Just a few comments about the new Registrtion body AHPRA.
I sent off my registration early but never received notification until I was not able to work because I did not have my
registration. (Registration was sent off very early). Many phone calls later I was being told because of the new change over that all registrations would be late. In January I was informed that if my registration was not through I would not be able to work. Finally very late my registration came through.
My other issue with AHPRA is the incorrect information they are giving out. I applied to have my Masters and some of the Grad Dip certificates loaded onto my site and they are refusing to do so. Several phone calls later to several different people I am told that only Midwives and Nurse Practitioners will be allowed to have their qualifications loaded onto their sites.
Originally when I phoned up I was told to have my documents witnessed and mail them in. They will not accept another nurse to verify the documents but will accept a politician. I know who I would trust.
I mailed off the documents but never heard back. I re phoned and was told to resend them in. I had the documents again re certified and sent them by Registered mail to AHPRA and they sent me a letter to say they will not accept my certificates from Monash/La Trobe or Deakin University. They will only load Midwives and Nurse Practitioners.
I was told that they could not have staff to load my results on my site. I suggested to AHPRA that they have taken on the position to register all nurses so they have put themselves in the position to look after nurses. They tell me there is not enough staff to do that, and that the law would have to be changed.
I do not understand why nurses who have paid a lot of money and studied in their own time for many years are unable to have their certificates loaded on their site on AHPRA.
This was bought to my attention when the DON looked up my registration and said I have no Intensive Care Certificate, which I do have, and is listed with the correct hospital, but it is not listed on AHPRA. I work in charge in an Intensive Care setting and am required by law to have an ICU certificate, and yet AHPRA are refusing to load my few certificates.
After ten years of study I would expect that as the nursing body for registration they could load our ongoing results such
as a Masters in Intensive Care.
This is very discriminating between all classes of nurse and should be opened for discussion.
I am following this up with a complaint to AHPRA, the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the media. There have been several serious concerns with the new registration body that nurses have been discussing. Not good enough AHPRA.
