A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who's completed postgraduate qualifications at the master's level. According to Tristan Black, "we practice as independent practitioners, seeing, treating, and diagnosing patients." Every day, we are teaching, reviewing patients for junior medical officers, and assisting nurses in educating them, whether it be in wound management, putting a cannula in, or how to look at X-rays.
To Dr Clare Skinner, the lovely thing about the nurse practitioner role is that it's a way for really capable clinical nurses to build their skills and become expert clinicians, contributing to the healthcare system. "In the case of emergency medicine, nurse practitioners and other nurses are the unsung heroes, they hold the place together and they really set the culture and do great work."
Steps to Become a Nurse Practitioner
To become a Nurse Practitioner in Australia, registered nurses must gain specialised experience, complete further education, and secure professional endorsement. This journey includes moving from a general RN to an NP with a focus on a chosen healthcare field. You should align your education and experience with the NMBA's advanced practice definition and requirements for endorsement.
1. Qualify as a registered nurse
- Complete a Bachelor of Nursing or, if coming from a different field, a Master of Nursing Practice.
- Register with the NMBA to practice as a registered nurse in Australia.
2. Gain experience
- Build substantial clinical experience, with at least three years (or 5,000 hours) at an advanced clinical nursing level within the last 6 years. This requirement is detailed in the NMBA Guide to Nurse Practitioner Endorsement.
- Your experience should tie in with the specialty you will ultimately seek endorsement in.
- Many different specialties are available. Broad areas include ageing and palliative care, chronic and complex care, child and family health care, emergency and critical care, mental health care, and primary health care. Within these areas, finer specialties also exist.
3. Do postgraduate study in your speciality
- Obtain qualifications in your area of specialisation, such as emergency nursing, critical care, or paediatrics. This should at least be a graduate certificate but could extend to a graduate diploma or master's degree.
- Postgraduate qualifications enable you to demonstrate expertise and expand your scope of practice.
4. Complete an NP master's degree
- Do an approved NP masters program or one that is considered substantially equivalent to such a program, as determined by the NMBA. The program will blend clinical placements with academic study to prepare you for advanced practice nursing roles.
- Approved master's degrees generally have titles such as Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner), Master of Advanced Nursing Practice (Nurse Practitioner), and Master of Nurse Practitioner.
- The program will contain common core subjects covering advanced health assessment, pharmacology for prescribing, therapeutics, diagnostics, and research methodologies. While subjects may be standard for all students (non-specialised), they can be contextualised to fit each nurse's specific experiences and current clinical practice.
5. Apply for endorsement
- After completing your advanced education and accruing the required clinical experience, submit your application for endorsement as a nurse practitioner to the NMBA. This step involves providing evidence of your qualifications, clinical hours, and competence in your area of advanced practice. You must meet the nurse practitioner standards for practice.
- The NMBA will assess your application to ensure you meet all the necessary standards for practice as an NP. Once endorsed, you can practise as a Nurse Practitioner in Australia.
The role of nurse practitioner is available to any registered nurse who performs at a high level in clinical practice and is prepared to complete a relevant master's degree. Once you set your sights on becoming an NP, start positioning yourself to gain the necessary clinical experience and to do further study.
How long does it take?
Becoming a Nurse Practitioner in Australia typically requires a minimum of seven years. This timeline encompasses a three-year Bachelor of Nursing, three years of clinical experience, and a one-year full-time NP master's degree. This pathway assumes that any postgraduate study specifically related to the NP's area of practice is done part-time and online to avoid extending the timeline further.
Areas of Practice (Specialties)
What are the specialty areas for nurse practitioners?
In Australia, the NMBA does not define specific specialties for NPs. Specialties are recognised by professional bodies and health sector employers. These groups use their own criteria for defining practice areas.
NPs choose their focus based on their clinical experience and education. This flexible system allows for a wide range of specialties within nursing. It adapts to the evolving needs of the healthcare system and the diverse expertise of nurses.
However, we can identify common specialties among nurse practitioners based on the fields they practice in. These include:
Can NPs Practice Independently?
Yes, nurse practitioners in Australia can practice independently. They have significant scope to manage their own caseloads and make autonomous decisions based on patient needs. However, they typically work within a healthcare team. The extent of their autonomy can vary based on the individual's ability, experience, and the specific requirements of the clinical setting.
As with all health professionals, NPs have a scope of practice. As covered in the Nurse Practitioner Standards for Practice, they are able to:
- Assess patients
- Diagnose conditions
- Order and interpret diagnostic tests
- Develop treatment plans
- Prescribe medications
- Refer patients to specialists
- Admit and discharge from healthcare services.
Over time, the scope for an individual will typically expand due to further education and accumulated experience. As NPs continue to learn and grow in their roles, their capacity to provide comprehensive care increases.
Doctor vs NP
Doctors and nurse practitioners are technically capable of doing the same kinds of things. They may diagnose conditions, prescribe medications, and manage patient care. However, NPs are generally expected to engage less in complex medical treatments compared to doctors. In contrast, NPs will be far more inclined to leverage their nursing expertise to provide all-round patient care.
The scopes of practice for NPs and general practitioners (GPs) are set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and the Medical Board of Australia, respectively. These regulatory bodies define the professional boundaries for each role. Additionally, the training, experience, and workplace context of individual health professionals influence their specific responsibilities.
Clinical nurse specialist vs NP
A Nurse Practitioner can do things that a Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) and a Clinical Nurse Consultant (CNC) can't. In Australia, a CNS or CNC is essentially a registered nurse with a high job classification, recognised for expertise in a particular nursing field. They lead and educate junior nurses in clinical practice, but their scopes of practice don't extend far beyond what an RN can technically do.
You can become a clinical nurse specialist with just a Graduate Certificate in Nursing, which represents one-third of a master's degree. Unlike an NP, a clinical nurse may not independently prescribe medications or perform certain advanced diagnostic tests. Salaries for clinical nurses are also lower than NPs, with their salaries incrementally boosted by pay allowances for postgraduate nursing qualifications and experience.
Nurse Practitioner Salary in Australia
Becoming a nurse practitioner offers significant professional and financial benefits. You can anticipate a substantial salary boost. Experienced nurse practitioners can earn up to $143,509 per year (or $72 per hour) in Australia, surpassing the highest incomes of nurse unit managers and other specialised registered nurses.
| Role | Potential Salary |
|---|---|
| Nurse Practitioner | $143,509 |
| Nurse Unit Manager | $133,952 |
| Clinical Nurse Consultant | $133,358 |
| Nurse Educator | $133,358 |
| Clinical Nurse Specialist | $108,560 |
| Registered Nurse / Midwife | $98,692 |
Updated: 6 December 2024. Source: Highest Paid Nurses in Australia (Ranked)
Apart from the financial benefits, this role also grants greater autonomy. You can independently diagnose and treat patients. The scope of practice is broader, along with your ability to positively influence patient outcomes. Being an NP is the highest level of nursing. This all adds up to greater personal job satisfaction.
Continuing professional development is a standard requirement in nursing. Thus, obtaining a nurse practitioner master's degree is a fairly natural progression with minimal downsides but plenty of upside.
Related: Master of Nursing Salary | Nurse Salary Australia