From the College President The mission of the Australian College of Nurse Practitioners is to serve as the national peak organization for nurse practitioners advancing nursing practice and access to health care. Our vision is to: influence health care policy through advocacy, consumer engagement, and research; instill nurse practitioner knowledge, competency, and capability through access to quality education; and facilitate the development of a community of professional practice. The ACNP is governed by an elected board of directors composed of an executive committee and eight state directors, a patron, and two co-opted members.
ACNP National Office PO Box 637 North Sydney, NSW 2059 Australia Phone: +61 2 9016 4349 Fax: +61 2 9954 0666
[email protected] acnp.org.au
Executive Committee President Chris Raftery, RN, NP, MEmergN, MBA(HSM), MNSc(NP), AFCHSM Vice President Grainne Lowe, RN, NP, BN(Hons), Grad Cert (Emerg), MN Secretary Helena Halton, RN, NP, Grad Cert (Emerg.Nurs), Grad Dip Clin.Nurs.Spec.(NP) Treasurer Robin Moon, RN, NP, RMHN, RM, Grad Cert (Mens Hlth), Grad Dip Bus(Mgt), MN(NP), FFACNP Co-Opted Member Jane O’Connell, RN, NP, Grad Cert A&E, MN, FFACNP Co-Opted Member Juliane Samara, RN, NP, B.Nurs, Grad Cert Cancer & Haematology Nursing, MN(NP) Co-Opted Member Helen Gosby, RN, NP, BA, Grad Dip (Nursing), MN, FFACNP
Board of Directors Australian Capital Territory Kate Maher, RN, NP, Grad Cert (Critical Care Nursing), MN(NP) New South Wales Anne Moehead, RN, NP, RPN, MMH, CMHN, OAM, FACNP Northern Territory Lyn Byers, RN, NP, RM, BSc (Hons), MNP Queensland Lee Poole RN, RM, NP, BH(Nurs), GradCertMgt, GradCert Emergency Nursing, GradDip Midwifery, MNursing, MNPractS South Australia Luke Christofis, RN, NP, BN, Grad Cert Emg Nsg, MNP, FFACNP Tasmania Hazel Bucher, RN, BN hc, Grad Dip Aged Care & Mental Health Nursing, MNSc (NP)
Nurse Practitioners: More than Just Clinicians
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here are approximately 1250 Nurse Practitioner’s (NPs) in Australia across a wide spectrum of clinical contexts. No longer governed or limited by the traditional nursing professional boundaries, NPs contribute effectively to contemporary health care delivery and yet still retain nursing’s philosophies. Considered the ‘pinnacle’ of clinical practice the role is multifaceted. Focus may be on the clinical aspects however, the role incorporates many non-clinical duties including consultation, professional leadership, research, management, education and advocacy. Further, there is need for NPs to be politically savvy in order to guide and influence health care delivery systems. It is little wonder that role clarity for the NP continues to defy definition when it appears that the role is so multidimensional. Of note also is that no two NP roles, or models of practice (MOP), are the same. Granted many MOP are similar within the same specialty areas of nursing however, the emphasis on the various facets may alter depending on what, and with whom, the NP is engaged in at the time. If the engagement is practice related then the client becomes paramount and the focus is on the care, treatment, advocacy and educational processes to ensure optimal outcomes. Conversely if engaged in other facets of the NP role, such as management, research or leadership activities, the emphasis may shift to achieving the objectives at hand. Recognition of the multifaceted nature of the NP role is important. A comprehensive understanding of the NP role informs clinical governance, contributes to policy and organizational supports. It also ensures that neophyte NPs have the fundamental knowledge necessary to undertake such a multidimensional role. Chris Raftery, National President Guest Co-Author e Kathleen Tori, National Board Director 1555-4155/15/$ see front matter © 2015 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.09.011
Victoria Kathleen Tori, RN, NP, MN(NP), MHSc, BHSc, CCRN, GradDip VET, MACN, MACNP Western Australia Lucia Ferguson, BN, RN, Grad Cert MH Nursing, MN(NP)
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The Journal for Nurse Practitioners - JNP
Volume 11, Issue 10, November/December 2015
