NEW BEGINNINGS
THE RISE OF THE NURSE PRACTITIONER IN AGED CARE EXPANDING THE SCOPE OF OUR WORKFORCE MEANS BETTER SERVICES FOR OLDER AUSTRALIANS
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entral Coast aged care provider Peninsula Villages is combating post pandemic issues experienced in the sector by championing the role of a Nurse Practitioner. The not-for-profit organisation sees the Nurse Practitioner role as a conduit to a multidisciplinary aged care team that improves health outcomes for its residential community. Nurse Practitioners are Registered Nurses who have authority to practice independently and collaboratively in an expanded clinical role. They consult with their nursing peers, medical specialists, general practitioners and allied health professionals to provide quality, holistic care to their patients. Leanne Northrop is Peninsula Villages’ Nurse Practitioner who has witnessed first-hand the benefits of the role within an aged care setting. “Peninsula Villages values the Nurse Leanne Northrop is an advocate for Nurse Practitioners in aged care. Practitioner role as it encourages collaboration and provides capacity to management while taking into account individuals’ choice and improve the health of residents through our ability to prescribe, decision-making rights.” order pathology, refer and diagnose,” explained Leanne. The purpose of implementing the Nurse Practitioner role “Carers and clinicians can be overwhelmed with administrative in Australia was to increase the flexibility of the health tasks as well as clinical responsibilities and they need practical, workforce and thereby increase access to care for Australian timely and effective support from someone with the knowledge communities, particularly those in marginalised populations. to act efficiently, which is where the Nurse Practitioner role Within the age services industry, the Nurse Practitioner role is comes in and has significant value. proving to be an innovative way to fulfill the primary health care “We take a proactive approach to knowing each resident’s role, particularly for a sector faced with reduced funding and health challenges, provide ongoing monitoring and decreasing access to general practitioners.
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