The number of Australian and overseas qualified nurses and midwives applying for registration is steadily growing, and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) is taking measures to expedite their entry into the workforce and alleviate the strain on the existing healthcare staff.
With immediate effect, individuals previously registered as nurses and midwives, even if they have not practiced for a period of 10-15 years, will now be eligible for consideration for provisional or general registration with conditions. These individuals may have the opportunity to complete a six-month re-entry program instead of a lengthy university assessment, which typically takes over 12 months.
The NMBA is actively reviewing the “Re-entry to practice for nurses and midwives” policy to further simplify the process of supporting nurses and midwives returning to practice.
NMBA’s Board Chair, Adjunct Professor Veronica Casey, highlighted the need for easier and safer pathways to registration for nurses and midwives given the current immense stress and pressure they are facing.
Additional measures have been implemented by the board to expedite the registration process for internationally qualified nurses and midwives (IQNMs) in Australia. The number of Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) has been increased by almost 30% this year at Adelaide Health Simulation, eliminating exam wait times for overseas qualified nurses seeking registration in Australia. The NMBA is also exploring the possibility of establishing a secondary OSCE location in 2023.
The efforts to facilitate registration have yielded positive results, with international applications surpassing pre-pandemic levels. By the end of 2021/22, the NMBA received 2,015 applications from internationally qualified nurses and midwives. The trend continues in 2023, with Australia expected to surpass the number of applications received in the past two years.
To support IQNMs, the NMBA is developing an accessible and affordable online Registered Nurse OSCE preparatory course, providing critical information on the Australian healthcare context and assisting candidates through the examination process.
Adjunct Professor Casey emphasized that addressing labor issues requires a multifaceted approach, and the NMBA is committed to helping nurses and midwives join the workforce swiftly and safely.
These changes are expected to increase the number of registered nurses and midwives and reduce the burden on the existing workforce, which includes 436,866 nurses, 7,357 midwives, and 17,849 new local graduates aiming to enter the healthcare workforce in Australia.
