Becoming a Registered Nurse in Australia - Essay Example

Becoming a Registered Nurse Name Institution Date PART A E- Portfolio Journal: Becoming a Registered Nurse This e-portfolio presents six chapters that demonstrate about becoming a registered nurse in Australia. Chapter One: Introduction Nurses who are registered are exceedingly sought after in Australia and in the whole world. This chapter introduces general knowledge that I need to know about becoming a registered nurse. Registered nurses have a role which is paced fast and challenging. Registered nurses can make choices from a variety of career opportunities that are widely available. To become a registered nurse, there are various things that I need to understand and learn. To work as a member of team of professionals who are skilled, it is important to understand the role of a registered nurse in their career. I need to understand that, as a registered nurse, I have the responsibility to support patients at all times in their lives and especially at critical times. When making a decision of becoming a registered nurse, I need to be aware that, being a registered nurse is a profession that offers continuing education, working relationships that are rewarding, support, as well as getting the chance to serve in various environments with financial rewards that are good. The following chapters describe the requirements that I must fulfil to become a registered nurse in Australia. Chapter Two: Nursing Course To become a registered nurse, the second thing that I must have knowledge about and familiarise myself with are the studies that a registered nurse must undertake. In Australia, a registered nurse must complete a course in Bachelor of Nursing at the University. This is considered as the common point of entry for all registered nurses in Australia. A Bachelor of Nursing course is completed within three years for fulltime nursing students and an equivalent time for part time students. There are many universities that offer this course in Australia and i can apply for the nursing classes at one of the university of my choice. To apply for the Bachelor of Nursing course, i must have completed a high school certificate with the subjects that are required together with a proper Australian Tertiary Admission Rank or an equivalent. There are other requirements such as a first aid certificate depending on the university. If i don’t have a high school certificate, i can use other pathways that are recognised by universities in Australia such as the Tertiary Preparation Courses as well as Special Tertiary Admission Tests. Alternatively, having completed my Master of Nursing is also another point of entry to the Bachelor of Nursing of a registered nurse. Chapter Three: Nursing Programs To become a registered nurse, there are various programs that i need to learn at the university and be awarded a Bachelor of Nursing Certificate. There are many programs for nurses that i can choose to undertake at the university. To be registered, nurses must be trained in these programs that provide a combination of theory as well as clinical experience in nursing. Nurses are trained in various settings such as; medical as well as surgical wards, paediatric wards, emergency departments, mental health units, operating theatres, facilities for aged care, community health, rehabilitation and Aboriginal health. As a student at the university, i will gain experience to practice my clinical skills using simulation mannequins that are of high technology and simulation laboratories with the guidance of educators at the university. At the university, i will also get exposure to a wide range of clinical areas as well as settings. This will give me a chance for discovering the area of nursing that i best like. Chapter Four: Nurse Registration After completing my studies and graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing at the university, i am required to make an application and register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. This is a mandatory requirement for all registered nurses to practice nursing in Australia. Registered nurses are also required to make annual renewal of their registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. This enables them to continue practicing nursing in Australia. Registering as a nurse is proving that i have met the registration standards that are required by the Nursing and Midwifery Board in Australia. Registration standards are standards that are set out by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia that describe the requirements that must be met by applicants, students and other registrants to be registered as nurses in Australia. After becoming a registered nurse, i must understand that, i will be working as a member of a team, with other healthcare professionals including; specialist nurses, physiotherapists, pharmacists, doctors, paramedics and occupational therapists. There, i must incorporate and embrace teamwork while at my service. Chapter Five: Codes and Guidelines Becoming a registered nurse requires me to learn and understand the codes and guidelines for registered nurses that i must adhere to while in my practice. These codes and guidelines are provided and proved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia for the purpose of providing professionals with guidance of practice. Familiarising myself with the codes and guidelines in the nursing practice, will help me in clarifying my views as well as expectations on different issues in nursing. Some of the codes and guidelines that i must be aware of and understand include; code of ethics for nurses, code of professional conduct for nurses, competency standards for nurses, decision making framework for nurses, guidelines for registration standards for nurses, professional boundaries for nurses, professional practice guidelines for nurses and re-entry to practice for nurses. As a registered nurse, these codes and guideline will be the basis of my nursing practice in Australia. This will enable me perform my duties as required by the regulators of in the healthcare system in Australia. Chapter Six: Requirements for Overseas Nurses If i am an overseas nurse, to become a registered nurse in Australia, i am required to register with the State Nursing Board in my country of work. This will enable my eligibility for being registered as a nurse in other States and for this case, Australia. As an overseas nurse, i must have proficiency in English language because i will be tested using the International English Language Testing System. I must an education which is equivalent to an Australian Nurse Education. I must have documentation that will help in identifying my identity, education, registration and experience. I must also undertake a competency based assessment program. I must also apply for a study Visa that will allow me to temporarily study and undertake a course in CBAP in Australia for twelve weeks. I also need a travel visa which is provided by the Nursing careers in Australia. I must undertake and pass the CBAP course after which i should apply for a working Visa in Australia. After meeting these requirements, i am eligible to be a registered nurse in Australia. PART B Codes and Guidelines for A registered Nurse The Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia provides various codes as well as guidelines that guide the various healthcare professions in Australia. These codes and guidelines help the professions clarify their views as well as expectations on various issues in their practice. A registered nurse in Australia is guided by the following codes and guidelines as approved and provided by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia; Code of Ethics for Nurses This code was developed and applies to all nurses in Australia. The code requires registered nurses to be committed in respecting, promoting, protecting and upholding the primary rights of persons who receive and provide nursing as well as healthcare (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia 2013, p.1). This code of ethics for nurses requires registered nurses to value the provision of nursing care of high quality to all persons. Registered Nurses are required to value respect as well as respect as well as kindness for themselves and other people. They should also value people diversity and accessibility to nursing care and healthcare of high quality to every person. Registered nurses are also required to value making decisions that are informed in their practice. They should also value and adopt a culture of safety within the nursing and healthcare profession. Registered nurses are also required to value the management of information in an ethical manner. They should value a sustainable environment socially, ecologically and economically for the purpose of promoting health as well as wellbeing. This code serves the purpose of identifying the primary ethical standards as well as values with which nurses are committed to in their profession. These standards and values are also incorporated within other guidelines of the nursing profession and standards of conduct that are endorsed. In the nursing profession, this code of ethics is important since they provide registered nurses with a point of reference. They can use them to reflect on their conduct and that of others. This code is useful to a registered nurse since it acts as a guide in making and practicing ethical decisions. It is an indication of the standards of human rights as well as ethical values that the community can expect from registered nurses. Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses According to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2008, p .1), registered nurses are required to conduct themselves in a professional manner in their nursing practice. They must uphold standards of conduct that are exemplary. The code of professional conduct for nurses sets out the minimum standards of practice that registered nurses must uphold while in their work and outside their work. This ensures that the nursing profession is well guided and has a good standing. The code requires registered nurses to practice in a manner which is safe and competent and according to the standards of the profession as well as the broader health system. In their practice, registered nurses are required to practice and carry themselves according to the laws that are relevant to the nursing profession as well as practice. As a registered nurse, I must understand that, this code expects me to respect the dignity, ethnicity, beliefs, culture as well as values of patients and my colleagues at work. With respect to this code, a registered nurse must treat with privacy and confidential any information which is acquired in a professional capacity. Information regarding nursing care as well as healthcare products should be provided impartially, with honest and accurately by registered nurses. Referring to this code, registered nurses have a responsibility to support the wellbeing, informed decision making as well as the health of all patients. Registered nursing should also preserve and promote a trusting relationship between them and patients. They should maintain as well as build the trust and confidence of the community within the nursing profession. They should also carry out their nursing practice reflectively and ethically. This code is important to registered nurses since it outlines the minimum standards of conduct nationally that all members in the nursing profession must uphold. It is an informer to the community of the standards of professional conduct and what they should expect from a registered nurse in Australia. Registered Nurse Competency Standards The National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2006, p.1), provides competency standards that nurses can access their practice and benchmark their competence in different settings. These standards form the basis with which the performance of registered nurses are assessed for the purpose of obtaining and retaining their registration as nurses who are registered in Australia. The National Board assesses registered nurses competence annually on their education, resuming at work and matters of professional conduct. The competency standards for the registered nurse are made up of four domains including; the professional practice, critical thinking and analysis, provision and coordination of care as well as collaborative and therapeutic practice. As a registered nurse, familiarizing with these competencies is important since it is up on them that my work in practice will be assessed and benchmarked. Decision Making Framework As described by the National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2007, p.1), change is constant and expected in the nursing profession in Australia. This requires nurse to have flexibility when responding to for the purpose of benefiting patients. The National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia provide a tool for decision making that registered nurses can use and ensure that they provide care while putting public interest first. While making decisions using the tool, registered nurses are required to consider the level of education, experience as well as competence and context of practice of an individual. Registered nurses are also required by this code to delegate some of the consumer care aspect to support workers. They are able to use the decision making tool to make decisions based on competence. The decision making tool is used to promote an approach which is consistent to the decisions in the nursing practice in all areas. Therefore, using this tool to when making decisions as a registered nurse will be of great help in considering and understanding the decisions in the practice. Professional indemnity insurance arrangements for enrolled nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners This is a guideline that directs registered nurse and other healthcare professionals on the need for professional insurance arrangements as stipulated by the law. The National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2013, p.2) describe that, among other healthcare professionals, registered nurses should not practice their profession not unless they have a cover for their practice. They should be covered by proper professional indemnity insurance arrangements. Registered nurses are provided with civil liability insurance by the professional indemnity insurance. The insurance serves to cover their legal claims for the purpose of compensation as well as expenses that are associated and arising from the registered nurse practice (p.4). As a registered nurse, I am required to assess and determine what professional indemnity insurance I require. This knowledge is important to ensure that I am covered of any liability during my practice as a registered nurse. Some of the professional indemnity arrangements that I can choose include; civil liability cover, unlimited retroactive cover and run off cover. Professional Boundaries for Nurses The National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (2010, p.1) provides a guideline that registered nurses must adhere to while practicing their profession. The professional boundaries guideline for nurses defines the limits with which the space in between the professional power of registered nurses and the vulnerability of the patient is protected. As a registered nurse, I am not supposed to cross the professional boundaries during my practice. Crossing these boundaries means that, I am behaving unprofessionally and misusing my power in the relationship with the patient. This guideline is of great help in my profession as a registered nurse since it serves as a reference of my behavior at work. As a registered nurse, I must have knowledge of my professional boundaries and work to establish as well as maintain them while in my practice. Registered nurses are required to examine any behavior of crossing boundaries and look for assistance from their colleagues when they occur (p.5). References Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2013, Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia, Australian College of Nursing, pp. 1-6. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2008, Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia, pp. 1-5. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2006, National competency standards for the registered nurse, pp. 1-9. Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2007, A National Framework For The Development Of Decision-Making Tools For Nursing And Midwifery Practice, pp. 1-15. National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2013, Professional Indemnity Insurance Arrangements for Enrolled Nurses, Registered Nurses and Nurse Practitioners, pp.2-7. National Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia, 2010, A nurse’s guide to professional boundaries, pp. 1-5. Read More