6
November 2009
A new survey reveals that Australia is failing to make best use of nurse practitioners (NPs) within our
health system. The study found that nearly a third of respondents are waiting for approval to prescribe
medication and over 70% stated that lack of Medicare provider numbers and lack of authority to
prescribe through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme was extremely limiting to their practice.
This study is reported in the most recent edition of the Australian Health Review, the peer reviewed
journal of the Australian Healthcare and Hospitals Association.
"This survey is the first census profiling the nurse practitioner service in Australia, since the first
Australian nurse practitioner was authorised in New South Wales in 2000," said study investigator
Professor Anne Gardner, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Nutrition, James Cook University.
"The findings reveal that we are under-utilising this highly experienced sector of the Australian health
workforce. We also found that fewer than three-quarters of respondents were employed as nurse
practitioners. Given the high level of educational preparation and clinical expertise manifest in nurse
practitioners, underemployment in this highly skilled sector of the nursing workforce represents a
waste of valuable human resources.
"Our research makes clear that nurse practitioners are facing significant barriers to providing service
in this important health provider role. The barriers occur at the service level of nurse practitioner
practice and the broader policy level of regulation of practice.
"Despite NPs being authorised through legislation at state level to prescribe medication and to
request diagnostic investigations within their specific specialty field and to refer patients to other
health professionals, application of these extended practice activities is frequently thwarted, resulting
in restrictions to the effectiveness of the role.
"As an example, nurse practitioners are authorized under state law to prescribe medications, but
where those medications are eligible for a PBS subsidy the patient will not receive a subsidy because
regulation of the PBS falls under Commonwealth legislation, which does not currently recognise NPs
as prescribers. Nurse practitioners are not currently eligible for a Medicare provider number which
means patients cannot receive rebates for NP services.
"Given widespread workforce shortages and rising health care costs, we simply cannot afford to
under-utilise this important sector of the health workforce. We are heartened by the Commonwealth
Government initiatives currently underway that should remove some of the barriers preventing NPs
fully contributing to the health care of the Australian community," Professor Gardner said.
For further information/contact: Anne Gardner 0407237464
Nurse practitioners
under-used – survey
reveals
NEWS 
