Competence Notifications

The Council may review the competence of a nurse if she/he has not maintained the required standard of competence, if there is evidence to suggest the nurse's practice poses a risk of harm to the public, or at any other time.

Making a notification

• an employer must notify the Council when a nurse has resigned or been dismissed for reasons relating to competence
• a notification must also be made by the Health and Disability Commissioner or the Director of Proceedings if he or she believes that a nurse poses a risk of harm by practising below the required standard of competence
• any health professional may notify the Council of a competence issue
• Professional Conduct Committees appointed by the Council may also recommend a competence review

The notification is to be in writing to the Registrar and include the reasons why the person making the notification believes that the nurse may pose a risk of harm to the public by practising below the required standard of competence.

Competence review process

The Council will inform the nurse of the notification and make further inquiries before deciding if a review is required. A competence review panel will undertake a competence review if required.

Following a review, the panel may make recommendations to the Council that may lead to a competence programme designed to assist the nurse to address the areas identified. It also may result in suspension or altering the nurse's scope of practice by including conditions on the nurse's practice or changing the health services a nurse may perform. However, the nurse will have an opportunity to discuss any such suspension or alteration before the Council takes any action.

Click here to download a booklet that describes the competence review process in more detail.