Credentialing for Children and Young Peoples Nurses

Credentialing sets a standardised benchmark for the recognition of specialised practice in nursing. It is a mechanism that is used by nurses to promote the provision of quality health care within a given nursing specialty/area of practice. Credentialing validates specialised knowledge, enhances professional credibility, and indicates a level of clinical competence. 

Credentialing demonstrates to employers, professional colleagues, patients/consumers and their family/carers that an individual nurse has achieved the professional standard for practice in specialty nursing. 

With health reforms demanding greater accountability of health professionals, Credentialing of specialist nurses in Australia has become increasingly recognised to meet the evolving health environment. 

Credentialing Process 

Registered Nurses (RN) practising within children and young people in Australia can apply to be credentialed. To gain a Credential, RNs must demonstrate the following criteria: 

• Hold a current licence to practice as a RN within Australia 
• Hold a recognised specialist nursing qualification 
• Have had at least 12 months experience since completing specialist qualifications OR have three years’ experience as a RN working in your speciality area 
• Meet recency of practice criteria 
• Have acquired the minimum continuing professional development points for education and practice 
• Provide two professional referee reports 
• Have completed a professional declaration agreeing to uphold the standards of the specialty