Nurse Practitioners, can they plug any gap?

Catherine Turner

Hunter Medicare Local After Hours Program

@humedicarelocal

Follow me on Twitter @CatherineTurn27

Opinions based on experience, but all my

own.

Some case studies of positive and negative

experiences

Critical Factors for successful implementation

Hunter Medicare Local is a not for profit primary

health care organisation that aims to improve the

health of the Hunter community by:

1. Improving service integration and coordination.

2. Supporting clinicians and service providers to

improve patient care.

3. Identifying the health needs of local areas and

developing locally focused programs and services.

4. Conducting prevention and health promotion

programs

Hunter New England Health has had Nurse

Practitioner like roles since 1996.

Over 40 nurses have been in those positions

over the 18 years.

KPI to increase number of NP positions

History of difficulty finding niche for

the roles

Funding complications

Competing agendas

Keys for successful roles

1. Identified senior nursing clinical

role

2. Clearly defined

role

3. Organisational readiness

•Home

•Home

Success Stories

GP Access After Hours

Other factors for success

Recruit wisely

Mentoring

Policy support

Don’t just plug a gap, find your place

and be ready to demonstrate how you

are making a difference.