Nurse practitioner consultation

Overview

What’s this about?

Nurse practitioners are a critical part of the health workforce. Nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional training, qualifications and expertise who independently and autonomously assess and diagnose patients, request and interpret tests, prescribe medications and therapies, and receive and make referrals to other health practitioners.

However, legislation in NSW generally does not recognise the role and scope of practice of nurse practitioners. This means that even when a nurse practitioner has the training, education and experience to perform certain functions, for example certifying death, legislation prevents them from doing so. Removing these restrictions could deliver faster care and reduced costs for patients. 

The Ministry of Health has released a consultation paper to consider whether legislation in NSW should be updated to better recognise the roles and capabilities of nurse practitioners. 

Have your say

Have your say by 7 August 2026. 

There is one way to submit your feedback.

Documents