New model assesses international nurses

A new model for assessing the qualifications of international nurses and midwives has recently been introduced by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) to ensure a person is qualified to provide safe care to patients in Australia.

The model, which checks that the qualifications of international nurses and midwives are equivalent to board approved Australian nursing qualifications, comes after continuing evidence based research on international best practice in assessing the qualifications of internationally qualified nurses and midwives.

A clear set of expectations about the educational standards to be met by all international applications for registration, regardless of where the study was undertaken, is outlined.

The criteria needed for internationally qualified registered nurses, to ensure a person is qualified to provide safe care to patients in Australia, include:

Your qualification makes you eligible to apply for registration to practise as a registered nurse in the country where you completed the program of study.
The education institution where you studied was externally accredited during the period where you undertook your studies.
Your program of study was externally accredited and provided successful graduates with a qualification in nursing.
Your overseas qualification is equivalent to an Australian bachelor degree (registered nurse) as a minimum.
Your program of study included a minimum of 800 hours of workplace experience providing exposure to a variety of healthcare settings.
The curriculum of your program of study focused on the various aspects of nursing practice.
You successfully completed all components of the program and have graduated with a qualification.
The education institution that provided the program of study, and confirmed your qualification, has certified that you have successfully completed an assessment in medication management, including drug calculation.