse practitioner in Australia all education of there degree still is less educated.less experienced than a Bachelor degree nurse in the USA.I am a proud Australian Nurse but the truth is the truth so to be so blunt

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Sorry being so patriotic, I was born and raised/educated here. And yes, I spent time in the USA as an exchange nursing student during my 3rd year. My mentor at the hospital I was at, was an Australian nurse.

Sorry about your difficulties being accepted in the USA, but Australian educated nurses have reported being accepted for NCLEX and passing it first time round, quite well compared to other countries.

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You need to know your facts.There is not one state that will accept a bachelor of nursing degree from Australia nor to sit NCLEX.A thing of the past.So look it up your self.I am a dual citizen very patriotic to Australia.I am a proud Nurse, but sometimes the facts are the facts weather we like them or not.So this post was for an American coming to Australia who will have no trouble at all fitting in to this great country.

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Specializes in Medical and general practice now LTC.

Sorry but we have had Australian nurse post they met US requirements, sat and passed NCLEX and currently working in the US. ghillbert comes to mind.Each country has their own requirements both in training and in what they expect of their nurses and I agree like comparing apples and pears in regards which country is better

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You are correct that in the past Australian nurses have sat NCLEX.If you read my posts.As of 2012, Australian BN do not meet minimum standards to sit state boards or be licensed.This is a fact that will effect nurses wanting to work in the USA.It is not fair as USA nurses can come here and work.I think it is due to the education requirements.It is comparing apples to oranges.The only University that was providing the peds/ob component and the USA accepted it for years was Deaken.I spoke to the head of there nursing and the USA no longer accepts it.California is the pushing force and it has hit phillipino nurses the worse.So as my original post states the NP from the USA will have no problem working here

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