Impairing the practice of nursing: implications of mandatory notification on overseas-trained nurses in Australia

From 1 July 2010, Australian health practitioners will be regulated under a single national registration and accreditation scheme implemented by the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law 2009. Designed to improve the quality and safety of health services, the National Law provides for, among other things, nationally uniform health, performance and conduct provisions for health practitioners. Mandatory notification has been introduced as a key measure for maintaining the highest standards of professional practice previously regulated by the individual health professions. This column considers the impact of mandatory notification on the nursing profession with particular emphasis on its overseas-trained members.