Singapore legislation

Section 32

of Nurses and Midwives Act 1999

Section 32

Certification of Advanced Practice Nurses, etc.

(1)

The Registrar must keep and maintain a register to be called the Advanced Practice Nurse Register which consists of such parts as the Board may determine.

(2)

A registered nurse who —

(a)

holds such qualification, or has gained such special knowledge, in a specialised branch of nursing as the Board may approve;

(b)

has such experience in that branch of nursing as the Board may require; and

(c)

has fulfilled such further conditions as the Board may specify,is eligible to apply to the Board to be certified as an Advanced Practice Nurse.

(3)

Upon the approval of an application referred to in subsection (2), the Board must —

(a)

register the applicant as an Advanced Practice Nurse in the part of the Advanced Practice Nurse Register that the Board considers appropriate to the applicant’s case; and

(b)

upon payment of the prescribed fee, issue to the applicant an Advanced Practice Nurse certificate.

(4)

Despite subsection (2), the Board may refuse to certify any person as an Advanced Practice Nurse who, in the opinion of the Board —

(a)

is not of good reputation and character;

(b)

has had the person’s certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse or its equivalent in any territory outside Singapore withdrawn, suspended or cancelled; or

(c)

because of a mental or physical disability, is unable to perform satisfactorily the functions of an Advanced Practice Nurse.

(5)

Where the Board refuses to certify any person as an Advanced Practice Nurse, the Board must, by written notice, inform the person of such refusal.

(6)

Any person who is aggrieved by a refusal of the Board to certify the person as an Advanced Practice Nurse may, within one month of the notice given under subsection (5), appeal to the Minister whose decision is final.

(7)

The Registrar may disclose, in accordance with any prescribed conditions, any information in the Advanced Practice Nurse Register to any prescribed person.

(8)

The Board may, with the approval of the Minister, make regulations —

(a)

to provide for the form of the Advanced Practice Nurse Register and the manner in which it must be kept;

(b)

to regulate the alteration or correction of the Advanced Practice Nurse Register;

(c)

to provide for matters relating to the certification of persons as Advanced Practice Nurses;

(d)

to regulate the re-certification of an Advanced Practice Nurse whose certification has been cancelled;

(e)

to regulate the procedure for appeals by any person against a refusal of the Board to certify the person as an Advanced Practice Nurse or the cancellation of the person’s certification;

(f)

to provide for the form of the Advanced Practice Nurse certificate;

(g)

to prescribe the fees payable in respect of —

(i)

an application for certification as an Advanced Practice Nurse; and

(ii)

a restoration of such certification; and

(h)

to regulate the practice and conduct of Advanced Practice Nurses, including the use of titles and qualifications.

Read in full context — Nurses and Midwives Act 1999 →