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Frequently Asked Questions

Please see below answers to the most common membership questions relating to the ACNP and your membership. If you have any further questions, please call the office on 1300 433 660 or email membership@acnp.org.au

 
General Questions

There are many ways you can contact the ACNP including:  

  • Calling the office on 1300 433 660

  • Email ACNP membership at membership@acnp.org.au

  • Contacting your State Chair via the email address found on the ACNP website “Chapters” page

  • Contacting a Member of the ACNP Board via the email admin@acnp.org.auThis can be found on the ACNP website Board page

  • Via the ACNP website on the “Contact Us” page

What if I want to become an NP? 

If you would like to learn more about becoming a Nurse Practitioners please download the booklet and postcard below.  You can also contact us on 1300 433 660 for further information. You can read more information on the * How to become a NP page

You will find a full list of approved University Courses to become a NP on the Universities page.

ACNP is unable to specifically recommend any particular NP Masters We advise you to look for courses that support good/stringent coursed entry standards, so you are verified as experienced and at an Advanced Practice level before commencement, so as best to prepare you to apply the content of the course to your practice. 

We recommend courses that support a broad scope of practice We recommend courses that support you in seeking appropriate mentorship and clinical supervision, and support your successful endorsement as a NP on completion.

ACNP cannot provide a definite answer here.

The content of a Pathway 1 course is designed to support your developing practice, and includes clinical content you will need as a NP.  However if you already have studied extensively, including content such as advanced diagnostics and assessment, and wish to complete only the required prescribing modules, you could consider Pathway 2.  For Pathway 2, applicants are responsible to map their prior education to the NP standards. The ACNP is unable to offer assistance with this, however, you may be able to find a mentor to assist you via the ACNP Mentor program.

Exact data can be found on the AHPRA website at https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/About/Statistics.aspx.

ACNP can provide statistics on its membership and their specialties.  Please email your contact details to along with your reasons for wanting the data and we will arrange it for you.  Please email admin@acnp.org.au.

To register for an event on our Events booking system, your will need to Create a New User Account.  Delegates will need a New User Account for each event they attend. You are welcome to use the same log in credentials for each event


Steps to start an event registration

  1. Click the REGISTER NOW button
  2. Click the REGISTER NOW FOR THE (event name)
  3. Enter the email where you want to receive event notifications ^
  4. Create a password^ 
  5. Press NEXT  
  6. Follow the prompts to complete your registration
  • ^Please note the newly created log in details in "Create a new user account" do not alter your ACNP membership access.  The change relates directly to the specific event.  This is needed as our event booking and membership system are not currently integrated.

 

This is the image you should see in the events software.  

Working as a Nurse Practitioner

The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) has established State and Territory boards to support the work of the National Board who set policy and professional standards. For requirements in your State, please contact your ACNP State Chapter who can be found via State Chapter page on the ACNP website Chapters page.

Established in 2015, the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce is considering how the more than 5,700 items on the MBS can be aligned with contemporary clinical evidence and practice and improve health outcomes for patients.

The Nurse Practitioner Reference Group was established in 2018 to make recommendations to the Taskforce on MBS items in its area of responsibility, based on rapid evidence review and clinical expertise.

“The ACNP supports and advocates for timely and appropriate health care for all Australians. The report from the NPRG represents the opportunity to significantly improve the health of our community, and increase access to quality healthcare for all Australians.” said Leanne Boase, ACNP President.

The Terms of reference, membership of the Taskforce and reports of the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) Review Taskforce are available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/MBSR-about

To find out more about 'Eligible Nurse Practitioners Questions and Answers' go to: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/midwives-nurse-pract-qanda-nursepract#3.

To keep up to date with the latest from the ACNP go to the MBS Review page.

Back in July 2010, the then Minister for Health and Ageing, Nicola Roxon signed the National Health (Collaborative arrangements for Nurse Practitioners) Determination 2010.  This Collaborative Arrangement for Nurse Practitioners specified that an eligible Nurse Practitioner must name of at least 1 specified medical practitioner who is/or will be collaborating with the Nurse Practitioner in the patient’s care.  This enabled the patient to receive a Medicare Rebate and have some access to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.  For 10 years now, Nurse Practitioners and their patients have operated under this legislation, with patients bearing the considerably higher costs.     

 

To claim a Medicare rebate for the cost of seeing a Nurse Practitioner, this requires a financial arrangement between a doctor and the nurse practitioner.  This doctor is not required to be involved in your care, or even to know you.  If there is no financial arrangement (called a collaborative arrangement) in place, or it is not applicable at the time of your consultation, there is no Medicare rebate for you as the patient.  With the sudden change to the legislation, and no communication with Nurse Practitioners, there could be many situations arising where you will have to pay the full cost of your consultation.

A Nurse Practitioner can order blood tests and pathology tests for any patient including pregnant women.  They can also order pregnancy ultrasounds, and do not have to be a midwife, however it would need to be within their area of experience and education, as with any aspect of their practice.

To check whether the patient would get a Medicare rebate on the test, you can check online at MBS Online.

In general, most bloods and pathology tests ordered by a NP attract a MBS rebate for the patient, however at this stage pregnancy ultrasounds do not.  We do expect this to change in the coming 1-2 years.

If there is no rebate payable, the NP can order the test privately if the patient is willing to pay.

In each State or Territory, there are public sector rates for Nurse Practitioners (NP) under each enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA).  We recommend consulting local information.  The ACNP does not endorse the Fair Work Commission's Nurses Award 2010 as a means to inform pay rates, as it is inappropriate and unfair in its recommendations.

If you are contracting a NP, you will need to consider hourly contract rates and negotiate.  The Public Sector rate can be used as a base, and should be adjusted in line with private contract considerations.

If negotiating a contract rate, you must factor in sick leave, annual leave, superannuation, continuing education, administrative support, office space, and payroll management.  Therefore, we recommend at least 30% above the public sector rate is considered.  This may be greater depending on the experience of the Nurse Practitioner, and their value add to your business or practice.

We highly recommend considering incentives for after hours and weekend/public holiday work to mirror public sector arrangements.

The ACNP receives many inquiries about medicinal cannabis prescribing from both members and industry.

Question

Can a Nurse Practitioner prescribe medicinal cannabis?

Answer

Maybe

1. Legal Authority - As with all medicines and prescribing, the legal authority to prescribe rests with each State or Territory. Each individual nurse practitioner should be aware to check with each State/Territory Department of Health in regards to their prescribing rights before proceeding.

2. Additional Restrictions - Ensure that there are no employer based restrictions on your prescribing if you are employed.

3. Scope of Practice - is the patient condition you are treating within your usual scope of practice as a nurse practitioner? i.e. Have you completed education and at an advanced/prescribing level in relation to medicinal cannabis prescribing and do you have education and experience at an advanced level in relation to the condition you are prescribing for?

4. If applicable (for ‘unapproved’ products), you will be asked to sign a one-off declaration with TGA. As Medicinal Cannabis is not approved by TGA, nurse practitioners will need to complete a one-off declaration when they submit their first application. Further details about the declaration are included below. This declaration acknowledges that you are responsible for your scope of practice, in accordance with the NMBA’s Safety and Quality Guidelines and Standards for Practice, and the NPS Prescribing Framework.

5. We strongly recommend following the NMBA decision-making framework Nursing-and-Midwifery-Board---Framework---Decision-making-framework-summary-for-nursing---Advance-copy.PDF

 

TGA Declaration

You will be asked to prepare a one-off declaration including the following specific points:

  • I am a Nurse Practitioner endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) and confirm the following:
  • I have appropriate education, training and competence to diagnose and treat the relevant conditions for which I intend to prescribe medicinal cannabis and can supply evidence of this on request.
  • I have appropriate pharmacotherapeutic education and training to safely prescribe medicinal cannabis and can supply evidence of this on request.
  • I will prescribe medicinal cannabis in accordance with the relevant State and/or Territory drugs and poison legislative framework and the principles outlined in the National Prescribing Service's Prescribing Competencies Framework (2021), as well as the NMBA's Safety and Quality Guidelines for Nurse

Practitioners (2016).

  • I consent to any information (including personal information) I provide to the TGA in connection with my application under s 19(1)(a) of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 being provided to the NMBA.

Question

How to become an NP in Cosmetic Nursing.

Answer

ACNP is aware that AHPRA do not generally recognise cosmetic nursing as advanced practice, and advanced practice (5000 hours within 6 years of application) is required for the endorsement as a NP.  You can view their position statement here: https://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Codes-Guidelines-Statements/Position-Statements/nurses-and-cosmetic-procedures.aspx#advanced-practice

Should you be working in a generalist or specialist context (outside of cosmetics), managing acute or chronic disease, etc, and can accrue advanced practice hours there, we suggest you focus on that first.  You can also enrol in an approved NP Masters program once you have at least 2000 of those advanced practice hours and a graduate diploma in a clinical area of nursing.  The definition of advanced practice is included in the same position statement.  

Question

Can executives / employers deny a Nurse Practitioner application on the basis of working in a part-time capacity?

Answer

Some employers like to ‘approve’ an employee applying for endorsement. However, this is not necessary at all.  Anyone can apply as an individual, and do not need to be supported by their employer.  

We are also exceptionally confident that AHPRA would not view a part time role as a deterrent to endorsing a NP.

Often executives and employers have their own interpretation, and they are actually viewing it from an employer perspective, rather than an endorsement perspective. While we don’t recommend going against an employers preferred path, we suggest trying to provide them with more appropriate information in situations where their plan diverges significantly from actual requirements for endorsement.  

ADVANCED PRACTICE IN NURSING

 

Download the ACNP Position Statement Advance Practicein Nursing to read about what they can do and the background.

The nurse practitioner role is the most advanced of the clinical nursing roles in Australia . Advanced practice is often a poorly understood concept, even within nursing. This position statement clarifies advanced practice as it relates nursing in Australia. Terms commonly used include ‘extended' ‘expanded' and ‘advanced' practice.

The only regulated advanced practice role in Australia is the role of a nurse practitioner (NP). Nurse practitioners are advanced practice nurses whose registration is endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to enable practise within their scope using the title, which is protected by Law.

Nurses practicing at an advanced practice level incorporate professional leadership, education and research into their practice. Their practice includes relevant expertise, critical thinking, complex decision making, autonomous practice, and is effective and safe. They work within a generalist or specialist context and they are responsible and accountable in managing people who have complex healthcare requirements.

Advanced practice is a 'level' of practice rather than a particular role or specialist area. Nurses practising at an advanced level develop their practice and build expertise over time. Advanced practice does not directly refer to clinical or technical skills that a nurse may develop.

Advanced practice may involve generalist and/or specialist practice. Generalist practice encompasses a wider spectrum of activities, across a broad range of health care settings. Specialist practice may focus on a specific population or context. It is important to recognise that while there are many nurse specialist roles at the advanced practice level, specialisation alone does not characterise an advanced level of practice.

Advanced practice may be developed by a combination of formal education, exposure to relevant clinical experience, and continuing professional development. Development towards advanced practice is therefore likely to differ for individual nurses. Advanced practice always incorporates high-level assessment, decision making and autonomous practice. Progression to advanced practice will depend on the quality and complexity of developmental experiences, rather than merely the length of time spent in an area of service.

The ACNP supports the minimum formal educational preparation for advanced nursing practice is a relevant Master’s degree in nursing. However, advanced practice is not demonstrated by completing a postgraduate degree alone and arises from a combination of graduate education and clinical experience that results in the development of the skills and attributes required to practice at an advanced level.

Key points:

  • Advanced practice is not defined by a role or title, but by the level of expertise, critical thinking, complex decision making, and autonomous practice
  • Nurse practitioners are the only regulated advanced practice role in Australia
  • Advanced practice may involve generalist and/or specialist practice
  • Advanced practice may be developed by a combination of formal education, continuing professional development, and must include significant relevant clinical experience
  • Each pathway to advanced practice may differ, however advanced practice must include the key elements of critical thinking, complex decision making, clinical reasoning, advanced assessment skills, and clinical expertise.

This position statement is endorsed by the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners Board on 2nd December 2019, and will reviewed by 2nd December 2021.

 

Download the ACNP Position Statement Advance Practicein Nursing to read about what they can do and the background.

If you have any questions or need more information please contact Bernie McPhee:     
     admin@acnp.org.au
     ACNP
     www.acnp.org.au
     1300 433 660
     P: 03 8657 4355, M: 0487 009 042

Prospective and New Members

Your exclusive ACNP membership benefits include: 

The ACNP representation on relevant issues to government and stakeholders including: 

  • Advocacy for Nurse Practitioner and Advanced Practice roles via Submissions,

  • Committee Representation,

  • Professional networking

  • Scholarships and awards

  • Exclusive invitations to education and events

  • Member only access to online forums

  • FREE online advertising for the 'Find an NP' directory on the ACNP website

  • Free electronic access to the Journal for Nurse Practitioners

  • Banking discounts and benefits through our partnership with Bank First

  • 10% discount on eTG complete and Therapeutic Guidelines books

  • 15% discount on all online and print products with the Australian Medicines Handbook

  • Other membership benefits associated with our industry partners, these are available on enquiry.

ACNP Membership is open to:

  • Nurse Practitioners

  • Advanced Practice Nurses

  • Registered Nurses

  • Allied Health Professionals

  • Pharmacy Professionals

  • Medical Professionals

  •  

    Nursing Students

  • Supporters of Nurse Practitioners

 

There are two levels of Membership to the ACNP:

  1. Full Membership is available to Endorsed Nurse Practitioners.

  2. Associate Membership is available to all other members (Nursing Students, Allied Health Professionals, Academics, and Registered Nurses).

A Full Member is an NMBA Endorsed Nurse Practitioner, full members have voting rights at the AGM.

The cost of a Full Membership for 1 year is $ 230.00*

An Associate Member is either an Advanced Practice Nurse, Registered Nurse, Allied Health Professional, Paramedic, Pharmacy Professional, Medical Professional, Academic, Nursing Student or a supporter of Nurse Practitioners.

The cost of an Associate Membership for 1 year is $ 180.00*

Once you have submitted your membership application, you will receive an automated email from the ACNP confirming your application.  If you have paid your membership via credit card the payment, a confirmation email will arrive within the hour and for Direct Deposit this will occur be the next business day.

Your Membership application has been approved when you receive your New Membership letter from the ACNP.

Member Renewals

The are several ways you can elect to pay your membership:

1. Jumping onto the ACNP website Join and Renew section, and paying your membership online. This can be completed via a credit card payment or a bank transfer to the ACNP.

2. Calling the ACNP office on 1300 433 660 and paying over the phone.

3. By emailing Bernie McPhee, ACNP Membership Coordinator at  bernie.mcphee@acnp.org.au

Both Full Membership and the Associate Membership of the ACNP are now a yearly renewal date of the 31st May each year.

If your membership has expired with the ACNP you will no longer have access to the member exclusive access and benefits.  You can renew your membership online at Join and Renew or by calling the office on 1300 433 660. 

Putting a hold on your membership is not an option.  We can offer you a reduced membership fee if you are now retired from Nursing and would like to remain with the ACNP as a member.

Member Access

On the ACNP website when you login there are two options: (1) Forgot Username and (2) Forgot Password.  You can select either of these and an email will be sent to your email address where you can reset these. 

If you need assistance, please call the office on 1300 433 660 and one of the team will be able to help you out.  Alternatively, you can email membership@acnp.org.au who will respond within 24 hours (Mon-Fri) to your request.

When you are successfully logged in this is what you can expect to see on your screen.Logged in Screen shot

On the ACNP website when you Login there are two options: (1) Forgot Username and (2) Forgot Password.  You can select either of these and an email will be sent to your email address where you can reset these. 

If you need assistance, please call the office on 1300 433 660 and one of the team will be able to help you out.  Alternatively, you can email membership@acnp.org.au who will respond within 24 hours (Mon-Fri) to your request.

When you are successfully logged in this is what you can expect to see on your screen.Logged in Screen shot

You can update your details by logging into your account and updating your details.  You can do this at any time.

If you need assistance, please call the office on 1300 433 660 and one of the team will be able to help you out.  Alternatively, you can email membership@acnp.org.au who will respond within 24 hours (Mon-Fri) to your request.

As part of the ACNP membership you receive a free listing on the ‘Find a NP’ directory.  You can complete this by:

 

  1. Log in to the ACNP website

  2. Go to My Memberships Tab

  3. Click My Membership Details (under member card)

  4. Click Edit -- You should now be able to enter the listing details under "Create a Member or Business Directory Listing"

  5. Click Save details

If you are not receiving emails from ACNP please try the following:

  *  Check that you are a current financial member at Join and Renew (Look at the bottom of the page)

  *  Confirm the email address provided is correct

  *  Ensure you are using your personal email address. 

          - Most members with a "@health.state.gov.au" email address will have issues receiving ACNP messages due to the receives business requirements and fire walls.

          - Ask your coworkers if they are having similar issues.

If you require assistance please contact the office on 1300 433 660 or email membership@acnp.org.au.

If you would like to use the ACNP logo please contact Sara Carter, ACNP Marketing & Communications Manager at sara.carter@acnp.org.au

You can find past Confernce information on the following page on the website: Past ACNP Conferences

If you are looking for something in particular, please let us know at membership@acnp.org.au

Once you are in the ACNP site you need a separate login to access the event booing system.  You need to create separate and new access for each event you register in.  This can all be the same information, but you need to create a new user account.  This is the image you should see in the events software.

Event booking

Your Contributions

Each state has a Chapter Chair who is a full financial member (an Endorsed NP) of the ACNP. The Chapter Chair from each state collectively forms the ACNP National Council and together they support the ACNP Board in the management and development of the college.

Each state then has a committee for their State.  Most Chapter Chairs serve on the State committee before expressing interest to stand for the Chapter Chair position. All Chapter Chair positions are elected by the state memberships every 2 years.

All full financial members (Endorsed NPs) can stand for a position on the Board of the ACNP. Anyone applying for an ACNP Board position is required to complete a Board application which includes the provision of evidence of NP practice, leadership, participation in the ACNP, and references from ACNP members.

All applications are reviewed by the Board Election committee made up of ACNP Council members. The Elected Board determined which Board position each member will hold at their first board meeting.

Stories

To share a story about NP’s (or your own story), what they do, how or where they work, or anything else please email our Communications and Marketing Manager at sara.carter@acnp.org.au

Advocacy

To notify the College Board of an advocacy opportunity please email admin@acnp.org.au with as much information and/or links that can help the Board formulate a response, and if deemed appropriate a submission or letter to the relevant parties

Research

To share research articles please send them or their link to admin@acnp.org.au with as much information as possible to aid in deciding its relevance to NP’s.  These articles will be available on the Research page of the website, once approved.

To request assistance with your research project please go to our Research page.  Here you will be able to access the application form and also see what other research projects have been approved.