Nurse Practitioner's High Level Care
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) is a Registered Nurse (RN) experienced in their clinical specialty, educated at Masters Level and endorsed by the Nurses and Midwives Board of Australia (NMBA) to provide care in an advanced and extended clinical role. Nurse practitioners have provided health care around the world since the 1960s.
NPs provide safe, high quality care in the assessment and management of patients. The clinical and academic education undertaken by NPs prepares them to expand the boundaries of nursing practice and to incorporate extensions to their clinical practice such as assessing patients and diagnosing health problems, in order to provide complete episodes of care.
There are several ways in which the practice of NPs differs from traditional models of care. Examples are:
While autonomy enables NPs to deliver flexible and responsive care, working together with other health care professionals is an important part of NP practice.
NPs provide safe, high quality care in the assessment and management of patients. The clinical and academic education undertaken by NPs prepares them to expand the boundaries of nursing practice and to incorporate extensions to their clinical practice such as assessing patients and diagnosing health problems, in order to provide complete episodes of care.
There are several ways in which the practice of NPs differs from traditional models of care. Examples are:
- Perform advanced health assessments;
- Initiate and interpreting diagnostic investigations such as pathology and diagnostic imaging;
- Diagnosing health problems;
- Design, implement and monitor therapeutic regimens in collaboration with patients, families/careers and other health professionals;
- Prescribe medications;
- Initiate and receive appropriate referrals to and from other health professionals
While autonomy enables NPs to deliver flexible and responsive care, working together with other health care professionals is an important part of NP practice.
