Nurses are essential health professionals who care for people (individuals, families, groups and communities) in all health care settings. Show
In Australia, nurses are regulated health professionals who go through approved training pathways to become registered to practice with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA). The NMBA works with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) to regulate the nursing profession. People must be registered with the NMBA before they can use any of the following protected titles to describe themselves:
You can check if a nurse is registered by searching the national register of nurses and midwives registered with the NMBA. Nurses work with many other health professionals in the public or private health sectors. Settings where nurses work include:
Types of nurse in AustraliaThere are several different types of nurse in Australia. The main differences involve the type of training they have done and their scope of practice. Enrolled nurseEnrolled nurses (ENs) complete a 2-year Diploma of Nursing through a vocational education provider, to meet the EN standards for practice. ENs work under the supervision of a registered nurse and cannot act alone. Typical duties include:
An enrolled nurse can become a registered nurse by doing further training. Registered nurseRegistered nurses (RNs) complete a 3-year Bachelor of Nursing through a university to meet the RN standards for practice. They have more responsibilities than an EN, and their scope of practice can include:
Nurse practitionerNurse practitioners (NPs) are RNs who have been endorsed as an NP by the NMBA. NPs practice independently in an advanced and extended clinical role, and can prescribe some medicines. To be eligible for an NP endorsement, a nurse must:
Most NPs are employed by state and territory governments in acute care settings. NPs are also employed in private settings, either as an employee or in their own practice. What a midwife isMidwives are registered health professionals who care for women’s health and wellbeing during pregnancy, birth and the first few weeks after birth. MidwifeIn Australia, midwives must have completed an approved course in midwifery through a university and be registered with the NMBA. The titles ‘midwife’ and ‘midwife practitioner’ are protected under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law. A midwife is not the same as a doula. A midwife’s scope of practice includes:
Endorsed midwifeAn endorsed midwife has done additional training and can prescribe certain medications. To become an endorsed midwife, a registered midwife must:
You can check if a midwife is registered by searching the national register of nurses and midwives registered with the NMBA.
ANA Position Statement Purpose Statement of ANA PositionNurses are obliged to provide comprehensive and compassionate end-of-life care. This includes recognizing when death is near and conveying that information to families. Nurses should collaborate with other members of the health care team to ensure optimal symptom management and to provide support for the patient and family. Nurses and other health care providers have a responsibility to establish decision-making processes that reflect physiologic realities, patient preferences, and the recognition of what, clinically, may or may not be accomplished. Establishing goals of care for this patient at this time may provide a framework for discussion about what care should be provided. This process often involves collaboration with experts in decision-making, such as ethics committees or palliative care teams. FULL POSITION STATEMENT
21st Century nursing is the glue that holds a patient’s health care journey together. Across the entire patient experience, and wherever there is someone in need of care, nurses work tirelessly to identify and protect the needs of the individual. Beyond the time-honored reputation for compassion and dedication lies a highly specialized profession, which is constantly evolving to address the needs of society. From ensuring the most accurate diagnoses to the ongoing education of the public about critical health issues; nurses are indispensable in safeguarding public health. Nursing can be described as both an art and a science; a heart and a mind. At its heart, lies a fundamental respect for human dignity and an intuition for a patient’s needs. This is supported by the mind, in the form of rigorous core learning. Due to the vast range of specialisms and complex skills in the nursing profession, each nurse will have specific strengths, passions, and expertise. However, nursing has a unifying ethos: In assessing a patient, nurses do not just consider test results. Through the critical thinking exemplified in the nursing process (see below), nurses use their judgment to integrate objective data with subjective experience of a patient’s biological, physical and behavioral needs. This ensures that every patient, from city hospital to community health center; state prison to summer camp, receives the best possible care regardless of who they are, or where they may be. What exactly do nurses do?In a field as varied as nursing, there is no typical answer. Responsibilities can range from making acute treatment decisions to providing inoculations in schools. The key unifying characteristic in every role is the skill and drive that it takes to be a nurse. Through long-term monitoring of patients’ behavior and knowledge-based expertise, nurses are best placed to take an all-encompassing view of a patient’s wellbeing. What types of nurses are there?All nurses complete a rigorous program of extensive education and study, and work directly with patients, families, and communities using the core values of the nursing process. In the United States today, nursing roles can be divided into three categories by the specific responsibilities they undertake. Registered NursesRegistered nurses (RN) form the backbone of health care provision in the United States. RNs provide critical health care to the public wherever it is needed. Key Responsibilities
Advanced Practice Registered NursesAdvance Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) hold at least a Master’s degree, in addition to the initial nursing education and licensing required for all RNs. The responsibilities of an APRN include, but are not limited to, providing invaluable primary and preventative health care to the public. APRNs treat and diagnose illnesses, advise the public on health issues, manage chronic disease and engage in continuous education to remain at the very forefront of any technological, methodological, or other developments in the field. APRNs Practice Specialist Roles
Licensed Practical NursesLicensed Practical Nurses (LPN), also known as Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs), support the core health care team and work under the supervision of an RN, APRN or MD. By providing basic and routine care, they ensure the wellbeing of patients throughout the whole of the health care journey Key Responsibilities
What is the nursing process?No matter what their field or specialty, all nurses utilize the same nursing process; a scientific method designed to deliver the very best in patient care, through five simple steps.
Nurses are Key to the Health of the Nation
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