General Practices today face increasing challenges in providing primary health care services to the community. In order to assist GPs, there are now initiatives to try and relieve workforce pressures.  Some of the recent changes in policy have encouraged the placement and enhancement of the Practice Nurse role. By 2008, 60% of practices had employed a Practice Nurse.

Practice Nurses work in collaboration with GPs 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, nurses’ qualifications, practice structure, professional standards and national incentives and programs.

The Practice Nurse program aims to promote practice nursing in General Practices and support those Nurses currently working in General Practices through:

• Providing advice on Practice Nurse Item Numbers
• Providing Practice Nurse education workshops
• Providing assistance when employing a Practice Nurse
• Supporting Practice Nurse orientation
• Advising of scholarship opportunities
• Establishing links with relevant professional bodies
• Telephone support and advice, along with practice visits and resources

LINKS

• Tool-kit to assist with implementation of the competency standards for nurses in general practice
• Nursing in General Practice Recruitment and Orientation Resource
• Code of Ethics for Nurses in Australia                            
• Code of Professional Conduct for Nurses in Australia