Abstract
Purpose: To define what can be considered to be nursing practice, time that
can be calculated as the practice of nursing as well as what is considered to
be advanced nursing practice and how all this can be related to the current
endorsement process for nurse practitioner (NP) in Australia.
Data sources: Current codes and guidelines cited by the Nurse and Midwifery
Board of Australia related to nursing practice and NPs, cited competency standards
from the Australian Midwifery Accreditation Council, as well as published
material of peak nursing bodies from within Australia as well as internationally
were used. Information was also obtained through government
health and professional organization websites. All information in the literature
regarding current and past status and nomenclature of advanced practice
nursing was considered relevant.
Conclusions: The definitional entanglement of what is considered to be nursing
practice, the calculation of specific hours and what is advanced nursing
practice interferes with endorsement of NPs in Australia, and a clear understanding
of what is meant by advanced practice is required to move forward.
Implications for practice: Dependent on how practice is interpreted by the
Nurse and Midwifery Board of Australia directly affects the outcome of the
endorsement proceedings for individual NP candidates.