Practice Nursing in Australia
Acknowledgement
Funding for the development of this on line orientation learning package was provided by GPNSW through the Nursing in General Practice Program.This resource was developed using information published by:
- Australian Nursing Federation
- Australian Practice Nurses Association
- Australian General Practice Network
Background
Nursing in general practice is a dynamic and vibrant area of the nursing profession. It offers a range of experiences and provides the opportunity to be part of a small clinical team, meeting the diverse primary care needs of the community.
Nursing in general practice is a shift from a hospital based environment to a small business environment located in the local community.
A practice nurse is a registered nurse or an enrolled nurse who is employed by or whose services are otherwise retained by a general practice.
Almost 8000 practice nurses are employed in general practice's across Australia.
According to the AGPN National Practice Nurse Workforce Survey 2006, more than half of all Australian general practices employ a practice nurse.
Practice nurses work in collaboration with general practitioners, providing a range of services, including chronic disease management and population health activities.
Their role is diverse and influenced by factors such as the practice population, nurse's qualifications, practice structure, professional standards and national incentives and programs.
Nurses are core members of the general practice team, assisting practices to meet the diverse and complex health care needs of an ageing population, with increasing rates of chronic disease and illness.
This burden of chronic disease and patient demand has increased GP workloads. Nurses in general practice work with GPs to provide efficient and effective health care to all patients.
A range of Australian and international literature identifies some of the benefits nurses can bring to a practice. These include:
- improved health outcomes in chronic illness
- assistance in primary-acute sector integration
- improved coordination of care
- increased workforce capacity
- provision of practical and professional support to GP's
- enhancement of the range of services available to people attending general practice
Nursing in General Practice Recruitment and Orientation Resource: A guide for general practices, practice nurses and Divisions of General Practice. 2006