NMBA Registration Standards for Enrolled Nurses

This assignment analyzes the registration standards set by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) for aspiring Enrolled Nurses. It details the requirements for continuing professional development (CPD), recency of practice, disclosure of criminal history, proficiency in English language, and adherence to the NMBA's Standards for Practice. The assignment highlights how these standards ensure that nurses meet the necessary criteria for safe and ethical professional practice.

Running head: NURSING ASSIGNMENT
Nursing assignment
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author’s note

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Introduction:
The Australian health care system has prioritized providing high quality, safe and
affordable care to all people. In response to this goal, the role of nurses and midwives is found
crucial in improving the quality of care for patients. The NMBA and the ANMF are professional
and legal regulatory bodies that guide nurses/midwives to understand all the registration
standards and implement nursing care according to professional, organizational and legal
standards of care. The report defines all the registration standards set up by NMBA and the
course of action that nurses can take if they need to learn any new clinical skills.
Part A:
1.
Role of Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA):
The NMBA is involved in carrying out all functions set up by the Practitioner Regulation
National Law and one of its major function is to regulate the practice of nursing and midwifery
in Australia. To regulate nursing practice and promote safety of public, NMBA has a role in
registering nursing students and midwifery practitioners, developing professional standards and
codes for nursing practice, dealing with notifications and complaints, approving accreditation
standards and evaluating performance of practitioners in Australia. It also provides ethical and
legal framework for nursing practice in Australia (Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au., 2017).
Role of Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF):
The ANMF is the largest union in Australia running with the core purpose of advancing the
political and professional status of nurses and midwives. ANMF believe that high quality

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affordable and accessible care is the right of all Australians. Hence, ANMF is involved in
making more funding for health care and making Medicare free for all. It is the international
body that represents nursing internationally and develops national policies, guidelines and
position statement to address nursing and social justice related issues in Australia. There are
about eight branches of ANMF in each state and territory and the federal office collaborate with
each branch to resolved nursing issues of national importance (Australian Nursing & Midwifery
Federation, 2017).
2.
NMBA Registration Standard: Continuous professional development (CPD):
NMBA has set up minimum standards for CPD for enrolled nurses, registered nurse and
midwives in Australia. According to the registration standard, nurse must complete minimum 20
hours of CPD per registration period. The standards and criteria for differ for those nurses who
have an endorsement for scheduled medicines. Such nurse must complete additional 10 hours of
CPD to prescribe medicines, diagnostic investigation and consultation. Registered nurse with
scheduled medicine endorsement must also complete additional 10 hours to obtain and supply
scheduled medicines. Similar criteria are also present for midwives with schedules medicine or
notation endorsement. If any nurse or midwives have been registered for less than 12 months
period, hence the pro rata CPD requirements for them are as follows:
 0-3 months- complete more than 5 hours of CPD
 3-6 months- complete more than 10 hours of CPD
 6-9 months- complete more than 15 hours of CPD
 9-12 months- complete more than 20 hours of CPD

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Although failure to undertake CPD is not an offence, however it may lead to conduct related
action by NMBA according to the National Law (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia -
Continuing professional development, 2017). This standard is related to my practice as I am also
going to apply for registered nurse soon and it will help me to determine minimum period of
CPD needed by me to maintain professional standard in practice.
Registration standard: Criminal history:
The registration standard for criminal history came into effect on 1st July 2015 and this
standard mainly requires all nurse/midwife to declare their criminal history in all countries or in
Australia. The NMBA checks the criminal records of all nurses/midwives before registration to
ensure that suitable and safe nursing practice is implemented without any risk to patient care.
The criminal history registration standard defines the factors that NMBA considers to decide
whether the criminal history is relevant or safe for the profession or not. The NMBA considers
the factors like gravity of offence, period of time since the offence, type of sentence imposed for
the offence, decriminalization criteria of the offence, behavior of the health care practitioner after
the offence and the likelihood of future threat to patient (Nursing and Midwifery Board of
Australia - Criminal history, 2017). This standard is relevant for me to be aware about criminal
offence that is unacceptable in nursing practice and identify the appropriate method needed to
disclose any criminal record to NMBA.
Registration standard: English language
This registration standard is important for all nurse/midwife applying for initial registration.
The NMBS standards for English language competency require that nurse/midwife must show
their English language skills in the following ways:

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 English must be applicant’s primary language and they must have completed atleast 6
years of primary and secondary education in English and the qualification in
professional discipline must be in English. Registered nurse must show evidence of
two full year pre-registration program of study and the enrolled must show it for one
years. OR
 If applying as registered nurse/midwife, applicants must provide evidence of five
years full-time study in English (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - English
language skills, 2017).
This standard is important to understand if I am eligible to apply for registered nurse practice
or not.
Registration standard: Professional indemnity
The registration standard of professional indemnity protects nurse/midwives by providing
insurance against civil liability incurred by claim of negligent act. NMBA defines the action
needed by nurses to get this professional indemnity insurance. According to the National Law,
the nurse/midwife has the power not to practice unless they get appropriate indemnity insurance
arrangement. The nurses can declare this at the renewal of registration, during the registration
period and after ceasing practice (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Professional
indemnity insurance arrangements, 2017). . Knowing about this standard is important for me
because NBMA can refuse application for registration, if this standard is not met.
Registration standard: Recency of practice
According to NMBA, recency of practice is the adequate connection of nurse or midwife
with recent practice after obtain or qualifying for registration. Registered nurse and midwives are

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eligible for recency practice requirement if they complete either a minimum of 450 hours of
practice within 5 years or successful completion of nursing program or completion of supervised
practice. This minimum requirement must be maintained to avoid any legal or professional
action by NMBA (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Recency of practice, 2017).
Recency of practice standards is also important for my profession as I may also engage in
different types of practice after completion of my nursing education and this knowledge will help
me to maintain adequate connection with nursing practice.
Enrolled Nurse Standards for practice:
This is one of the most important NMBA standards that define the core practice standards
needed by Enrolled nurse in daily practice. Some important NMBA standards for Enrolled Nurse
practice include the following:
 Fulfilling duty of care in accordance with NMBA standards, codes, workplace policies
and procedural guidelines
 Maintaining confidentiality, dignity and respect of people during care
 Being accountable and responsible for nursing action and consulting with relevant health
care team to provide safe care
 Use range of source to interpret information and plan care
 Collaborate with health care team, patient and other RN to develop plan of care
 Provide timely care to patient by engaging them in decision making
 Providing evidence-based nursing care
 Using appropriate communication and documentation method to inform care
 Follow safety and quality standards to minimize risk to patients

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 Engage in continuous professional development (NMBA Standards for Practice: Enrolled
Nurses, 2017).
Part B:
As a newly placed Graduate Enrolled Nurse in a major metropolitan hospital, I have been
asked to replace and insert a nasogastric tube that has become blocked. The dilemma for me in
this situation is that I have never witnessed these skills before in my Lab class.
1. From the above scenario, it is understood that if I engage in inserting nasogastric tube
without having knowledge about the skills to do so, it might lead to several hazards
during care. According to the NMBA standards of practice for Enrolled Nurse, it is
necessary to be accountable and responsible for care of patient (NMBA Standards for
Practice: Enrolled Nurses, 2017). Hence, as an Enrolled Nurse, I cannot go ahead with
the action without judgment about its adverse consequences. The most appropriate
immediate action that I can take in the case scenario is to consult my senior members of
the health care team regarding this issue. This action is relevant according to the NMBA
decision making framework as it explains that nurses are accountable for making
professional judgment when any clinical activity is beyond their scope of practice and
they can initiate referral to other team members (National principles for the development
of decision-making tools,, 2017). Therefore, this action is professional and legally
available to me and communication with seniors can help me to get the education or
required supervision to safely complete the activity of replacing nasogastric tube.
2. Nasogastric intubation is a specific clinical task where appropriate knowledge and skills
in nasogastric intubation is necessary to avoid risk and complication to patient. Wrong

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placement may be fatal to patient and it may also increase discomfort of patient
(Williams, 2016). The specified learning needs for me to safely perform the assigned
clinical activity are as follows:
 Learn about supplies and equipments needed to complete the procedure
 Understand the importance of patient positioning during insertion and
replacement of nasogastric tube
 Learn about different methods available to replaced the blocked nasogastric tube
 Learn the skills to lubricate and secure the new nasogastric tube
 Identify ways to communicate with patient during the procedure (Broderick,
Stassen & Ekanayake, 2014).
3. The dilemma in the case scenario also provides me the opportunity to engage in CPD for
developing the skills needed for performing the nasogastric intubation and replacing
blocked nasogastric tube. This is a necessary action for me according the registration
standard for CPD too as I need to have at least 30 hours of CPD (Nursing and Midwifery
Board of Australia - Continuing professional development, 2017). I can ask the senior
members or consult other health care professionals to know about the best places where I
can learn all about nasogastric intubation.
Conclusion:
The report summarized the registration standards set up by NMBA to promote CPD,
recency of practice, display criminal history, have English language skills and follow the
standards of practice for Enrolled Nurse. All these standards can help aspiring nurse and
midwives to fulfill all eligibility criteria needed for professional practice

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Reference
Australian Nursing & Midwifery Federation. (2017). Anmf.org.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017,
from http://anmf.org.au/pages/about-the-anmf
Broderick, D., Stassen, L. F. A., & Ekanayake, K. (2014). A study to compare the use of wide
bore nasogastric feeding tubes compared to fine bore nasogastric feeding tubes for the
purpose of feeding and medication administration inserted peri-operatively for head and
neck oncological resections. British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 52(8),
e85.
National principles for the development of decision-making tools.
(2017). Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017, from
http://file:///C:/Users/User00/Downloads/Nursing-and-Midwifery-Board---Codes-and-
Guidelines---National-framework-for-decision-making---September-2007.PDF
NMBA Standards for Practice: Enrolled Nurses. (2017). Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au.
Retrieved 4 November 2017, from http://file:///C:/Users/User00/Downloads/Nursing-and-
Midwifery-Board---Standards-for-Practice---Enrolled-Nurses.PDF
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(2017). Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017, from
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Continuing-
professional-development.aspx

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Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Criminal history.
(2017). Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017, from
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Criminal-history.aspx
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - English language skills.
(2017). Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017, from
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/English-language-
skills.asp
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Professional indemnity insurance arrangements.
(2017). Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017, from
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Professional-
indemnity-insurance-arrangements.aspx
Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Recency of practice.
(2017). Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. Retrieved 4 November 2017, from
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-Standards/Recency-of-
practice.aspx
Nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au. (2017). Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - About.
Retrieved 4 November 2017, from
http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/About.aspx
Williams, T. (2016). Nasogastric tube feeding: a safe option for patients?. British journal of
community nursing, 21.