Adjunct Professor Debra Thoms

Chief Executive Officer

SUMMARY

• Who do we think a Nurse

Practitioner is?

• What is the current state of the

NP role: issues and

challenges?

• What do we think a Nurse

Practitioner will be in the

future?

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

•Registered Nurse

•Completed study at a

Masters Degree level

•Extensive clinical

training to expand upon

the role of a Registered

Nurse

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

An NP is distinguished from an

RN by:

• The level of post-graduate

education achieved

• Extended practice

experience and

• Specific legislative power

to practice at an extended

scope

NURSE PRACTITIONERS

Where are NPs found?

Areas of greatest impact

• Slow growth

• MBS and PBS

NURSE PRACTITIONER

WORKFORCE

Nurse Practitioners: endorsement by state/territory figures (2007 and 2012)

NSW QLD WA VIC SA TAS NT ACT Not stated TOTAL

Nov-12 211 201 140 103 70 20 10 30 3 788

Sep-12 204 195 135 99 70 20 10 30 2 765

Aug-12 189 188 129 98 69 20 11 30 2 736

As at June 07 95 15 46 26 24 0 0 13 219

At the heart of nursing philosophy

and practice is collaborative care

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Relationship with medical

profession

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Focus on systems not individuals

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

Measure

Evaluate

Report

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

• United States

and United

Kingdom

• Research

findings

support the

positive impact

of the role

INTERNATIONAL EXPERIENCE

Enabling access to

care

• Funding

• Scope of MBS items

• Sound policy and

financial investment

ISSUES AND CHALLENGES

RURAL AND

REMOTE

AGED CARE

ACUTE CARE

HOW DOES THIS STORY END?

• 2043 health system

landscape

• NPs play a significant

role in meeting service

gaps

Nurse Practitioners playing

a significant role in

providing essential heath

care to the community

How do we achieve this?

• Service models

• NP models are supported

• Clear career pathways