Nurse Practitioners in New Zealand

Becoming a Nurse Practitioner

Frequently Asked Questions
(from Nurse Practitioner, Frequently Asked Questions leaflet by NPAC-NZ)

• What should be in my portfolio?
• How should I set out my portfolio?
• What is a specific area of practice statement?
• What does the panel want to see in the journal?
• How do I know if my Masters programme has been approved by the Nursing Council?
• What is Educational Equivalence and how is it assessed?
• Who makes up the assessment panel?
• Do I have the right to challenge members of the assessment panel?
• Do I need to have a clinical Masters to apply for endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner?
• What advice would you give to assist me in preparing for the interview?
• Can I take a support person?

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What should be in my portfolio?
The portfolio provides evidence for each of the competencies that must be achieved to become a Nurse PractitionerTM. The portfolio provides you with the opportunity to describe your nursing practice, and how you contribute to the improvement of the outcomes for the patients and families in your care. While there is no set outline for the portfolio there are some essential components. These are:

• A statement outlining your specific area of practice.
• Documents which illustrate the development and depth of your practice, such as; case studies, exemplars, annotated cases notes, a diary of a typical working week.
• Examples of scholarly inquiry, such as; publications, research activities, development of new nursing knowledge, membership and involvement in professional organisations.
• Educational qualifications.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Evidence of professional credentials.
• Referees.

The nurse in you should leap out of the pages for the panel to meet. Your focus on nursing practice, your underlying philosophy, advanced assessment skills, utilisation of
evidence and continuous quality improvement strategies should be evident to the assessment panel.

Don't forget before sending your portfolio for assessment, all supporting evidence must be verified. The verification must include a signature, a date, and the designation of the person verifying the document. Check that this has been done on all necessary documents before sending your portfolio for assessment, as having to go back and obtain verification will slow down the application process.How should I set out my portfolio?
A professional presentation of your work is important. There is not a set format, but it is important that you portfolio is clear and easy for the panel to read. There must be an index, the sections are to be divided by tabbed inserts and the pages numbered. One suggestion for formatting your portfolio is to use each of the competencies as a section, providing evidence that meets each of these seperately. For example: Scholarly Inquiry

You may include in this section any research that you have been involved with, presentations, publications or any documents which demonstrate how you have contributed to the body of knowledge. Remember that the panel members need to find the evidence within your portfolio, so try to make it as easy as possible for them.What is a specific area of practice statement?
Your area of practice is unique to you and must include the community and speciality that you practice within and the parameters of your practice. To put it simply it is what you do as a nurse, who you practice with and how you go about doing that. Make sure you include the context, client group(s) and how you work as a nurse and with other health providers.

Many nurses applying for endorsement for Nurse PractitionerTM find this the most difficult to write. While it maybe difficult to get started, once you have started you will find, as others have, that this is an opportunity to really think about your nursing practice, and reflect on the care and skills that you provide. A useful place to start is to read about scopes of practice in the literature.

The Internet Journal of Advanced Nursing Practice URL at: http:www.ispub.com/journals/IJANP/Vol1N2/scope.htm. Published July1,1997What does the panel want to see in the journal?
The journal is an opportunity for you to demonstrate reflective nursing practice. The suggestion is that you write a typical week: three to five days. Again there are no set
guidelines, the journal need not be appointment by appointment account of what you do as a nurse. The panel should be able to see you providing evidence based care at an advanced level and your reflections of the efficacy of that care. You may wish to provide a commentary about why you made decisions and the outcomes of your decisions.

How do I know if my Masters programme has been approved by the Nursing Council?
The programmes currently endorsed are on the NCNZ website www.nursingcouncil.org.nz. This web-site is frequently updated.
If you are enrolling or are currently enrolled in a Masters programme, ask the education provider if it is a Council approved programme.What is Educational Equivalence and how is it assessed?
The educational equivalence option reduces barriers for the many nurses who have not had access to a clinical Masters programme but have achieved advanced nursing knowledge and practice through other pathways. The applicant is required to demonstrate within their portfolio the integration of theory, research and nursing practice in achieving positive of advanced nursing knowledge, critique and analysis is to be demonstrated is at Masters outcomes for patients within their specific area of practice. The level at which this utilisation of advanced nursing knowledge,critique and analysis is to be demonstrated is at Masters graduate level. There is a separate process to assess the education equivalence to a clinical Masters programme. Firstly, the education advisor assesses the portfolio and makes a recommendation. The Education Committee of the Nursing Council undertakes an assessment and makes a recommendation. It is important to note that the assessment of educational equivalence is not against Nurse Practitioner^TM competencies (that is the role of the Nurse Practitioner assessment panel) but against the level of thinking, knowledge and reflection of a Masters graduate.Who makes up the assessment panel?

• Assessment panels are tailored to each applicant’s specific area of practice. There are essential components of each panel which include:
• A professional nurse leader with national/international understanding of advanced nursing practice.
• A nurse with expertise in education, experienced in the assessment of advanced competencies.
• A nurse practicing at an advanced level with ability to critique practice.
• A peer from the same specific area of practice, this panel member may not be a nurse.

Generally there are four panel members, but it is possible that the roles maybe combined. An example of this is that the advanced practice nurse may also be from the same specialty area of practice as the applicant. In time, Nurse Practitioners™ will be part of the assessment panels. Other panels members maybe a representative from a particular cultural or consumer group. In addition to the panel members there will be up to two Nursing Council staff present at the panel assessment. The role of the Nursing Council staff is to ensure consistency between assessments and to provide administrative support.Do I have the right to challenge members of the assessment panel?
Yes! You can confidentially challenge panel members if you believe that there maybe a conflict in relation to your application. They will be removed from the panel and replaced.

Do I need to have a clinical Masters to apply for endorsement as a Nurse Practitioner?
No! It is not necessary to have a clinical masters. If you have a masters which is not approved by the Nursing Council as a clinical masters, you need to demonstrate through your application, that you are applying advanced nursing knowledge to your practice.What advice would you give to assist me in preparing for the interview?
Think about the members of the interview panel and what perspective they will be coming from. They will be looking for congruence between what is written and what is said. Identify any areas in your portfolio where the evidence is weak and concentrate your energies there. Anticipate questions around each standard and criterion, for
example,

1. Articulates specialty area of practice and it's advancement - explain the application/adaptation of advanced nursing knowledge, expertise and evidence-based care to improve the health outcomes for your clients. Prepare examples of your application of new nursing knowledge to practice.
   - Shows effective nursing leadership and consultancy
   - Tell us about your experience in a leading case.
2. Panel members may want to know that you can indentify the limitations of your practice and may ask you to discuss a case which demonstrates your ability to refer. Questions would centre on your knowledge and decision- making regarding referrals. Have two or three examples ready to demonstrate this.
3. A consumer may be interested in your ability to listen, communicate and advocate as a partner in health care. This needs to be demonstrated.

Practise, practise, practise. Use a mentor(s) to listen to your answers. Get a coach. If you are nervous, when you enter the room, move something to claim your territory. If you need a break, ask for one.
(From: Preparing for the NP Interview - or can you speak French?,
N. Ainge, 5 Nov 2002)Can I take a support person?
Yes! The role of the support person is to support you during the interview process, rather then taking an active role within the interview. The support person would generally be someone with whom you have a professional relationship, and who understands your specific area of practice. If you would like your support person to address the panel as a referee, it is necessary to formally ask the Nursing Council. The support person will address the panel generally prior to the interview commencing.
Page last updated: 17 October 2007