1. Department of Health Nursing and Midwifery in Victoria ACS seminar 2011 Nursing & Midwifery Policy www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing

2. Why Nursing? 92,000 Victorians (and over 315,000 Australians) think it’s the career of choice! Voted by the public as the most ethical and honest profession, nurses have been top of the Roy Morgan Image of Professions survey every year since being added to the list in 1994.

3. Nurses and Midwives in Victoria 92,376 registrations in Victoria: –69,333 (75%) Registered Nurses 11,559 Registered Midwives) 65 Nurse practitioners –20,610 (22.3%) Enrolled Nurses 2/3 in public sector 2/3 in metropolitan area 56% work part-time Location of Victorian public health services NBV June 2010

4. We still have a demand for nurses & midwives Challenges:  Demand for health services: –ageing population –  chronic disease –  consumer expectations –  Births  Decreased workforce supply –Ageing workforce –Participation rates –Inter-generational workforce –Workforce (mal) distribution Strategies: 1.Increase workforce supply –More training places –Promoting health careers –Course articulation and pathways Along with 2.Slow exits/improve retention 3.Change deployment/productivity

5. Regulated profession Must be registered to work as nurse or midwife Now a single national registration & accreditation scheme (July 2010) for 11 health professions* Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Registration and endorsement of individuals Approves accredited courses for registration Sets standards for registration, professional practice and conduct (eg Recency of Practice; English Language), and Manage complaints * Medicine, nursing, midwifery, chiropractic, dental, optometry, osteopathy, pharmacy, physiotherapy, podiatry, psychology.

6. Becoming a Nurse or Midwife in Victoria Nursing – has clinical, research, education, management & policy domains Two levels of practice with multiple articulation and post registration pathways –Level 1 Nurse – Bachelor degree prepared entry –Level 2 Nurse – Cert IV  Graduate Certificate prepared entry

7. Salary & Working conditions PLUS: Supported graduate year Ongoing professional development (Life long learning) 5-6 weeks leave per year Paid professional development and study leave days Salary Packaging, shift and qualifications allowances. Enrolled nurse $43,440--$48,458 Registered nurse $48,729--$64,500 Clinical Nurse Specialist $66,393 Nurse Unit Manager $82,000--$86,210 Clinical Nurse Consultant $73,548--$108,158 Nurse Educator $82,000--$102,892 Nurse Practitioner $95,000 Director of Nursing $126,396

9. What Careers Advisers want to know Pathways to enter and pursue careers in nursing and midwifery –Enter scores –Qualifications/training providers (metro and rural) –Training partnerships –The costs associated with training –Contact hours

10. Training costs RN & RM - $16,000 EN - $1500

11. Key Messages Careers in nursing and midwifery offer –Diverse roles and opportunities –Personal rewards in making a difference –Challenging work –A formal career pathway –Opportunities to be well paid –Travel, mobility, freedom –Worldwide work and professional networks –Meeting lots of people –Participation in a technologically advanced profession –Nationally recognised qualifications –Working in a team with mentors and support –Friendship and fun

12. What makes a successful nurse/midwife? –Able to learn skills and knowledge crucial to the care of patients/clients –Good at problem solving –Want to help people –Understand the importance of research –Able to act as a lynchpin and necessary part of the health system –Interested in saving lives and healing –Want to help to bring new life into the world –Able to give patients dignity, peace of mind and comfort

13. Becoming a Nurse or Midwife in Victoria Nursing in Victoria website http://www.health.vic.gov.au/nursing