Practice nursing support
Nursing in General Practice
In Australia there are approximately 7800 nurses working in General Practice, with 2300 in NSW general practices. Fifty eight percent (58%) of general practices are reported to employ a nurse (AGPN National Practice Nurse Workforce Survey 2007)
The role of the practice nurse (PN) in general practice is varied, depending on practice needs and nurse qualifications of the nurse. Practice nurses can:
- Provide clinical nursing services, eg. Triage, wound care, clinical data management
- Coordinate patient services, eg. Liaising with allied health providers and integrating service delivery.
- Manage the clinical environment by assisting the general practice to meet relevant standards and legislative requirements, eg, cold chain monitoring, infection control and sterilisation.
- Promote patient, carer and community education through health promotion and patient self management.
- Sustain general practice by contributing to better management of human and material resources through building practice capacity to adapt to change and maximising financial efficiency.
- Improve health outcomes by contributing to and enhancing the management and prevention of ill health through health screening, immunisation, register and recalls, patient education, acute and chronic disease management.
What can we offer?
The Division has received a Nursing in General Practice (NiGP) Grant from GPNSW to establish a Practice Nurse service for interested members and associate members.
The aim is to provide members with access to nursing services The ‘Try before You Buy’ program provides a system whereby local General Practitioners (GPs), with minimal financial commitment and risk, can access Practice Nurse (PN) skills for a minimum of a day a week for 3 months. After 3 months, the GP can reassess their needs.
The Division believes that once GPs have experienced the clinical and practice support PNs can provide, they will be better placed to incorporate the role of PNs in their practice.
Relevant links and downloads
Division resources
MBS Items: CDM, Mental Health, Practice Nurse – Summary prepared by Bankstown GP Division
GPNSW resources
www.gpnsw.com.au/programs/nursing-in-general-practice/nigpresources
GPNSW has compiled an excellent list of resources for practices employing practice nurses. This includes
- Nurse Led Clinics guide
- Accessing PIP and item number data for Nursing in General Practice
- Practice Nurse Activity Record
- Financial Models (as of 1 November 2008)
- The Recruitment and Orientation guides for practice nurses
- Medicare Fact Sheets for Practice Nurse MBS item numbers
AGPN Nursing In General Practice Recruitment and Orientation Resource
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) resources
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-pr-nigp
This page provides information on the education and training resources for nurses in general practice
More information
Please contact Maria Pipicella at Bankstown GP Division