Frequently asked questions


About nurse practitioners | For Consumers


About nurse practitioners

What is a nurse practitioner?

A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse who has completed specific advanced nursing education and training in the diagnosis and management of medical conditions and holds endorsement as a nurse practitioner. Nurse practitioners work independently and collaboratively with physicians and the multidisciplinary team. Nurse practitioners perform the assessment and management of patients including direct referral of patients to other health care professionals, prescribing medications, and ordering diagnostic investigations to support diagnosis and treatment plans.

Find out more about Endorsement as a nurse practitioner by Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Is a 'nurse practitioner' the same as a 'practice nurse'?

No. A 'practice nurse' is a registered nurse or an enrolled nurse who provides a range of primary health care services on behalf of a medical practitioner or doctor.

Go to Toptop of page

For consumers

Why would I see a nurse practitioner rather than a doctor?

Nurse practitioners are highly experienced and qualified individuals who work alongside doctors and other health care professionals to diagnose, treat illnesses, and attend to other health care needs. The nurse practitioner provides the capacity for innovative and flexible health care delivery working in partnership with other health care providers.

A nurse practitioners improve access to health care services in a variety of health care settings including but not limited to:

  • aged care
  • emergency care
  • mental health
  • chronic disease conditions
  • wound management
  • palliative care
  • women's health
  • oncology
  • community and primary care
  • neonatal and paediatrics.

Nurse practitioners are the most senior clinical nurses involved in diagnosing and treating patient illnesses. They are highly qualified, and work alongside doctors and other health care professionals, to diagnose, treat illness and other health care needs.

Are nurse practitioners General Practitioner replacements?

No. Nurse practitioners have expert skills in the assessment, diagnosis and management of a person's health needs within a particular population group or a specialist field of nursing practice. Nurse practitioners complement and improve access to health care services but do not replace General Practitioners or other medical colleagues.

How do I become a nurse practitioner?

The Nursing and Midwifery Board Australia provide the following advice:

‘A nurse practitioner is an advanced practice nurse endorsed by the NMBA who has direct clinical contact and practises within their scope under the legislatively protected title ‘nurse practitioner’ under the National Law.

The 'Registration standard: Endorsement as a nurse practitioner' states that a nurse seeking endorsement as a nurse practitioner must be able to demonstrate all of the following.

  1. Current general registration as a registered nurse in Australia with no conditions or undertakings on registration relating to unsatisfactory professional performance or unprofessional conduct.
  2. The equivalent of three years’ (5,000 hours) full-time experience in the advanced clinical nursing practice level, within the past six years, from the date when the complete application seeking endorsement as a nurse practitioner is received by the NMBA.
  3. Successful completion of:
    • an NMBA-approved program of study leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner, or
    • a program that is substantially equivalent to an NMBA-approved program of study leading to endorsement as a nurse practitioner as determined by the NMBA.
  4. Compliance with the NMBA’s Nurse practitioner standards for practice.

For further information please visit: Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia - Guidelines: For nurses applying for endorsement as a nurse practitioner.

What item numbers can nurse practitioners access under MBS?

To provide services under the MBS items for nurse practitioner services, an eligible nurse practitioner is required to:

  • have a Medicare provider number
  • be working in private practice
  • have professional indemnity insurance
  • have collaborative arrangements in place with a medical practitioner.

If the nurse practitioner fulfils the above criteria, they will be able to access eligible items under the MBS.

Read the Department of Health and Aged Care's Eligible Nurse Practitioners questions and answers.

MBS explanatory notes MN.14.1 to MN.14.16 provide further information on nurse practitioners and Medicare-eligible services.

What is a collaborative arrangement for a nurse practitioner?

In 2010, the National Health (Collaborative arrangements for Nurse Practitioners) Determination 2010 was determined. This Collaborative Arrangement for Nurse Practitioners specifies that an eligible nurse practitioner must name of at least 1 specified medical practitioner who is/or will be collaborating with the nurse practitioner in the patient’s care. The agreement must be in writing and signed by the nurse practitioner and the afore mentioned medical practitioner.

For further information please see the following resources:

Go to Toptop of page

Contact us

Email: ocnmo_corro@health.qld.gov.au

Physical address: Level 1, 15 Butterfield Street, Herston, QLD 4006

Postal address: GPO Box 48, Brisbane, QLD 4001

For referrals to a Nurse and Midwife Navigator or to a nurse practitioner, please consult your General Practitioner or local Hospital and Health Service.

Last updated: 29 June 2017