NMBA releases revised Nurse practitioner standards for practice

17 Dec 2020

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has published an advance copy of the revised Nurse practitioner standards for practice (revised standards) which take effect on 1 March 2021.  

Where can I view the revised standards? 

Visit the Professional standards section of the NMBA website to get to know the revised standards. 

What are the standards used for?

The Nurse practitioner standards for practice build on the practice standards required of a registered nurse and are the expectations of nurse practitioner (NP) practice in all contexts. The standards inform the NP education accreditation standards, the regulation of NPs, as well as determining an NP’s capability for practice. The standards are used to guide consumers, employers and other stakeholders on what to reasonably expect from an NP regardless of their area of practice or their years of experience.

What’s changed in the revised standards?

Recent developments in the theory and practice of NPs, including the key concepts and definitions, have been incorporated into the revised standards.

The revised standards also include culturally safe and respectful practice and the importance of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander healthcare. The revised standards consider the impacts the standards could have on people’s health and safety, particularly vulnerable members of the community, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

The presentation of the revised standards has been improved and aligns with the presentation of the Registered nurse standards for practice and the Midwife standards for practice.

How were the standards revised?

The revised standards were developed through an evidence-based review, which included:

• an exploration of relevant Australian and international literature and regulatory guidelines,
• an internal review and analysis of the current Nurse practitioner standards for practice
• preliminary consultation with key stakeholder groups, and
• a public consultation phase.

Where can I go for more information?

An advance copy of the revised standards can be viewed on the Professional standards section of the NMBA website.

The Nurse practitioner standards for practice should be read in conjunction with the NMBA Safety and quality guidelines for nurse practitioners and Registration standard: Recency of practice.

Further information on the consultation process for the revised standards can be viewed on the Past Consultations section of the NMBA website.