Continuing Nursing Education
National legislation brought into effect in June 2010 requires that Australian nurses need to produce primary evidence regarding annual, accumulated hours of education in order to practice. We are no longer subdivided and don't need to apply to interstate registering authorities.
This requirement caused a stir throughout the industry as formal 'learning audits' hadn't been introduced previously. Consequently, nurses are browsing their associations educational calendars, enrolling into seminars, conferences, workshops and completing online, area wide courses - that are now required by our new national registering body AHPRA or Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency. The Department of Health offers fully and partially funded courses, whereas The College of Nursing and other private organisations offer fee based courses, reimbursed through the Australian Tax Office. These courses start from around $100 upwards and run anywhere from a few hours to a semester.
The nursing concept of CPD or continuing professional development is based on the ANMC or Australian Nursing and Midwives Council's list of core standards or group competencies. There are 10 listed professional nursing standards grouped into 4 general competencies which form the basis of CPD. Nurses are currently required to complete 20 hours of continuing professional development per year, up to and including the national transition date of 31 May 2011. Any educational activity so long as it's relevant to our field of practice, is acceptable.
Administrative changes to the system of registration are also noticeable. Our unique identifiers or numbers have notably lengthened plus annual fees have sky-rocketed. Our nifty, wallet sized HPRB card system has been abolished and replaced by an AHPRA website print-out of our professional credentials , including conditions on registration, undertakings, course specialties, location and reprimands. Pity the poor sod with something to hide from public forum.
According to the NSW College of Nursing, a professional portfolio can be kept in a hard copy or electronic format, indicating the type and number of any relevant educational activities accumulated over a 12 month period. One possible suggestion is to purchase an accounting log book from a newsagent. Ruling up 5 columns with headings such as Nursing competency standards, CPD activity, Justification statement, CPD hours and Reflection (or how it enhanced my practice) is an acceptable hard copy format. Secondly, a plastic sleeved folder with primary evidence containing signed course certificates is then required to prove attendance. One hour of nursing education generally equates with one hour of CPD. It can also include mandatory in services such as Fire, CPR, OHS etc.
At first the extra effort appears onerous, but in essence it should provide the following: a more professional nurse, improved service delivery to health consumers at point of contact, clearer communication and greater motivation leading to cohesive teamwork.
