NZNO Certification: Nurse Clinician - an historical overview

NZNO introduced a certification process in 1988 to recognise those practising at an advanced level of nursing. The original Certification process credentialled at two levels, Nurse Clinician and Nurse Consultant (Clinical). In 2000 the Nursing Council of New Zealand (NCNZ) announced that they would regulate advanced nursing practice.

NZNO Board of Directors approved a full review of NZNO’s position on advanced practice and the Certification process in light of this development. A new position statement on advanced nursing practice was adopted by NZNO in June 2000. It outlined a definition, standards, educational preparation and a professional self-regulation through the professional associations to a nationally agreed standard.  This position on management of the credentialling process through associations was not accepted by the NCNZ. They announced the Nurse Practitioner criteria, competencies and endorsement process in October 2001, and protection of the use of the title Nurse Practitioner by trade marking it.

The NZNO Certification process review was then completed with the Annual General Conference 2002 determining that a NZNO Certification process would continue but credentialling at the level of Nurse Clinician only. During 2003 a new Certification Committee was selected and the Nurse Clinician requirements reviewed. The new Certification process was introduced in 2004.  A further review was undertaken in 2006 in view of poor application numbers and a decision made at the 2006 AGM to discontinue the NZNO certification process for Nurse Clinician.