definitions

Nurse Practitioner
"The nurse practitioner role includes assessment and management of clients using nursing knowledge and skills and may include but is not limited to direct referral of patients to other health care professionals, prescribing medications, and ordering diagnostic investigations. The nurse practitioner role is grounded in the nursing profession’s values, knowledge, theories and practice and provides innovative and flexible health care delivery that complements other health care providers." Australian General Practice Network, position statement: 'Nursing in General Practice' (accessed 8 January 2008)

Practice Nurse
"A practice nurse is a registered nurse or an enrolled nurse who is employed by, or whose services are otherwise retained by, a general practice. Practice nurses assist general practitioners by contributing to a range of services, including chronic disease management and population health activities. The role is diverse and influenced by factors such as the practice population, nurses' qualifications, practice structure, professional standards and national incentives and programs."
Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, Nursing in General Practice (accessed 8 January 2008)

Practice nursing
"The purpose of practice nursing is to enhance the quality and delivery of health care in the context of general practice. This is a cooperative model of care in which the nurse employed by a practice/general practitioner plays a complementary role by providing a variety of services ranging from clinical care and service coordination to maintaining good health through screening, health promotion and education for individuals and the community. The role of the practice nurse may vary from one setting to another. In some rural and remote environments, it may involve advanced nursing practice. In some, the practice nurse may be located away from the main surgery or work directly in the community as part of the practice team. In particular environments it may require specific skills and experience, for example in Indigenous health or aged care."
Rural Doctors Association of Australia, policy document: 'Rural and Remote Nursing Practice' (accessed 8 January 2008)

Advanced practice nursing
"Advanced practice nursing defines a level of nursing practice that utilises extended and expanded skills, experience and knowledge in assessment, planning, implementation, diagnosis and evaluation of the care required. Nurses practising at this level are educationally prepared at post-graduate level and may work in a specialist or generalist capacity. However, the basis of advanced practice is the high degree of knowledge, skill and experience that is applied within the nurse-patient/client relationship to achieve optimal outcomes through critical analysis, problem solving and accurate decision-making." Royal College of Nursing, position statement: 'Advanced Practice Nursing' (accessed 8 January 2008)

Research and other activities addressing nursing in general practice

Annual Survey of Divisions
The Annual Survey of Divisions (ASD) is a comprehensive questionnaire completed by all Divisions of General Practice in Australia to collect information on their membership, activities and infrastructure for each financial year. The survey has been conducted since 1993-94, and after consultation with key stakeholders the ASD was modified. Among the changes was the inclusion of Question 55: collects information about the number of general practices employing practice nurses and the activities Divisions conduct to support practice nurses. (see Fast Facts).
Details and Results for this Annual Survey are available on the PHC RIS Website

AGPN's Nursing in General Practice Recruitment and Orientation Resource
In March 2007, the Australian General Practice Network (AGPN) produced a recruitment and orientation guide about practice nurses aimed at Divisions of general practice, general practices, and practice nurses. The purpose of this resource is to outline and promote the role of practice nurses in general practice, as well as the overall benefits of multidisciplinary teams in primary health care. AGPN believes that practice nurses play a vital role in easing GP workforce shortages.
Further details for this program are available on the AGPN Website

Back from the Edge: Reducing and preventing occupational stress in the remote area nursing workforce
Commencing in 2007, this four year project will examine the stressors of remote area health work and develop, implement and evaluate stress-reducing interventions. Funded by an ARC Linkage grant, this is the first Australian study to systematically investigate work stress in the remote area nursing workforce and the first to involve staff and managers in developing interventions in a remote context.
Further details for this project are available in ROAR

Nursing in General Practice
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing supports the work of general practice nurses through a range of programs.
Information about these programs are available on the Department Website

Practice nurse numbers
At 30 June 2006, Divisions of General Practice estimated 6151 practice nurses worked in their catchments. Since 2003-04, there has been a strong and sustained increase (by 89%) in the number of practice nurses reported nationally.
For more information and other related data, please go to Fast Facts on the PHC RIS website.

Scholarships
The Royal College of Nursing, Australia (RCNA) is administering, on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing, The Nurse Scholarship Program. Several scholarships exist assisting: individuals in rural and remote areas, undergraduate students, participants in postgraduate study or continuing education courses and those re-entering the nursing workforce.
For more information, go to the RCNA website

Canadian Health Services Research Foundation (CHSRF)
The CHSRF has 'Nursing Leadership, Organization and Policy' as a key research theme s . This theme focuses on capacity development of researchers and research on nursing issues that will benefit nurses, the healthcare system, and ultimately users of the system.
Details are available on the CHSRF Website