It is well recognised that the nature of the Nurse Practitioners role within South Australia is an exciting new initiative within the nursing workforce and profession.

Nurse Practitioners may be described as having the following integrated defining features such as clinical leaders, educator, mentor, provider, manager and researcher. The core role is autonomous, extended practice; highly developed clinical knowledge and skills; provides pragmatic and purposeful interventions that benefit a specific client group; as well as vision; clinical and professional leadership; advocate for client base and nursing profession at a system level of health care.

Nurse Practitioners work collaboratively with health professionals to provide advanced and extended care to individuals, families, groups and/or communities. They enhance existing services and/or provide a service where none may exist.

The Nurse Practitioner’s role extends beyond the usual scope of nursing practice. The skills and practices often associated with a Nurse Practitioner are:

• advanced clinical assessment;
• interpretation of diagnostic tests including diagnostic imaging;
• implementing and monitoring therapeutic regimes;
• prescribing pharmacological interventions; and
• initiating and receiving appropriate referrals.

To become a Nurse Practitioner, a nurse must have relevant qualifications and have demonstrated a high level of competence in their area of practice. Nurse Practitioners’ positions may be within acute care, primary health care and/or community settings within a specific scope of practice.

The courses available in South Australia are the Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner), Flinders University and the Master of Nursing Science (Nurse Practitioner), University of South Australia. Other post graduate programs including Masters of Nurse Practitioners are offered at University of Adelaide and stand alone subjects such as Pharmacology for Advanced Practice and Advanced Health Assessment and Nursing Diagnostics are offered at University of South Australia.

Click here to learn more about the National Aged Care Nurse Practitioner Trial.

Other Requirements

• The Nurse Practitioner must demonstrate that they meet the Professional Standards Statement for Nurse Practitioner Practice and be authorised as a Nurse Practitioner by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of South Australia (nmbSA).
• The Nurse Practitioner’s professional portfolio will detail level of qualifications, education and experience and will be assessed by the employing organisation or service.
• The Nurse Practitioner is responsible for their own continuing professional development to ensure ongoing competence to practice.

Definitions

A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse educated and authorised to function autonomously and collaboratively in an advanced and extended clinical role. The nurse practitioner role includes assessment and management of clients using nursing knowledge and skills and may include, but is not limited to, the 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 practise and provides innovative and flexible health care delivery that complements other health care providers. The scope of practice of the nurse practitioner is determined by the context in which the nurse practitioner is authorised to practice. (ANMC 2006)

A Nurse Practitioner Candidate is a nurse employed in a designated position within the health sector working towards Nurse Practitioner authorisation with the Nurses Board of South Australia. The duration of candidacy to be determined at a local level.

Frequently Asked Questions - Nurse Practitioners, their Role and Scope of Practice

Frequently Asked Questions was designed to challenge commonly held assumptions, increase awareness and understanding of some of the Nurse Practitioner issues within the South Australian context by providing facts about their role and scope of practice.
Frequently Asked Questions - 2009 (193 KB)

Nurse Practitioners Review Report

The Nurse Practitioners in South Australia: Report for the review of processes for the implementation of the role (Aug 2009)

In late 2008, SA Health conducted a review of the processes for implementation of Nurse Practitioners since the introduction of the role in South Australia. The review’s methodology was a three-prong approach, being:

• Focus groups and face to face interviews with relevant stakeholders
• Literature review
• Surveys of Nurse Practitioners and Nurse Practitioner Candidates

This report makes recommendations to address the barriers that have arisen in relation to the implementation of Nurse Practitioner roles. These recommendations address the following areas:

• Strategic clinical services planning
• Regulatory requirements for authorisation
• Policy and regulatory requirements for prescribing and diagnostics

It also reports that Nurse Practitioners play a vital role in health services, bring about positive health outcomes for consumers and heighten consumer satisfaction.  The review team found strong evidence of strategic support for the implementation of the Nurse Practitioner role in South Australia.
Nurse Practitioner Review Report, August 2009 (110 MB)

Nurse Practitioner Prescribing Formulary Policy Framework

The Nurse Practitioner Prescribing Formulary Policy Framework describes the process by which Nurse Practitioners/Applicants can seek to gain an approved ‘Formulary’ for prescribing and/or to gain a license to supply medications that are consistent with their scope of practice. The Framework was endorsed by the Department of Health's Executive and provides the 'blueprint' of the processes required by Nurse Practitioners seeking approval of their prescribing formulary and licence to supply medications.
Nurse Practitioner Prescribing Formulary Policy Framework (126KB)

Directive for Health Service Prescribing Formulary Approval Sub Committee Approving Nurse Practitioner's Prescribing Formulary

The Directive for Health Service Prescribing Formulary Approval Sub Committee Approving Nurse Practitioner's Prescribing Formulary is aligned with the Department of Health Framework for Nurse Practitioner/Applicants: To Gain an Approved Prescribing Formulary and/or Licence to Supply Medication Authorisation and is to be read in conjunction with the Framework document.
Directive for Health Service Prescribing Formulary Approval Sub Committee Approving Nurse Practitioner's Prescribing Formulary (215KB)

The Directive outlines the criteria, process, template and forms by which a public health service can establish a Nurse Practitioner Prescribing Formulary Approval Committee for approving a Nurse Practitioner's Prescribing Formulary.

To accompany the Directive there are two flowcharts. Both flowcharts outline a step by step pathway of the process. The flowcharts are:
Nurse Practitioner Candidate Pathway for Prescribing (33KB)
Nurse Practitioner Pathway for Prescribing (40KB)

Generic 'Nurse Practitioner Business Case' Template

The generic 'Nurse Practitioner Business Case' template has been developed as a guide to assist Nursing Management and potential Nurse Practitioners in putting forward a business case, to health care executives, for the purpose of implementing a Nurse Practitioner Service.
Generic Nurse Practitioner Business Case Template (50KB)

Generic 'Nurse Practitioner Job & Person Specifications' Template

The generic 'Nurse Practitioner Job Description and Person Specification' template has been developed to be used as a guide only for a Nurse Practitioner Position.
Generic Nurse Practitioner Job& Person Specifications template (121KB)

For further information contact

For any further information, visit the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners or contact the Nursing and Midwifery Office on (08) 8226 0749 or by e-mail.