Nurse practitioners play vital role in Emergency Department

11 Dec 2018

12 December 2018 

In recognition of Nurse Practitioners Week, St John of God Midland Public and Private Hospitals held a number of activities to increase awareness of the important role nurse practitioners play in its Emergency Department.

The hospital has four nurse practitioners working in its busy Emergency Department, which had more than 71,180 presentations last financial year.

St John of God Midland Public Hospital Director of Nursing, Midwifery and Clinical Governance Janet Jones said nurse practitioners are registered nurses with additional training and expertise to treat injuries and illness as well as support prevention strategies.

“They are fully licensed to diagnose and treat conditions, prescribe medication, order diagnostic tests, interpret the results of tests and initiate referrals to relevant health care providers,” she said.

“Our nurse practitioners help reduce waiting times for patients, as they can provide care for less urgent and critical cases, such as injuries and minor illnesses, enabling our doctors to focus more on the life threatening and urgent cases.

“Nurse practitioners can provide complete care to a patient, from diagnosing and organising tests for an illness or injury to prescribing a prescription, providing advice and making a referral to a health care provider.”

They collaborate closely with others working in the multidisplinary team in the Emergency Department to enhance patient care, including nurses, doctors, physiotherapists and social workers.

Usually nurse practitioners have worked as a senior clinic nurse before undertaking a master’s degree at university and other forms of postgraduate study before seeking endorsement by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.

Since 2000 nurse practitioners have been working in Australia and there are currently 1,729 nurse practitioners endorsed with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.