Nursing in general practice can be a dynamic, rewarding, and vibrant sector of your nursing career. This nursing speciality offers a range of experiences and provides the opportunity to be part of a small clinical team, meeting the diverse primary care needs of the community. Nursing in general practice is a shift from a hospital-based environment to a small business environment embedded in the local community. General practice nurses work in collaboration with general practitioners to provide a range of services. With a focus on the primary healthcare sector, general practice nurses are increasingly exerting a critical role in delivering continuity of care to their patients, improving their health outcomes. The nurse’s role can include health promotion, disease prevention, palliative care, advocacy, research, policy planning and development, education for health professionals and patients, amongst other clinical tasks. The nurse role is ideally suited to developing quality and safety systems embedded within accreditation activities.
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse with the experience, expertise and authority to diagnose and treat people of all ages with a variety of acute or chronic health conditions. NPs have completed additional university study at Master’s degree level and are the most senior and independent clinical nurses in our health care system. The title "Nurse Practitioner" can only be used by a person who has been endorsed by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. National standards for practice ensure that Nurse Practitioners are capable of providing high quality, patient centred care. They are also capable in clinical research, education and leadership as applied to clinical care and health service development.
Immunisation is one of the most effective public health interventions in reducing morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. However, vaccine preventable diseases still occur in Australia despite ready access to safe and effective vaccines. This can lead to increased use of GP services, time away from school and work, hospitalisation, disability, and premature death.
The Practice Nurse is generally responsible for all aspects of vaccination for people of all ages within a general practice.
Visit the Practice Assist Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) toolkit to ensure that practices are kept up to date with all the latest changes and information related to the MBS.