Nursing in General Practice (NiGP)

Program contact person – Carolyn Wilson

Overview

Practice Nurses are either registered nurses or enrolled nurses. They are a core part of the practice team playing a vital role in health promotion, maintenance of health and prevention of illness. Nursing in General Practice is fast becoming an essential component in assisting practices to meet the diverse and complex health care needs of the population.

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News

The Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice

The Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice attracts 15 RCNA Continuing Nurse Education (CNE) points as part of RCNA’s Life Long Learning program (3LP).

The online Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice will be hosted on the AGPN Nursing in General Practice Website.

For further information please visit  General Practice Queensland

Queensland Wound Care Association

The Queensland Wound Care Association’s Aim is to promote and increase awareness, knowledge and application of effective wound care by:
1. establishing a network of persons with knowledge and experience in wound care
2. providing current information resources to health care professionals
3. developing education strategies for health professionals
4. facilitating and encouraging research in wound care.

If you wish to increase your knowledge visit www.elephantintheroom.com.au or the Qld Wound Care Association.

The Wide Bay contact person is Deborah Mahony Practice Nurse, Torquay Family Practice Hervey Bay ph:4125 2422

Education 2011

Program will be displayed when finalised.

Contact Carolyn Wilson for further information.

Support Programs

GP Links Wide Bay provides support programs for practice nurses including:

  • Professional development through ongoing educational events both clinical and non clinical;
  • Provision of information/ resources on a regular basis to update practice nurses on developments and changes affecting general practices;
  • Providing assistance to practices on maximizing the utilization of practice nurses;
  • Peer support through Practice Nurse Forums (networking meetings);
  • Induction courses for new nurses, and
  • Provision of on site support as required.
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Practice Nurse, Managers and GEMS email network

Practice Nurses and GEMS participants are encouraged to join their peer email network. Information about upcoming events, useful resources, industry changes and GP Links activities can be sent directly to you via the network. In addition, the opportunity to share information, seek ideas or find new resources is provided through this network. To register your details to join the Practice Nurses or GEMS Network please email: cwilson@gplinks.org.au

Practice Nurse Forum Bundaberg 2012
Dates: 1 March, 7 June, 30 August, 6 December.

Practice Manager Forum Bundaberg 2012
Dates: 23 February, 24 May, 23 August, 29 November

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Bundaberg Breastfeeding Network

General Practice Breastfeeding Resource and Awareness Survey

In 2010 a breastfeeding resource package was provided to GP practices in Bundaberg, Childers and Gin Gin. To evaluate the usefulness of this package, as well as other promotional activities and to determine additional resource needs, it would be appreciated if General Practitioners and Practice Managers/Nurses could complete the survey. This should only take about a minute or two to complete and feedback can be provided anonymously. The results of this survey will help inform the activities of the Bundaberg Breastfeeding Network and identify further areas of need.

Medicare Item Numbers
Midwives & Nurse Practitioners Access to Medicare Numbers
From 1 November 2010 eligible nurse practitioners and midwives will be able to access specific items in the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and authorised nurse practitioners and midwives will be able to access a limited list of items under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). To provide MBS services and prescribe certain PBS subsidised medicines you will need to apply for a Medicare provider number and PBS prescriber number. A Medicare provider number will only be issued if you are in private practice. You will need to complete an Application form for a Medicare provider number and/or PBS prescriber number for a midwife or nurse practitioner.

To assist nurse practitioners and midwives, Medicare Australia has created a series of eLearning modules. These modules are interactive, easy to use and include the following topics.
Medicare and You
• Introduction to Medicare Australia
• Introduction to the Medicare Benefits Schedule
• Billing and claiming (including how to bulk bill)
• Referrals and requests
PBS and You
• What is the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme?
• Using the Schedule of Pharmaceutical Benefits
• Ensuring the Integrity of the PBS
• Each module will take about 15-20 minutes to complete.

For more information go to:
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/other-healthcare/nurse-midwives.jsp

PNIP

PIP Practice Nurse Incentive
The PIP Practice Nurse Incentive is scheduled to stop from 1 January 2012. The final PIP Practice Nurse Incentive payments will be made to eligible practices in February 2012 for the period 1 November 2011 to 31 December 2011.
A new Practice Nurse Incentive Program (PNIP) will start on 1 January 2012. General practices across Australia will be able to apply for this national program which will support nurses to undertake a broader and more flexible range of activities in the general practice setting. Grandparenting arrangements will be in place until December 2014 to ensure practices are not financially disadvantaged by the end of the PIP Practice Nurse Incentive and/or the removed MBS practice nurse items. For more information about the PNIP go to www.yourhealth.gov.au > Fact sheets > Support practice nurses
Links to the following documents:

Resources

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Links
  • Bundaberg nurses network group: Click here for website
  • APNA (Australian Practice Nurses Association)
  • QNC (Queensland Nursing Council)
  • QNU (Queensland Nurses Union)
  • RCNA (Royal College of Nursing Australia)
  • ANMC (Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council)
  • ANF (Australian Nurses Federation)
  • GPQ (General Practice Queensland)
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