National Registration and Accreditation Scheme 2010 Presented by: Michelle Thomas

Why national registration?  Protection of the public  Workforce mobility  Access to services provided by health practitioners  To enable the continuous development of a flexible, responsive [innovative] and sustainable Australian health workforce

National Registration and Accreditation Scheme  National system for health practitioner regulation  Public national register for 10 health professions  Independence of course accreditation Functions (NB already the case in Victoria)  National boards to exercise regulatory functions  Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) provides operation side

Four new health professions to be covered in 2012 National Registration and Accreditation Scheme  Medical practitioners  Nurses and Midwives  Pharmacists  Physiotherapists  Podiatrists  Psychologists  Osteopaths  Chiropractors  Optometrists  Dentists (including dental hygienists, dental prosthetists and therapists)

Key New Elements  Criminal history and identity checks  Mandatory reporting  Professional indemnity insurance  Student registration  Independent course accreditation processes  Complaints access for health consumers  Mandatory continuing professional development

* All nurses to receive a letter at the end March. Fees advised here Changes for Nurses and Midwives  Registration cost – unknown*  Renewal date – 31 May commencing 2011  Renewal period – 12 months + one month  Two registers:- Nursing (RN and EN) & Midwifery  Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV) will become a state committee of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia

Registration Standards  Criminal history  Same standards for all health professions  English language skills  Initial course not taught or assessed in English  IELTS 7 or OET B  Professional indemnity insurance  arrangements  Self declaration  Continuing Professional Development (CPD)  20 hours annually  If endorsed 10 hours of the 20 hours must be related to endorsement  Evidence verified  Mandatory activities can be included

Registration Standards  Recency of Practice  Five year period  Practice period of three months full time over five years or equivalent  Endorsement Standards  Nurse practitioner  Scheduled medicines (eligible midwives)  Scheduled medicines (registered nurse)

Criminal History and Identity Checks  From 1 July 2010 boards to complete criminal and identity history checks for all health practitioners registering for the first time in Australia  All other registrants to make an annual declaration on criminal history matters when renewing  Boards to have power to conduct ad hoc criminal history and identity checks

Professional Indemnity Insurance  Must not practice unless the nurse or midwife is covered in the conduct of their practice by appropriate professional indemnity insurance arrangements  All registrants to make an annual declaration that insurance is or will be when they practice in place.  Nurse and midwives responsibility to understand the nature of the cover under which they are practicing

Mandatory Reporting  Registered Health Practitioners and employers (e.g. hospitals) must report a registrant who they believe has engaged in reportable conduct.  Reportable conduct is:-  Practising while intoxicated by drugs or alcohol  Engaging in sexual misconduct in professional practice  Placing the public at risk of substantial harm through practitioners physical or mental impairment  A significant departure from accepted professional standards For Students  A student who has an impairment that during clinical placement may place the public at substantial risk of harm

Student Registration  National boards will register students  Each board will decide the point in the program from which students must be registered according to level of risk for the public  From 2011 all boards will register students

Complaints Arrangements  Single point of contact for members of the public with assistance provided where required – National Agency  Complaints passed to the relevant board  Board and Health Complaints Commissioners must attempt to reach agreement with most serious action prevailing  Role of individual Health Complaints Commissioners continues

Mandatory Continuing Professional Development  Continuing professional development (CPD) to be a condition of practice for all registrants other than non-practising and students  National boards to determine profession- specific requirements  Requirements in existence at 30 June 2010 will satisfy initial annual renewal requirements  Self declaration upon renewal  Annual audit

But where does this leave NP endorsement? ANMC definition and standards Masters level of education  Different timing for endorsement  Prescribing authority in Victoria linked to the individual  Prescribing authority in other states linked to role with protocols/CPGs

Contact Details Nurses Board of Victoria Websitewww.nbv.org.auwww.nbv.org.au Phone STD callers Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Website Victorian Practitioner Regulation website Website