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

New Practice Nurse Scholarships announced: 2009 Practice Nurse Scholarships open 31st August!
APNA are pleased to announce a new round of Practice Nurse Scholarships for the 2009-2010 financial year. Under the newly consolidated national Nursing and Allied Health Scholarship and Support Scheme, this latest round sees the release of over 500 CPD scholarships for practice nurses, providing up to $1500 each toward professional development. In recognition of the success of the recent addition of postgraduate scholarships to the scheme, a further 20 Postgraduate Scholarship places have been added, each providing up to $10,000 to practice nurses undertaking a postgraduate course of study.

Since it began in 2005 the Practice Nurse scholarship scheme, administered by APNA and funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, has offered over 2300 scholarships to practice nurses - providing access to over 1 in 4 of the current practice nurse workforce!

Past recipient Katherine Treble said “The scholarship program has enabled me to become a credentialed nurse pap-test provider working alongside 2 male GPs in a rural practice. As the nearest female alternative pap-test provider is 35-50kms away this accreditation provides a much needed service in our community and will hopefully lead to a greater number of women being screened routinely.”

Applications open on Monday 31st August 2009, and run until 25th September.
Go to www.apna.asn.au for further details.

New national Nurses Award 2010
The Australian Industrial Relations Commission has released the new occupational national Nurses Award 2010 to commence in January 2010 under it's award modernisation scheme. From that date, all nurses except primary and secondary school nurses will be covered under a single national award. The occupational award for nurses follows strong campaigning by several nursing groups and the ANF. The new award will see nurses in general practice and nurses working in the hospital system under the same award for the first time. Possible implications for practice nurses include provisions for leave as well as weekend and holiday loadings. The award also has implications for the development of a formal career path for practice nurses in it's classification definitions and progress through 'pay points'. The Nurses Award 2010 can be viewed at http://www.airc.gov.au/awardmod/awards/nurses.pdf

NiGP forum presentations uploaded
Presentations from the NiGP forum in Melbourne have been loaded to the NiGP website. Please note that only the presentations that AGPN had permission to reproduce have been loaded. Click here to view the presentations.

Introduction to General Practice and Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice
Courtesy of AGPN Nursing News Vol 4, No. 3 (May-June 2009)
The Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing has funded the Australian General Practice Network to develop the following:

Introduction to General Practice Program
National Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice.

Both programs will be completed at the end of June 2009.

1. Introduction to General Practice Program
This Introduction program has been targeted to nurses who have maintained their registration and will provide nurses with the skills and confidence to seek employment within the primary health care setting in general practice.

The program will be rolled out through divisions utilising local speakers over a 1.5 days or 3 X 3 hour sessions. The program consists of 6 modules including:

Introduction to Nursing in General Practice
General Practice Business
Professional Practice Standards
The Role of the Practice Nurse
Applying for a Practice Nurse Position
Where to from here

The Introduction to General Practice Program attracts 9 RCNA Continuing Nurse Education (CNE) points as part of RCNA’s Life Long Learning program (3LP). The Introduction to General Practice Program will be hosted on the AGPN Nursing in General Practice Website.

2. Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice
The Orientation Program has been designed for nurses who are new to the general practice environment within the first 6-12 months of employment.

The National Orientation Program will provide nurses new to general practice with the knowledge and baseline skills they need to deliver high quality and safe health care services.

To complement the Competency Standards for Nurses in General Practice, the program will be delivered under the following headings:

Professional practice
Collaborative practice
Provision of clinical practice
Management of clinical care

The Orientation Program will be coordinated by the NiGP State Based Organisation network and delivered as a two day workshop. An online program will be available for nurses who are unable to attend a face to face workshop.

The program consists of 13 presentations including:

Primary Health Care and Health Care Systems (General Practice Environment)
Nursing Standards, Competencies and Guidelines
Continuing Professional Development
Clinical Assessment and Health Checks
Triage
Wound Management
Immunisation
Accreditation
Infection Control
Maintenance of Equipment
Information Management in General Practice
Chronic Disease Management
Health Promotion in General Practice
A package has been developed for the Orientation Program for Nurses New to General Practice including presenters’ background information; PowerPoint presentations and students course notes.

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 the AGPN website

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

Bundaberg: Clinical aspects of sexual & reproductive health, 3 day course for nurses and health workers, click here for further details
Date: 15, 16, 17 April

Program of Practice Nurse seminars 2010

Bundaberg program:

  • 11 February: 4 year old healthy kids check
  • 11 March: Asthma Cycle of Care
  • 24 March: Immunisation
  • 13 May: 45 - 49 year old health check
  • 10 June: Care planning / nurse led clinics
  • 14 October: Diabetes Annual Cycle of Care
Hervey Bay program:
  • 4 March: Nutrition and chronic disease
  • 20 May: Diabetes Annual Cycle of Care
  • 12 August: 45 - 49 year old health check
  • 15 September: Asthma Cycle of Care
  • 18 November: Care planning / nurse led clinics
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 Forums

The Practice Nurse Forums provide an opportunity for Wide Bay Practice Nurses to get together on a bi-monthly basis to enjoy an evening of education, information sharing and networking. Quality speakers are utilised to provide education sessions on a range of clinical & non clinical topics. GP Links Wide Bay subsidises catering on the night allowing for a social and relaxed atmosphere for learning and networking to take place.

The Practice Nurse Forums are held at the GP Links Wide Bay office in Bundaberg on Tuesdays 6pm-7.30pm. Each clinic is sent an invitation via the fax stream and via the Practice Nurse e-mail network.

Dates for Practice Nurse forums in 2010:
  • 2 February
  • 4 May
  • 20 July
  • 12 October
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GEMS – Girls/Guys Employed in Medical Service

Gems is a Hervey Based group with similar networking objectives to the Practice Nurse Forums. GEMS Get Togethers are held at a variety of Hervey Bay locations. Each clinic is sent an invitation via the fax stream and via the GEMS e-mail network.

Dates for GEMS meetings in 2010:

  • 4 March
  • 20 May
  • 12 August
  • 18 November

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Practice Nurse and GEMS E-mail Network

Practice Nurses and GEMS participants are encouraged to join their peer email network. Information about upcoming events, useful resources, industry changes and division 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 Managers or GEMS Network please email Carolyn Wilson.

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Medicare Item Numbers
New Practice Nurse Item Number 10997

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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