NEW ZEALAND GAZETTE, No. 22 — 2 MARCH 2017

generic scope of practice on the basis that the broad scope would increase flexibility to meet future health needs, increase understanding and acceptance of the role, increase nurse practitioner utilisation in health services and improve access for hard to reach populations. There was strong support for the focus on leadership in the scope of practice to be on clinical practice as the role is seen as being primarily clinically focused.

The majority of submitters (75%) supported a more standardised education programme and supported Council specifying dedicated clinical learning time (72%). The postgraduate diploma in registered nurse prescribing for long-term and common conditions as a prerequisite was not supported by 54% of submitters as potentially creating an unnecessary barrier for students.

In September 2015, the Council approved changes to the nurse practitioner scope of practice and agreed to introduce new education standards for nurse practitioner education programmes incorporating the programme outcomes of the postgraduate diploma in registered nurse prescribing for long-term and common conditions, and specified clinical learning time. The Council also agreed that registered nurses undertaking nurse practitioner programmes could still register with a condition to practise in a specific area for a period of 18 months until 30 September 2018. The change to the scope of practice and prescribed qualifications was delayed until the Council completed a consultation on the education programme standards and competencies.

The Council also consulted on removing the prescribed qualification to pass an assessment against the nurse practitioner competencies by a Council approved panel. This proposal was only supported by a minority of submitters (17%) with most submitters believing Council should remain involved. The Council decided to retain the panel assessment of competence at this time.

Some nurse practitioners who do not prescribe will continue to have a condition included in their scope of practice that they may not prescribe as an authorised prescriber. These conditions will be endorsed on their practising certificate and on the public register available on the Council’s website at www.nursingcouncil.org.nz.

Previous notice

The Council last published the scope of practice and prescribed qualifications for nurse practitioners in the New Zealand Gazette, 29 May 2014, Issue No. 56, page 1590.

Dated at Wellington this 27th day of February 2017.

CAROLYN REED, Registrar, Nursing Council of New Zealand.

Scope of Practice - Nurse Practitioner

Nurse practitioners have advanced education, clinical training and the demonstrated competence and legal authority to practise beyond the level of a registered nurse. Nurse practitioners work autonomously and in collaborative teams with other health professionals to promote health, prevent disease, and improve access and population health outcomes for a specific patient group or community. Nurse practitioners manage episodes of care as the lead healthcare provider in partnership with health consumers and their families/whānau. Nurse practitioners combine advanced nursing knowledge and skills with diagnostic reasoning and therapeutic knowledge to provide patient-centred healthcare services including the diagnosis and management of health consumers with common and complex health conditions. They provide a wide range of assessment and treatment interventions, ordering and interpreting diagnostic and laboratory tests, prescribing medicines within their area of competence and admitting and discharging from hospital and other healthcare services/settings. As clinical leaders they work across healthcare settings and influence health service delivery and the wider profession.

Prescribed qualification

a. Registration with the Nursing Council of New Zealand in the registered nurse scope of practice; and

b. a minimum of four years of experience in an area of practice; and

c. the completion of an approved clinical Master’s degree programme for the nurse practitioner scope of practice. The programme must include relevant theory and a minimum of 300 hours of clinical learning; and/or

d. the completion of an equivalent overseas clinically focused Master’s degree qualification which meets the requirements specified in c. above; and

e. passing an assessment against the nurse practitioner competencies by a Council approved panel.

Land Notices