Scope of Practice in New Zealand and Australia

[nocturnal10]

I am a Canadian nursing student and heard from someone that nurses in New Zealand cannot start IVs.. Is this true?

For example, in Canada, for antibiotic therapy, the nurses simply follow the doctor's orders. They start IVs, prepare the medication (measure, dilute, etc), and administrate it themselves without the MD intervening otherwise.

Does anyone know how practice differs from Canada in these two countries? Are there any other big limitations in practice?

Also, what's the scope of practice for Nurse Practitioners in these countries? Are jobs easy to come by?

Thank you for your time.

[lucypear]

i cant answer all your questions but I can tell you that nurses in NZ can start IVs! You do normally have to do a certification to do so depending on where you work though but it's normally a requirement to do so anyway :)

[nocturnal10]

Yay a reply!! Thank you!

Why it is that it's a separate certification? Here we need to take CPR courses which for some reason is not taught in our courses and we need to get certified for that. Feel like it's silly.

[Fiona59]

Canadian hospitals require each new hire have a session with a CNE! Who will then "certify" them as competent.

[ANnot4me]

I was trained in the US with a BSN. I have been in NZ for over 11 years. The Registered Nurse competency in NZ and Australia does not cover things like phlebotomy, starting IVs or inserting male indwelling catheters. It is different, but it is what it is down here. The competencies are not hard to acheive, but they are not basic RN competencies as they are in the US.

[nocturnal10]

Thank you for your reply! Would you say most RNs in Aus and NZ apply for certification so that they can perform phlebotomy procedures?

[ceridwyn]

I have been an RN for past 15 years. I have worked in public and private hospitals in Queensland, NSW but mainly Victoria.

This is my experience: RN's are expected to take blood, it is part of clinical training in nursing labs and practised in clinicals in 2nd year.

Mainly though, during the day and in some specialities there is the pathology service. Unfortunately in country and remote areas this is not an option, so the RN is to do.

IV starts: not sure if this means canulation or not. It is becoming more expected of RN's in wards. In ED it is an expected competency. RN's always start the fluids, when canuala in place and patent.

Male catheterisations: Expected in all states except Victoria, though now expected in ED and RN's must have education and then competent to do on all wards. Always been expected in scope of practice in all other states. Australia is a big place, RN's need to be competent and therefore in scope of practice to do all these things, Doctors are not always available and often cannot do as well as RN.

[nocturnal10]

Thank you!

[Tenebrae, BSN, RN]

I was trained in the US with a BSN. I have been in NZ for over 11 years. The Registered Nurse competency in NZ and Australia does not cover things like phlebotomy, starting IVs or inserting male indwelling catheters. It is different, but it is what it is down here. The competencies are not hard to acheive, but they are not basic RN competencies as they are in the US.

In the hospitals perhaps. I worked as a district nurse and we were expected to do male catheter changes routinely.

I find it easier to catheterise a male, while there is more urethra to go through there is only one possible hole

[l1234567]

IDCs and cannulation is what I do routinely. With cannulas there is usually a competency but that is about it. You are certainly required to make and start your own IVs!

ETA this is not the same for enrolled nurses. Some hospitals will not allow enrolled nurses to do IVs even though they have been trained