Nurse practitioners

Nurse practitioners are expert registered nurses that are endorsed by the national nursing regulator, the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA).

They can work independently to:

• assess and diagnose medical conditions
• prescribe medicines
• request and interpret tests, such as X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood tests
• make referrals to a medical and/or allied health specialists.

Nurse practitioner role

The nurse practitioner role is grounded in the nursing profession’s values, knowledge, theories, and practice.

They provide innovative and flexible health care delivery that complements other health care providers.

We’re increasing the numbers of nurse practitioners in the ACT so everyone can have better access to safe, effective, and affordable health care.

This section provides nurse practitioners and their employers with up-to-date information in line with legislation and policies for:

• the roles and responsibilities of nurse practitioners
• employers looking to hire and develop nurse practitioners
• getting endorsed as a nurse practitioner
• governance arrangements

Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer

Find out more about the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Officer.

To find out more about nurse practitioners:

• visit the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners (ACNP) website
• visit the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia website
• contact the Office of the Chief Nursing and Midwifery Office nmo@act.gov.au