feature Advanced Practice Nurse Kirsten Madsen, based at Tuggeranong Walk-In-Centre Photographer Rohan Thomson
HOW NURSE-LED MODELS OF CARE ARE RESHAPING HEALTHCARE
Nurses working in nurse-led models of care undertake comprehensive assessments, provide timely person-centred care, opportunistic education and support, continuity of care and link patients to other health professionals and services. Underpinned by advanced practice nursing care, innovative and cost-effective nurse-led models of care aim to improve access to healthcare and give people choice, enhance the patient experience, and boost outcomes, reports Robert Fedele. Bega Valley’s nurse-led Teen Clinic is a free drop-in service that allows local teenagers to talk about a broad range of health issues. It was created in 2015 following a spate of youth suicides in the rural region. “We were literally sitting around the staff room asking ‘why aren’t these kids coming in and getting help before it is too late?’” recalls Teen Clinic nurse Meghan Campbell. General practices can be scary places for teenagers with health concerns, Meghan says.
10 Oct–Dec 2020 Volume 27, No. 1
To break down barriers, the Bega Valley Medical Practice established the confidential and non-judgmental Teen Clinic, which runs on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons between 1-5 pm. A soft entry point for teenagers learning to navigate the health system, Teen Clinic covers medical and non-medical issues including general healthcare, contraception advice, mental health, bullying, STI screening, relationship issues and homelessness.
Without start-up funding, Bega GP and Practice Principal Duncan MacKinnon became a key driver of integrating the clinic into the practice. The early intervention nurse-led model of care gives teens access to registered nurses, who act as facilitators to GPs and other health professionals. All Teen Clinic nurses, who work autonomously in triaging, educating and screening this often vulnerable demographic, undertake additional education in areas like mental health and suicide prevention and sexual and reproductive health. Since launching, Meghan says Teen Clinic struck a chord because nurses, arguably less intimidating to talk to than doctors, have more time to provide person-centred care which empowers youth to take control of their healthcare. “Often we get young people come in and they don’t even know why they’re here or can’t express it so we can sit and chat about
