Discussion NURS6003 - Week 8

Volume 28 Number 4 – SUMMER 2015 35

The GNLI was a unique opportunity to connect with nurse leaders from around the world. I now have a greater understanding of the issues that face perioperative nurses worldwide, especially with the Universal Healthcare Coverage — Developing Human Resources for Health Strategy, which is to be tabled at the WHO Assembly meeting in 2016. Global health care and equity of access is a worldwide issue that will impact all of us, even here in Australia, therefore understanding the issues facing refugees from a cultural perspective and how this will impact health care needs for the future is a vital component to consider. It is critical to the future of health care that nurses are informed and present at the policy- and decision-making forums that affect health care. In this way, nursing can lead the future, anticipating the needs of our communities and ultimately our patients. As part of the GNLI alumni, I am part of a network of global nurse leaders which ultimately will benefit our patients and the role I have as IFPN President.

The GNLI week was completed with a formal, celebratory graduation

ceremony and lunch on the lawn of the Château de Bossey. A magnificent event to wrap up the intensive week! We were joined by the GNLI Faculty, sponsors, various dignitaries and Acting Chief Executive Officer — ICN Pierre Theraulaz, who thanked ambassadors, sponsors and congratulated graduates saying, “Your hard work and newly acquired skills will be vitally important to the health of populations in your countries and add to the strengthening of nursing everywhere”.

I am really glad that I seized this opportunity and was motivated to apply by 2014 GNLI participant and current ACORN President Jed Duff. I would also like to acknowledge the support given by ACORN and my local Sunshine Coast PNAQ branch — thank you.

Ruth Melville FACORN IFPN President 2015–2018 [email protected]

As we head into the pointy end of 2015, I can't help but think of those students nearing the end of the university year, particularly those nurses who are at the end of their journey through the nurse practitioner course and perhaps beginning the process of completing their application to the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) to gain endorsement. I remember this time being very stressful, but can assure you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. After getting my final results and confident I had gained my master's status, I spent time developing my portfolio. I recall a unit chair expressing how important it was to take the time to develop my application, ensuring that I had all relevant information presented in the correct manner. I attribute my swift endorsement process of only seven days from postage to successful endorsement to this advice.

For the summer edition of my column I have decided to provide our readers with some guidance that I found beneficial throughout my own application process.

The AHPRA and the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia are pivotal in any nurse practitioner student’s journey. During the course of my studies I checked the site regularly for significant updates to standards and processes for the nurse practitioner application process. The guide for submitting a portfolio document was key in developing my portfolio. You can find the guide for both pathways here.

ASK THE NP

Developing a nurse practitioner portfolio

Rebecca East • BN, RN, M(Periop), M(NP) Nurse Practitioner, Bendigo Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic, VIC

http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-and- Endorsement/Endorsements-Notations/Requirements-for-Portfolio- Pathway-1.aspx

http://www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/Registration-and- Endorsement/Endorsements-Notations/Requirements-for-Portfolio- Pathway-2.aspx

I commenced gathering evidence for my portfolio once I began the course. With a large A4 folder, I divided the folder into individual sections, labelled with the guide's appendix titles and as I collected the evidence required I placed the documentation under the relevant title. This allowed me to not only begin the process slowly but to also gain an understanding of the application process during the two years of study. Once I was ready to apply I kept a second copy of my application and portfolio at home to ensure if my application was lost in the mail I was able to simply forward my second copy.

If you have any questions regarding the application process or portfolio development or anything relating to the nurse practitioner role, I would love to hear from you. Your questions can be forwarded to [email protected]

I look forward to hearing from you.

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