Continuing professional development (CPD) and continuing nurse education (CNE) are used interchangeably when referring to ongoing professional development.
The Health Professions Registration Act 2005 introduced a change to nurses and midwives in Victoria in relation to continuing professional development.
The act specifically notes:
s18(3) The responsible Board may require an applicant
(b) to provide information about -
(ii) any continuing professional development undertaken during the existing registration period.
This legislation enables the Nurses Board of Victoria (NBV) to audit nurses and midwives CPD.
This audit contributes to the public being assured, as far as is practicable, that nurses and midwives who are currently registered with the NBV are undertaking CPD which is contributing to their competence to practice.
With the introduction of this legislation, the NBV developed Guidelines for Nurses and Midwives for Continuing Professional Development with consultation. These guidelines outline the principles for CPD, and identify how an audit of nurses and midwives CPD will be conducted in 2009. A transition period from the introduction of the guidelines to the audit beginning in July 2009 enabled nurses and midwives time to develop their professional portfolios.
Please contact the NBV on 03 8635 1229 or via email at cpd@nbv.org.au if you have any further questions regarding CPD and the audit.
CPD/CNE points provide a guide to the amount of professional development each nurse should aim to achieve over a 12 month period. 1 CPD/CNE point equates to 1 hour (60 minutes) of professional development. Nurses need to monitor and record their attendance at activities in a professional portfolio. Various nursing groups have made the recommendation that nurses should aim to achieve 30 CPD/CNE points per year. However, according to the NBV there is NOT a minimum number of points required. Nurses and midwives ARE required to develop a professional portfolio.
Professional Portfolios
A CPD/CNE portfolio should contain the following:
- Planning section - to state the individual learning needs identified
- Identified learning needs - ways in which the identified learning needs have been fulfilled (record of attendance)
- Evaluation - Evaluation of meeting self identified learning needs or professional development obtained.
Nurses and midwives will be required to provide their professional portfolio for the last 12 months, if audited.
NBV Audit
If selected for the audit, you will receive the following documents in the mail along with your selection letter.
- Professional History Details Form (Form A) This includes a section (section C) for you to sign a self declaration, stating that the information you submit is a true and accurate record of your CPD activities;
- Information Booklet;
- A CPD Process Map (outlining the flow of activities for the audit).
If you do not receive all of these documents, please contact the Nurses Board of Victoria on 03 8635 1229 or please send an email to cpd@nbv.org.au alternatively, you may download the documents from the NBV website http://www.nbv.org.au/web/guest/cpd
Exemptions
You are exempt from the CPD audit if you are a:
- Newly qualified graduate
- A Nurse/midwife involved in an incomplete professional conduct issue.
If you have received a letter requesting an audit, and you fall into one/or both of the categories above, please contact the CPD administration office on 03 8635 1229.
If you have not worked within nursing or midwifery for the past 12 months your audit will be pending until your renewal of your registration in the following renewal period. You may download an 'application for pending' form and send this to your case manager.
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