What is a Nurse Practitioner

 

A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse who has completed both advanced university study at a Masters Degree level and extensive clinical training to expand upon the traditional role of a Registered Nurse. They use extended skills, knowledge and experience in the assessment, planning, implementation, diagnosis and evaluation of care required.

 

Through their training and expertise Nurse Practitioners are able to autonomously perform advanced physical assessment, order diagnostic tests, interpret the results of these tests, initiate referrals to relevant healthcare providers, and prescribe appropriate medications and other therapies as needed.

The expanded role of the NP is clearly defined by the scope or specialty area in which the NP practices.

 

Nurse Practitioners work as key members of the healthcare team and collaborate with other nurses and healthcare professionals including GPs, medical and surgical specialists, physiotherapists, dieticians, occupational therapists, social workers, and many others. They work in a variety of locations, both in hospital and community settings.

This innovative role aims to:

• Improve access to treatment

• Provide cost-effective care

• Target at-risk populations

• Provide outreach services in rural and remote communities

• Provide mentorship and clinical expertise to other health professionals.

 

The Nurse Practitioner title can only be used by a person who has been endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. My AHPRA registration number is:0806084 and my ACNP registration number is: 315

Although the role is relatively new to healthcare in Australia, Nurse Practitioners have provided healthcare in other countries like the United States since the 1960s. The first 2 Nurse Practitioners in Australia were authorized in New South Wales in 2000.  

Want to know more?

 

More information can be found on the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners. Please visit the website and discover all of the wonderful things Nurse Practitioners do. To find out more, click on the Link ----->