NMBA has released new standards for practice for enrolled nurses

21 Oct 2015

Today, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has released the new enrolled nurse standards for practice.

The new standards were announced at the 12th Biennial National Enrolled Nurse Association of Australia Conference, in Adelaide. They are the core practice standards that provide the framework for assessing enrolled nurse (EN) practice, and replace the National competency standards for the enrolled nurse (2002).

The new Enrolled nurse standards for practice will be effective from 1 January 2016.

• Enrolled nurse standards for practice (116 KB,PDF), Word version (408 KB,DOCX)

NMBA Chair Dr Lynette Cusack, RN said, ‘The NMBA is committed to supporting ENs and enabling the continuous development of a flexible, responsive and sustainable Australian health workforce. The new standards set minimum expectation of practice and inform the education standards for ENs. They guide employers and the general public about the standards that can be expected from ENs.’

‘We are releasing the standards early to help ENs, employers and education providers become familiar with the new requirements,’ said Dr Cusack.

New standards

The new standards place the patient at the centre of care. They have clearer wording regarding supervision, delegation and role relationships, where the EN:

• is required to work under the direct or indirect supervision of an RN,
• retains responsibility for his/her actions, and
• is accountable in providing delegated care.

The NMBA has also published a fact sheet to facilitate a better understanding of the new standards.

During the transition period from 21 October 2015 to 1 January 2016, the National competency standards for the enrolled nurse will still apply.

More information including the above listed documents is available on the NMBA website under Professional Standards.

For more information

• Visit the NMBA website
• For registration enquiries: 1300 419 495 (within Australia) +61 03 9275 9009 (overseas callers)
• Media enquiries: (03) 8708 9200

Download a PDF of this Media statement - NMBA has released new standards for practice for enrolled nurses - 21 October 2015 (79.5 KB,PDF).