Nurse Practioners in regional Victoria.

Abstract

Purpose: The Grampians region covers 48,000 square kms in Victoria, Australia. With a population base of 225,000 people, the challenge of providing adequate specialist nursing are high. We undertook a model development project to define the role and responsibilities of a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner within the Grampians region. This project included establishing systems to support the development and implementation of a Nurse Practitioner Service within the Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team. It was thought that the introudction of Nurse Practitioner's would increase palliative provision to increase support for patients wishing to die in the place of their choice. The Grampians region did not have any Nurse Practitioners in any field working in the region until this role, therefore approaching the introduction was fraught with hurdles and barriers. Four areas that the project addressed were: 1. Understnading local demand and opportunities - 2. Shaping the service model for NP's - 3. Priming the organization for NP's - 4. Preparing the Nursing Workforce. Key Outcomes: As a result of this project, a Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner has been implemented within the Grampians Regional Palliative Care Team in Augus 2011. The role, whilst new, has been widely accepted within the acute and community care settings and provides greater responsiveness and accessibility to palliative care services within the region. The implementation of the first Nurse Practitioner position in the Grampians region has now engaged key stakeholders and begun conversations around model development and implementation of Nurse Practitioner's into other specialties of nursing in the region. Lessons learn will be invaluable as we develop advanced practice models that focus on improved patient outcomes.