Sleep health management within primary care: an interpretive description of the knowledge, experiences and attitudes of australian general practice nurses.

Objectives Given increased numbers and enhanced responsibilities of Australian general practice nurses, we aimed to delineate appropriate roles for primary health care organisations (PHCOs) to support this workforce. Methods A two-round online Delphi consensus process was undertaken between January and June 2012, informed by literature review and key informant interviews. Participants were purposively selected and included decision makers from government and professional organisations, educators, researchers and clinicians from five Australian states and territories Results Of 56 invited respondents, 35 (62%) and 31 (55%) responded to the first and second invitation respectively. Participants reached consensus on five key roles for PHCOs in optimising nursing in general practice: (1) matching workforce size and skills to population needs; (2) facilitating leadership opportunities; (3) providing education and educational access; (4) facilitating integration of general practice with other primary care services to support interdisciplinary care; and (5) promoting advanced nursing roles. National concerns, such as limited opportunities for postgraduate education and career progression, were deemed best addressed by national nursing organisations, universities and peak bodies. Conclusions Advancement of nursing in general practice requires system-level support from a range of organisations. PHCOs play a significant role in education and leadership development for nurses and linking national nursing organisations with general practices. What is known about the topic? The role of nurses in Australian general practice has grown in the last decade, yet they face limited career pathways and opportunities for career advancement. Some nations have forged interprofessional primary care teams that use nurses’ skills to the full extent of their scope of practice. PHCOs have played important roles in the development of general practice nursing in Australia and internationally. What does this paper add? This study delineates organisational support roles for PHCOs in strengthening nurses’ roles and career development in Australian general practice. What are the implications for practitioners? Effective implementation of appropriate responsibilities by PHCOs can assist development of the primary care nursing workforce.

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The work, education and career pathways of nurses in Australian general practice

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py10074 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 17 (3) ◽

pp. 227 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Rhian Parker ◽

Helen Keleher ◽

Laura Forrest

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

General Practice ◽

Career Pathways ◽

Further Education ◽

Educational Preparation ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

The Public ◽

Career Pathway ◽

Australian General Practice ◽

Work Education

There is little understanding about the educational levels and career pathways of the primary care nursing workforce in Australia. This article reports on survey research conducted to examine the qualifications and educational preparation of primary care nurses in general practice, their current enrolments in education programs, and their perspectives about post-registration education. Fifty-eight practice nurses from across Australia completed the survey. Over 94% reported that they had access to educational opportunities but identified a range of barriers to undertaking further education. Although 41% of nurses said they were practising at a speciality advanced level, this correlated with the number of years they had worked in general practice rather than to any other factor, including level of education. Respondents felt a strong sense of being regarded as less important than nurses working in the acute care sector. Almost 85% of respondents reported that they did not have a career pathway in their organisation. They also felt that while the public had confidence in them, there was some way to go regarding role recognition.

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Outcomes and opportunities: a nurse-led model of chronic disease management in Australian general practice

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py11164 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 19 (2) ◽

pp. 150 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Diann S. Eley ◽

Elizabeth Patterson ◽

Jacqui Young ◽

Paul P. Fahey ◽

Chris B. Del Mar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

General Practice ◽

Chronic Disease ◽

Disease Management ◽

Chronic Disease Management ◽

Models Of Care ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Australian General Practice ◽

General Practices

The Australian government’s commitment to health service reform has placed general practice at the centre of its agenda to manage chronic disease. Concerns about the capacity of GPs to meet the growing chronic disease burden has stimulated the implementation and testing of new models of care that better utilise practice nurses (PN). This paper reports on a mixed-methods study nested within a larger study that trialled the feasibility and acceptability of a new model of nurse-led chronic disease management in three general practices. Patients over 18 years of age with type 2 diabetes, hypertension or stable ischaemic heart disease were randomised into PN-led or usual GP-led care. Primary outcomes were self-reported quality of life and perceptions of the model’s feasibility and acceptability from the perspective of patients and GPs. Over the 12-month study quality of life decreased but the trend between groups was not statistically different. Qualitative data indicate that the PN-led model was acceptable and feasible to GPs and patients. It is possible to extend the scope of PN care to lead the routine clinical management of patients’ stable chronic diseases. All GPs identified significant advantages to the model and elected to continue with the PN-led care after our study concluded.

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Is the primary care network the answer to increase student nurse capacity in general practice?

Practice Nursing ◽

10.12968/pnur.2019.30.12.600 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (12) ◽

pp. 600-605

Author(s):

Shaun Heath

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

General Practice ◽

Community Of Practice ◽

Learning Environments ◽

Nursing Leadership ◽

Student Nurse ◽

Care Network ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Effective Learning ◽

Effective Learning Environments

Primary care networks have the potential to increase student nurse placements in general practice. Shaun Heath explores how effective learning environments can be created and the concept of the ‘community of practice’ This article explores how the emerging primary care networks (PCNs) could be used to increase student nurse placements in primary care, and how they could facilitate nurses in breaking free from isolative working. Known as a ‘community of practice’, working with our peers and colleagues from neighbouring practices alongside students could facilitate the growth of the network itself, share the educational load with the nurses in the PCN, and create nursing leadership with shared educational advancements. Could PCNs be what general practice nurses need to find their voices and develop their ambitions of becoming leaders?

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Next steps for student supervision and assessment

Practice Nursing ◽

10.12968/pnur.2019.30.10.496 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 30 (10) ◽

pp. 496-500

Author(s):

Shaun Heath

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

General Practice ◽

Communities Of Practice ◽

Student Nurses ◽

Education Standards ◽

Student Placement ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

Primary Care Settings ◽

Student Supervision

Student nurses are the future of the profession. Shaun Heath explains how changes to the Nursing and Midwifery Council's education standards will effect those currently acting as mentors and how all practice nurses can get involved and contribute to student placement experiences This article explores the Nursing and Midwifery Council's 2018 education standards and how these will affect the role of general practice nurses in primary care settings. The differing roles found in the standards will be discussed, alongside how primary care and the emerging Primary Care Networks can support learners in general practice through communities of practice.

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Patient Safety in Primary Care: Are General Practice Nurses the Answer to Improving Warfarin Safety? An Australian Perspective

Worldviews on Evidence-Based Nursing ◽

10.1111/j.1741-6787.2010.00211.x ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 8 (1) ◽

pp. 25-29

Author(s):

Judy Lowthian ◽

Catherine Joyce ◽

Basia Diug ◽

Michael Dooley

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

General Practice ◽

Patient Safety ◽

Practice Nurses

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Behavioural change in primary care professionals undertaking online education in dementia care in general practice

Australian Journal of Primary Health ◽

10.1071/py18079 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 25 (3) ◽

pp. 244 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Michael W. Bentley ◽

Rohan Kerr ◽

Margaret Ginger ◽

Jacob Karagoz

Keyword(s):

Primary Care ◽

General Practice ◽

Online Education ◽

Behavioural Change ◽

Dementia Care ◽

Practice Nurses ◽

People With Dementia ◽

General Practices ◽

Primary Care Professionals ◽

Systematic Framework

A challenge facing general practice is improving the diagnosis, management and care of people with dementia. Training and education for primary care professionals about knowledge and attitudes about dementia is needed. Online resources can provide educational opportunities for health professionals with limited access to dementia training. An online educational resource (four modules over 3 h) was designed to assist primary care practitioners to develop a systematic framework to identify, diagnose and manage patients with dementia within their practice. Interviews and questionnaires (knowledge, attitudes, confidence and behavioural intentions), with practice nurses and international medical graduates working in general practices, were used to evaluate the resource. Participants’ knowledge, confidence and attitudes about dementia increased after completing the modules. Participants had strong intentions to apply a systematic framework to identify and manage dementia. In post-module interviews, participants reported increased awareness, knowledge and confidence in assessing and managing people with dementia, corroborating the questionnaire results. This project has demonstrated some early changes in clinical behaviour around dementia care in general practice. Promoting the value of applying a systematic framework with colleagues and co-workers could increase awareness of, and participation in, dementia assessment by other primary care professionals within general practices.

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