Media release

09 May 2013

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia marks International Nurses Day.

National Board recognises special day for nurses

Nursing and Midwifery Board - Media statement - 9 May 2013 (200 KB,PDF)

On behalf of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, I commend Australia’s 310,660 enrolled nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners for their invaluable contribution to the health and wellbeing of the Australian community.

International Nurses Day is being commemorated worldwide on Sunday 12 May 2013, with this year’s theme being Closing the Gap: Millennium Development Goals (MDG). 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

This theme is intended to be a countdown to 2015, with an emphasis on achieving the United Nations’ global health related goals, including:

• MDG 4: reducing child mortality
• MDG 5: improving maternal health, and
• MDG 6: combating HIV/AIDs, malaria and other diseases.

Nurses work in all areas of health care with a diverse range of clients. The circumstances in which they work can sometimes be very challenging. In addition, nurses working at an advanced practice nursing level or in a nurse practitioner role are often immersed in situations of high complexity that demand an equally high level of skill, knowledge and experience.

It is important that nurses address the barriers and challenges to continue to meet the health needs of their communities, and to make sure – where possible – that progress made is not lost or diminished when the focus and resources shift.

The International Nurses Day provides an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on nurses, as the largest health care profession in Australia, and how they continue to contribute to the way health care services and health workforce reform deliver better health outcomes for our communities.

The National Board plays a key role in regulating enrolled nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners. We set the registration standards and professional codes, standards and guidelines that establish the requirements for nurses to practise competently and safely in Australia.

This year, we have funded a range of evidence based projects, including important reviews of the following:

• Competency standards for the nurse practitioner, and
• Competency standards for the enrolled nurse.

We intend to commence review of the Competency standards for the registered nurse in the next 12 months. These standards are available under Codes and guidelines on the National Board website.

Ms Anne Copeland
Chair
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia