Fact sheet: Recency of practice

Recency of practice means that a nurse or midwife has maintained an adequate connection with, and recent practice in the profession/s since qualifying for, or obtaining registration.

Practice means any role, whether remunerated or not, in which the individual uses their skills and knowledge as a health practitioner in their profession. Practice in this context is not restricted to the provision of direct clinical care. It also includes using professional knowledge (working) in a direct non-clinical relationship with clients, working in management, administration, education, research, advisory, regulatory or policy development roles, and any other roles that impact on the safe, effective delivery of services in the profession.

The NMBA recognises practice hours if the evidence you provide demonstrates that you have practised nursing and/or midwifery, and that you:

• hold or have held current and valid registration with a recognised nursing or midwifery regulatory authority (either in Australia or overseas), or
• your role involves the application of nursing and/or midwifery knowledge and skills, or 
• have carried out postgraduate education leading to an award or qualification that is relevant to the practice of nursing and/or midwifery.

Clinical practice is when the nurse or midwife is directly involved in providing direct clinical care or providing oversight of direct clinical care of patients, or is directly involved in clinical education of either pre-registration or post-registration students, including bridging programs.
Some examples of clinical practice roles are:

• a nurse working in a medical or surgical ward of a hospital 
• a midwife working in a post natal care unit.

Non-clinical practice is where a nurse or midwife is not directly involved in providing direct clinical care or providing oversight of direct care of patients or is not directly involved in clinical education of either pre-registration or post-registration students, including bridging programs.

Some examples of non-clinical practice roles are:

• a nursing academic at a university undertaking nursing research 
• a midwifery policy officer at a health department.

You need to provide evidence that you have practised for a period equivalent to a minimum of 450 hours, within the past five years.

The types of evidence you can provide include:

• a service statement from your employer 
• pay slips 
• income statement for the year, and 
• other documents showing the hours and dates that you worked.

The types of evidence that are accepted are at the discretion of the NMBA.

No. The hours do not need to be continuous and can be accumulated over the past five years. As long as they are equivalent to a minimum of 450 hours, and the type of evidence you provide is accepted by the NMBA, it is sufficient evidence.

Yes. You need to declare annually and if audited provide evidence showing that you have completed the equivalent hours in both nursing and midwifery within the past five years.

This means that you need to be able to demonstrate that you have practised for the equivalent of 450 hours in nursing and the equivalent of 450 hours in midwifery, over the past five years.

However, if you consider an aspect of your work could provide evidence for both nursing and midwifery practice, you may make a case for that. An example of this could be caring for women who have had a caesarean section, and their babies.

Yes. You need to declare annually when you renew your registration and, if audited, provide evidence showing that you have completed the equivalent hours in both nursing and midwifery within the past five years.

This means that you need to be able to demonstrate that you have practised for the equivalent of 450 hours in nursing and the equivalent of 450 hours in midwifery, over the past five years.

However, if you consider an aspect of your work could provide evidence for both nursing and midwifery practice, you may make a case for that. An example of this could be caring for women who have had a caesarean section, and their babies.

Yes. You need to maintain recency of practice relevant to the endorsement that you hold and declare annually that you have practised for the equivalent of 450 hours relevant to your endorsement over the past five years.

If you are audited, you will need to be able to demonstrate recency of practice relevant to the endorsement that you hold. For example, a midwife with an endorsement for scheduled medicines will need to be able to show recent practice relevant to prescribing and administration of medicines and a nurse practitioner would be required to show recency of practice at the nurse practitioner (advanced practice nursing) level.

Yes. You need to provide the same level of evidence needed for practice completed in Australia.

For information on the evidence you need to provide to demonstrate that you have practised nursing and/or midwifery, see section above ‘What are practice hours?'.

If you have not worked sufficient hours over the past five years, you need to contact the Ahpra office in your state or territory, to get advice about your individual circumstances.

You may be asked to successfully complete:

• supervised practice as approved by the NMBA, or 
• a re-entry to practice program approved by the NMBA

You will need to declare at the time of registration renewal that you do not meet recency of practice. Your renewal will be assessed and you may be requested to provide further information.

For further information, refer to the NMBA’s Fact sheet: Re-entry to practice.

Yes. You should make sure to keep evidence of your practice for at least five years, in case you are selected for audit by the NMBA.

No. When you renew your registration you are making a declaration to say that you have met the requirements. Evidence will only be requested if you are selected for audit. Remember to keep your evidence for at least five years in case you are selected for audit by the NMBA.

If you do not meet the recency of practice registration standard, you will need to contact your local Ahpra office, in your state and territory, to get further advice.

Please note that each individual application is considered on its merits and circumstances by the NMBA.

Nurses and midwives are reminded that as professionals they have a responsibility to ensure that they are safe and competent to practice. This is particularly important when nurses and midwives transition from non-clinical to clinical practice and/or change their scope of practice.

Scenario:

Gabby is a registered nurse with 10 years of clinical experience. She takes a role in a different area of the health sector, where she is not required to be registered. Gabby lets her registration lapse and is no longer on the register. After a period of time, Gabby’s employment circumstances change and she is now required to be registered again.

Potential outcomes:

1. If Gabby wants to apply for a nursing research role (non-clinical) and she has practised 450 hours within the past five years – will she meet the recency of practice registration standard?
   
   Yes, Gabby will meet the standard if she has 450 hours of clinical or non-clinical practice in the past five years. 
   
   
2. If Gabby wants to apply for a nursing clinical role and has practised 450 hours within the past five years – will she meet the recency of practice registration standard?
   
   Yes, Gabby will meet the standard if she has 450 hours of clinical or non-clinical practice in the past five years.
   
   Note: If Gabby has not recently practised in a clinical role, the NMBA would expect her to take steps to ensure she is educated, trained, competent and confident to practise in her new clinical role.
   
   
3. If Gabby wants to apply for a nursing research role (non-clinical) and has not practised 450 hours within the past five years – will she meet the recency of practice registration standard?
   
   No. However, if Gabby is able to meet all of the NMBA’s other mandatory registration standards she may be registered with provisional registration. Gabby would undertake a period of supervised practice in order to demonstrate competence in her chosen area of non-clinical practice. She would not be expected to undertake a clinical re-entry to practice program. 
   
   
4. If Gabby wants to apply for a nursing clinical role and has not practised 450 hours within the past five years – will she meet the recency of practice registration standard?
   
   No. However, if Gabby is able to meet all the NMBA’s other mandatory registration standards she may be registered with provisional registration. Gabby would be required to undertake an NMBA-approved clinical re-entry to practice program or a period of supervised practice in order to demonstrate competence in clinical nursing and enable her to be eligible for general registration

• Registration standard: Recency of practice
• Re-entry to practice information on the NMBA website
• Audit information on the NMBA website
• Visit www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au under Contact us to lodge an online enquiry form
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (in Australia) +61 3 9275 9009 (overseas callers)