Specialist nurses in Australia: the ICN and international regulation

This article focuses on the relationship between specialist nurses in Victoria (Australia) and the International Council of Nurses (ICN). A major consideration is whether international standards can be applied across international boundaries. The ICN has represented the worldwide nursing community for the past 100 years. In 1997 the Royal College of Nursing (Australia) gained membership to the ICN and to its Regulation Network. With growing interest about internationalization, a key question is whether Australian nurses will accept the Council recommendations on regulation. In a report on specialist nurse education in Australia, recommendations were made that included the adoption of the ICN definition for specialist practice. A survey of the opinions of 75 nurses practicing in Victoria, toward a selection of recommendations from the report, showed strong agreement on definition and much less agreement on minimum credentials. Findings from the survey are discussed in relation to the international profile that is now expected of specialist nurses in Australia and a potential future role for professional organizations.